A neat little video

Kevyn Bodman

I like Hague.I think he's a very good PMQs performer and good on TV too.
I was very impressed with his appearance on Desert Island Discs a few years ago, after he'd stopped being Leader.
Politics was only one part of that programme and he showed himself to be a thoughtful, balanced and well-rounded man.
And I enjoyed watching this video.

Having said all that let's not suspend all critical faculties.
This interview is not much more valuable as post-match analysis than the stuff churned out every week by footballers and managers.
It's advertising; it's spin.
It's good advertising and good spin; but let's not cheer-lead too much.
Its purpose was not to give the public an insight into life at Westminster so much as to make Hague, and by extension the Conservatives, look good.
It works on that front, so well done to Hague.

Fewer marks to any journalist who doesn't spot it for what it is.
The Spectator doesn't have an obligation to provide balance, and that's part of the reason I come here.
But if a similar interview had been put up with Harman on a Labour site, when she has done well against Hague in the past,you'd probably have laughed at it.

And if anything like this had gone out on the BBC all the BBC-bashers would have been racing to get their denunciations in.

In summary; it's an enjoyable video but it's hardly analysis, it's advertising. See it for what it is and critique it accordingly.

Pete Hoskin

Kevyn Bodman: it goes without saying that it's advertising; that it's designed to make the Tories "look good" (although I do say it implicitly, writing that it helps them "push their own narrative" - i.e. spin). And I used the term "post-match analysis" as a familiar trope, not because I think this video is a great study of yesterday's PMQs - although I do think it offers a little insight into Westminster life. Indeed, because I don't think it's earth-shatteringly good, I used adjectives such as "nice", "neat" and "little". Just something I came across on the internet in the early hours, which I thought CoffeeHousers might enjoy. No more, no less.

Kelvin MacDonald Fraser

May William Hague (and anyone else for that matter) save us all from 'Batty Hatty' Harman!!
It looks like Mr. Hague has been called into the Headmistresses office for a little chat - why is she standing up and he sitting down?

Susan Hill

Continue to put these up Pete. The Spectator does not indeed have a 'duty' to provide a balance so I hope you would never put up same of the Harperson. The Spectator is what it is and I for one come here to have a sane mix but one which has a stated right-bias - otherwise it wouldn`t be the Spectator and I would not be here. In any case there are bloggers here who are decidedly not right-biased. If I wanted the Trotskyite Times I`d go there. I do not.
And besides, more of William Hague all round, he is a fine speaker,has experience and sense and he is from God`s own county.

RW

I think Pete's "politician engaging purposefully with the Internet" point is the key one here.

Can anyone really imagine LabourHome or Dolly's appalling LabourList putting up a similar video - or Harman even graciously consenting to be interviewed for it, leave alone speaking and presenting herself in the friendly, approachable, *normal* tone that Hague used, without drearily formulaic phrases? Or putting it straight up on YouTube?

There is no getting away from it. The political Right simply are better than the Left in their use of the new media, and the gap, so crucial in presentational terms, just isn't getting any narrower.

Chuck Unsworth

Nice. Very shrewd move. Emphasises the debate positions, and portrays the human side rather well. Way to go!

David Ossitt

RW; writes,

There is no getting away from it. The political Right simply are better than the Left in their use of the new media, and the gap, so crucial in presentational terms, just isn't getting any narrower.

I acknowledge that I am totally biased in favouring the Tory Party but am I the only one who thinks that as a group they are far more attractive, distinctly more wholesome, all of them seem to be pleasant and kindly people.

John Page

It would have been even better if he had condescended to mention others' contributions to PMQs and not just talked about himself. True, this would take imagination, but it would also show that Tories are relaxed about taking an overview, which would be good.

You'd never know from this about her gaffe over Goodwin's knighthood, which makes it feel risibly insular. Cosy for the already converted, but it's not going to convert anyone new.

Kevyn Bodman

Attractive?
How broadly do you want to use that adjective?
I'd certainly rather have a pint with Hague and Davis than anyone on the Labour side.
Cameron and Osborne not so much.
But a mate of mine in Michael Howard's constituence says he's a fine chap, and I'm well inclined to believe that.
And I don't care what any of those look like.Pleasant,decent and interesting.

But what about their political biases and judgements?
Certainly Davis over any of them.

The 'having a pint' test, in the USA they talk about who they'd have over for a barbecue,is limited.
In the glory years of British middle distance running I'd much rather have had a drink with Ovett than Coe, but Coe was the greater, probably greatest, runner.
So the drinks test is limited, it tells you irrelevant things a lot of the time.

As for looks, well I'm rather appreciative of Teresa Gorman.

But 20 or 30 years ago Harriet Harman was a very pretty young thing indeed.
Not important now though.

and Pete Hoskin: yes, I did enjoy the video.I expect most of the visitors here did.

Ant

Interestingly, this shows the problem of video cameras with a big screen. Because it's not held at the interviewer's eye, Hague is constantly talking over the camera instead of engaging with the lens. This isn't meant to detract from a very interesting and worthwhile experiment, just a litle comment I noticed...

Verity

It's pretty much a fact that conservative people are better looking. Look at Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore and his son, Lee Hsieng Loong, who I have often noted is the best looking head of state in the world. George Bush is a nice looking man. President Calderon of Mexico is good looking, as was his predecessor, President Fox.

When he is smiling or laughing, Obama looks handsome. In repose, his face looks thuggish, though.

But conservatives do have more open, friendlier faces than do people on the left. I think you have hit on a universal truth.

(Harriet Harman has a face designed for slapping. With vigour.)

David Ossitt

Verity.

Has understood the point of my argument e.g.

But conservatives do have more open, friendlier faces than do people on the left. I think you have hit on a universal truth.

I think those who practice the politics of envy and hatred can't hide this; it is reflected for all to see in their faces.

Verity

David Ossitt - It's not just "I think those who practice the politics of envy and hatred can't hide this", although that's a good tranche of it, but it's also the ravening hunger to control other people that shows up in faces on the left. I mean, look at Jack Straw! Gordon Brown. The freakish Tony Blair. Harriet Harpic. All of them. They're gruesome. Their faces are vulpine.