Newsnight 15/6/10

Newsnight – Tuesday, 15th June 2010

The race is on to succeed Gordon Brown after he stood down as Labour Party leader. Jeremy Paxman cross-examines the five candidates who have put themselves forward - and crucially have won enough backing from fellow MPs - to stand in the leadership contest.

Diane Abbott, Ed Balls, Andy Burnham, David Miliband and Ed Miliband will all take part in the first televised hustings of the contest.

Broadcast on:
BBC Two, 10:30pm Tuesday 15th June 2010

Duration:
65 minutes

Available until:
11:34pm Tuesday 22nd June 2010


Michael Crick blogging live during the event of the hustings.

258 seats in the House of Commons.

Opening speeches:

Andy Burnham
Inspires a lack of confidence

Ed Miliband
More convincing

David Miliband
Most convincing so far
‘real’

Diane Abbott
Anecdotal, too much, not catchy enough

Ed Balls
Using ‘erm’ a lot

Questions:
Abbott looking clumsy.
Both brothers answering first, convincing.
Ed Balls evading the question posed by Paxman as to whether Brown was right leader into the election.

Burnham, seeming the weakest.
Reminds me of that Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London.
Brian Paddick.

Abbott sounding like a nagging Mum…
A little arrogant: I know how it all works.

Ed Miliband on immigration, sounding comprehensively knowledgeable.

Burnham sounding like an MP more than PM.

Ed Miliband sounding good: saying in addressing Immigration, the focus should be on the underlying issues rather than immigration itself.

David Miliband – appearing mute on the topic.
Coming into light now, shining, on the accusation that the governmet previously was the party of spend spend spend. Very convincing.

Ed Miliband, a little Clegg-esque, using the asker’s name!...

Aesthetically, David Miliband looks the most PM.

Just spoke about government spending in a very convincing Labout uniting way.

Ed Balls – evading answering questions directly.

Ed Milliband, being denied a little from interrupting Ed Balls.
Spoke about the need to talk about the future not the quibbles of the past.
A little cheesy. A cheap shot in my view.

On Iraq:
Ed Miliband – acknowledging that war was hugely damaging to Labour Party.

[Hans Blix]

David – the most convincing statement so far on Iraq. Made you pause for a moment, and engage you with his brief, clear, and direct statements.

Ed Balls – a weak, silly statement on the war. Looked like a rabbit in the headlines after his own statement!!

Abbott – a slow, almost care-free matter-of-fact indifference.

David Miliband, charming Ed Balls on the fact he wasn’t a one man show for the decision NOT to join the Euro.

Andy Burnham – like a side show, warm-up act. Not asserting ANY influence on the debate.

Abbott, Brown-esque in terms of providing details of minutiae.

Is State too big?...

Ed Balls: No.

Burnham: Basically dismissed the question and spurted off some shit about America.

David Miliband: an awesome answer! The state too big in some areas, but weaker in others. Eg. 90 day detention.

Ed Milliband, almost echoing in response to his brother!...
Particularly on expenditure on unemployed.

Is state too centralized?
Abbott – the only one that says ‘not necessarily’.

David Miliband – commanding!

Commands the silence of the other candidates.

Paxman almost coaxing Ed Milliband into the debate against his brother: don’t be scared!...

Abbott – find her quite annoying.

Definitely a competition between the Millibands!!!

Wow. Abbott loves quoting vacuous statistics!...
Debate heating up between Abbott and Burnham.

Ed – echoing his brother’s mention of the 90 Day detention.

Best leader you most admire??
David Miliband – best answer! Anthony Crossmond
Not the most obvious (Tony Blair, Clement Atlee)

Would you change the England goalkeeper?

Great finishing questions!
David Miliband answered best.
Brief and to the point.


Results of enquiry devastating.
Jackie Long in Londenderry.

Cameron and Head of Army apologized.
Unjustified, wrong.
Vindicated the long journey.

Tore apart the Widgery Report.

38 years, 4 months, 15 days.
Exonerations.

Profound.
The apology from the government.

Bernard McGuigan also shot by Soldier F.

Prosecutions? Especially of Soldier F…

Sir General Jackson accused of being a part of cover-up.

Martin McGuinness

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein
Dr Daly, now Bishop, famous for that image: white handkerchief.

Fierce criticism for the Paratroopers.

Owen Patterson – Northern Ireland secretary.
5000 pages, 10 volumes.
Local DPP?
Declined answering whether prosecutions should be warranted.
A very safe answer in my view.


Members of other communities…
£192 million – Criticised by Ken Clarke.
Exceeded projections.
Cost and years.

Bertie Ahern?

Michael Crick blogging!
Difficult to say who won.
Burnham weakest.
Audience impressed by Abbott.
David spent too much time defending the previous government.
Changed tact tonight criticizing Blair.
Ed Miliband failed to put forward visionary ideas.
Brothers closer in debate, worked to David’s benefit.