Fake Question Time
Fraser Nelson 3:25pm
The first thought that occurs on looking at Gordon Brown’s YouTube PMQs is that Rory Bremner’s impersonation is now near-perfect. It’s a parody of himself. He says he’ll be glad to take everyone’s questions “on this exciting new initiative.” All Politics 2.0, going straight to the public without the interface of journalists or MPs. And then without pausing for breath, the Great Helmsman helpfully tells us what these questions should be. “Questions you have about how gloablisation’s working, what’s happening to climate change, how we can build the houses we need, how we can get the jobs we need for the future… I’m here to answer your questions. Politicians get a chance at Prime Minister’s Question Time. I think it’s time the public got a chance.”
I remember how Blair said in his “feral beast” speech how the internet disappointed him, and how he expected the public would be more supportive than the agenda-driven mischievous press. Turns out the public are ten times more hostile than the most troublesome hack. If Brown were to open himself up to genuine questions, they’d be like “who elected you?” and “why have you taken so much from my family’s income with your taxes?”. I suspect this will end up in a Fake Question Time (FQT) with questions obviously dreamed up to coincide with the very narrow agenda of Brown’s, which has so spectacularly failed to capture the public imagination.
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Comments
Mike
May 19th, 2008 3:43pmYou'll note that none of the 185 videos Brown has on YouTube allows comments.
I wonder why? Could it me because the comments might be a touch negative? Never....
Chris
May 19th, 2008 3:53pmOf course it would be much more statesmanlike to be shown having breakfast with his family. Yuck.
Philip Wright
May 19th, 2008 4:02pm"FQT" - well I think we can be sure of that!
This is another relaunch gimmick. If his (non-existent) track record at giving straight answers to straight questions is any guide it will be a monumental waste of everybody's time.
Thomas Cussans
May 19th, 2008 4:26pmNote also that 'no party political comment' is allowed in any questions.
The incredible thing is that anyone in Downing Street could possibly take such transparent nonsense seriously.
Eddy
May 19th, 2008 4:29pm-- Turns out the public are ten times more hostile than the most troublesome hack. If Brown were to open himself up to genuine questions, they’d be like “who elected you?” and “why have you taken so much from my family’s income with your taxes?”. --
Absolutely right, that's why Webcameron had to undergo significant changes to keep it all from being overridden by mad students with too much time on their hands.
Nicholas
May 19th, 2008 5:03pmWhat a laugh. He gabbles his way through it with Heath-like shoulder shrugging. An end to spin eh?
My question for him: When are you going to resign and make way for a proper government?
Tiberius
May 19th, 2008 5:05pmI wonder how long it will be before we see Comrade Brown on TV, stepping out of a car on Any Street in Anytown, being mobbed by a crowd of adoring members of the public, just euphoric that he chose their neighbourhood for his unannounced visit. He will have to make sure that the Republican Guards are airbrushed out of the background though, if the film is to pass the BBC editing test.
Water
May 19th, 2008 5:10pm"I suspect this will end up in a Fake Question Time (FQT) with questions obviously dreamed up to coincide with the very narrow agenda of Brown’s," If not it will just filter out those questions that pose an actual threat.
Trumpeter Lanfried
May 19th, 2008 5:39pmThe reason people watch You Tube is to waste time and have a good laugh. So Gordon should be a natural.