Nelson v Prescott: now with added video

Alex

Prescott - what a sad joke.

Tiberius

I think you did very well in making your point, Fraser, considering the obviously hostile environment. It's difficult not to suffer with hesitation or a quiver in the voice on such occasions, but you hit him with it.

But I would say that it demonstrates that playing tennis with stats can't be clinically effective - it's a bit like reprising Python's Arguments Dept sketch.

ferg

fraser,i think you do yourself a disservice when you say prescott did quite well.he singularly failed to counter your accurate stats with anything other than his usual bluster about 'you tories'.john sopel could hardly get him to shut-up at some points of the discussion.he is not a details kind of person,more of a steamroller.

Patrick Reehal

Well done Fraser I thought you hit the spot and exposed Prescott as the oaf he is.

Please drop all references to Brownies from now on. A lie is a lie.

Max Kaye

Frazer, Indeed you do yourself a disservice. I'm impressed.

Thanks for standing up for the truth.

ChrisD

I am with Ferg on this, you did very well because despite the usual Prescott bluster he could not dispute your figures.
In fact, you spoke with a knowledge and passion which made your points all the sharper and made for a refreshing change from the cynical boring diatribe we are normally served up.
Reminds me of that other once passionate journalist who used to work for ITN, Nick Robinson was his name, whatever happened to him?
And as for Jon Sopel, well, as too often when reading from a prepared script he was going to let Prescott off with that bare faced dishonesty like Andrew Marr did with Gordon Brown this morning.
You restored my faith a bit in political journalists, well done Fraser. As a Tory I don't ever expect any favours from the media when they have our financial policies are under the spotlight, I just wish occasionally they would either do their homework or develop a bit of back bone and question the governments figures!

Marian C

Well done Fraser, I think you did really well getting your point across, you should be proud of yourself. Prescott (the goon) showed himself to be nothing more than a lefty windbag who could not counter your argument with anything sensible; you had him cornered.

It was also interesting to see the reaction on the faces of the audience members to your comments. Not sure whether it was what you said, or the reaction on the faces of the audience that got Prescott more wound up.

Joseph

Well done, Fraser. I agree with Mr Reehal above: let's not avoid the issue any more. When politicians lie, let's call it a lie.

Diablo

Mmmm? In an ideal world you could make points like this in a calm and reasoned way. Without wishing to detract from your "performance" (it had to be said) if the Conservatives are to topple this house of cards that is the Labour Government it must be done in a systematic and thorough manner. Your blogs and articles on these 'Brownies' are excellent and very educational for lay people like me who are interested in politics but the average man on the proverbial Clapham omnibus needs to have it fed to them in easy soundbites.

Using the term 'immigrants' immediately puts you on the backfoot. If we are going to drive this dreadful Labour Party out of office we have to make sure that the presentation of arguments doesn't give them any chance to brand us as racist, anti-European or, simply, a ranting right-wing party.

Hereth endeth the lethon. (I have a lithsp!)

mart

The British people are badly served when they are lied-to by their government about official statistics.

I applaud your intervention on live TV and your labelling a lie as a lie. This has gone on for too long.

By rights, the chairman of the discussion ought to have had facts and figures like this in his head, and made the intervention.

An intervention on factual matters ought generally to come from the chair, not members of the audience, whose impartiality can more easily be questioned.

Not that I question it, of course. But in the absence of a grasp of the detail, your interlocutor was only able to bluster about your being a "Tory", as if that was a sufficient response.

Keep up the good work.

cuffleyburgers

Fraser

Great effort.

It is scandalous that the BBC, which is funded by money extorted from the public (who the polls show overwhelmingly no longer support the governemt) can devote a programme like this to a pure left wing love-in.

This absolutely shows the depth we have sunk in the Gramsci-ist nightmare, and why the Tories when they come in again must break it up, and cast these trots into the outer broadcasting darkness.

jack ladd

Frazer - taking Prescott apart is not exactly brain surgion stuff, but you deserve a medal for sticking to your guns and reducing the silly old fart to jelly - it was a delight to watch -he sat there and lied as usual, like they all do, but after your intervention he looked desolate! What a treat! - well done

Paul B

Well done Fraser- Prescott couldn`t debate with you so played the race card instead-trying to insinuate that you or the Tories are racist because you dared to challenge his lies..opps sorry ,his assertions.Its a typical Prescottian "debating" trait, its bullying by any other name. Suppress -squash fair debate,by name calling. The facist left are past masters at it. They like to think themselves oh so morally superior, but did deeper and the jackboot so starts to reveal itself.

TGF UKIP

Fraser, you won massively. Prescott just looked the dickhead he was, is and always will be. Interesting to note that none of the accompanying loons tried to howl you down or argue the toss.

Tiberius, as usual we disagree. I thought your boy demonstrated admirably how phoney statistics can be effectively challenged.