The First Ever Question Time (BBC - 25 September, 1979) [Part One]
In light of the death of former Labour leader (from 1980-1983) Michael Foot, who has died at the age of 96 today, here is the most extensive footage I can find of him on Youtube. Coverage of Foot is pretty scant on the website at the moment, but I'm sure that will correct itself soon. This is when Michael Foot was a leading candidate to become the next leader of the Labour Party after Prime Minister James Callaghan's downfall to Margaret Thatcher's Conservatives at the May 1979 General Election. Presented by Robin Day, the panel is completed by former Scottish Conservative MP Teddy Taylor, (who lost his Glasgow Cathcart seat at the previous election) Irish novelist Edna 'O Brien and Archbishop Derek Worlock. This is the first and full edition of "Question Time", in six parts of 10 mins+.
"Question Time" was a topical discussion show that tour in studios, church halls and various other venues around the UK, and would contain a local audience with a scale of wide-ranging view. Members of the audience would be able to ask pre-selected questions (sometimes wonder if they're not their own questions but volunteers for BBC production staff allowable queries for the show), asking a selected number of politicans plus religious leaders and artistic intellectuals (now, pillored with perhaps a celebrity, who is sometimes clueless!). Mostly serious issues are discussed, lighter issues may be asked at the end of the show.
The issues discussed in this episode are the Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland and whether he should've went to Northern Ireland ("The Troubles" era) and how a story of animals trapped in an aeroplane in Rome had top billing over the state of the economy in the news (aww, we're such animal lovers us Brits), and more.
"Question Time" was not intended to last long, as it has. The BBC, much like the viewing audience, had tired of the 5-nighter that was "Parkinson" the chat show, and reduced it to 3 nights a week, and to be replaced by something different in tone, more serious. Little to be known at the time, the show has now been running for over 30 years. Robin Day hung up his anchoring boots in 1989, then-Channel 4 newsreader Peter Sission took over for a few years, and David Dimbleby has presented the show since 1994.
Michael Foot was leader of the Labour party at a tulmutuous time for the party. Foot was one of the intellectual members of the left wing of the party. A somewhat eccentric manner and look to the man, infamous for wearing a "donkey jacket" at the cenotaph at Remembrance Sunday in 1981. He was though a great orator of the old guard of politicians, never a man to personally please the media, but did things his way. His leadership from 1980-1983, was very unsuccessful, as his anti-war stance and plea for unilateral nuclear disarmament, was not greeted well by voters, especially as PM Maggie Thatcher boldly went to war with Argentina and won quickly, after their invasion of the Falklands Island, a British colony. This bolstered Thatcher's Conservatives they smashed Labour in the 1983 General election. Despite that, Foot was also set back by the plight of the Labour party almost coming to breaking point in 1981, when right wing Labour MP's "The Gang of Four" left for a breakaway party, "The Social Democratic Party", headed by Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers. Further party in-fighting continued, and Foot's manifesto for the 1983 election was labelled "the longest suicide note in history" by right-wing Labour MP Gerald Kaufman.
Although Foot's leadership was a failure, he was a vital part in keeping the party together, until it blossomed under his old apprentice Neil Kinnock. Also, some experts claim, some economic warnings heeded by Foot could've helped Britain stop the full brunt of the 2008 recession.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Friday, 19 February 2010
We're Not Alright Kinnock, You've Lost - The 1992 BBC Election Coverage, the Full Thing on Youtube
Election 1992 - Part One
An absolutely brilliant upload here. This is certainly the "jewel in the crown" for our politics genre. And we'll see more here hopefully, in the months leading up to the 2010 UK election in May/June. However, not the only election "up" on Youtube. 52 parts in total. That must be about 8 hours of coverage on Youtube. Amazing! This features the Election Night, running into sunrise.
David Dimbleby anchors the show along with the steely mouth Jeremy Paxman to grill the politican mouthpieces who appeared in the studio as the night began. The best reporters would be stationed around the country and at party headquarters and polling stations, as you'd expect. Political satrisist Rory Bremner was on hand to pass comment on proceeding out-of-studio throughout the night, with the odd impression of the campaigning leaders. Also we have the legend that is John Snow to present from the most up-to-date computer graphics of all the statistics on the election on a giant TV screen, profiling the target seats for each party, regional breakdowns and so on. An enthusiam that was hard to contain from John, and leapt to viewers' attentions.
The main comparison between this and our upcoming election, is this will be the first closely contested election since 1992, with the prospect of a "hung parliament" still in the air. This mean the party with the most seats has not reached a certain number to claim a majority, and will have to share the power with another party or parties, who, added together, can break the number barrier for majority territory.
In the build up to the 1992 election, polls were pointing towards a change in government, and a possible Labour majority govenrment under Labour leader and Welshman Neil Kinnock. Come the time of the infamous Sheffield Rally, the celebration for Labour's "looming" election were already under way, and Kinnock, perhaps taken in too much by the enthusiasm of the crowd, exclaimed "We're Alright, We're Alright". Well in the aftermath, the party were left with pie in their face, along with the official BBC exit polls, saying the best Conservative party could do, was a minority government. Also add to the fact, that the UK were in a worsening economic recession. Well, well, it was a turn-up for the books...
In this hugely important election, after voters had suffered or sailed under Margaret Thatcher's drastic reforms on free trade, manufacturing, property and privatisation in the 1980s, Thatcher had become increasing unpopular and became increasingly dictorial, the party rebelled against her. The thought was the next, this time unelected PM John Major, did not have the charisma and speaking prowess of Kinnock, but the catch was, many voters did not trust the man to run a country. A somewhat hysterical and blairy-mouthed individual, it was understandable. Major came across very differently from Thatcher, appearing gentlemanly and honourable.
In the end, the Tories tallied up with 336 seats, and were left with a surprising 21 seat majority. Kinnock's Labour gained 42 seats to a lacklustre 279 seats. The newly merged Liberal Democrats, after the late- 80s failure of the SDP-Lib Alliance, struggled to make a mark with leader Paddy Ashdown, losing 2 seats, down to 20 seats. The movement under the Nationalist parties like Plaid Cymru and SNP (Scottish National Party) stood solid with only Plaid gaining 1 seat. The Conservatives bubble was to burst 5 years later, with all worthwhile parties happily scrambling for seats in the next election.
An absolutely brilliant upload here. This is certainly the "jewel in the crown" for our politics genre. And we'll see more here hopefully, in the months leading up to the 2010 UK election in May/June. However, not the only election "up" on Youtube. 52 parts in total. That must be about 8 hours of coverage on Youtube. Amazing! This features the Election Night, running into sunrise.
David Dimbleby anchors the show along with the steely mouth Jeremy Paxman to grill the politican mouthpieces who appeared in the studio as the night began. The best reporters would be stationed around the country and at party headquarters and polling stations, as you'd expect. Political satrisist Rory Bremner was on hand to pass comment on proceeding out-of-studio throughout the night, with the odd impression of the campaigning leaders. Also we have the legend that is John Snow to present from the most up-to-date computer graphics of all the statistics on the election on a giant TV screen, profiling the target seats for each party, regional breakdowns and so on. An enthusiam that was hard to contain from John, and leapt to viewers' attentions.
The main comparison between this and our upcoming election, is this will be the first closely contested election since 1992, with the prospect of a "hung parliament" still in the air. This mean the party with the most seats has not reached a certain number to claim a majority, and will have to share the power with another party or parties, who, added together, can break the number barrier for majority territory.
In the build up to the 1992 election, polls were pointing towards a change in government, and a possible Labour majority govenrment under Labour leader and Welshman Neil Kinnock. Come the time of the infamous Sheffield Rally, the celebration for Labour's "looming" election were already under way, and Kinnock, perhaps taken in too much by the enthusiasm of the crowd, exclaimed "We're Alright, We're Alright". Well in the aftermath, the party were left with pie in their face, along with the official BBC exit polls, saying the best Conservative party could do, was a minority government. Also add to the fact, that the UK were in a worsening economic recession. Well, well, it was a turn-up for the books...
In this hugely important election, after voters had suffered or sailed under Margaret Thatcher's drastic reforms on free trade, manufacturing, property and privatisation in the 1980s, Thatcher had become increasing unpopular and became increasingly dictorial, the party rebelled against her. The thought was the next, this time unelected PM John Major, did not have the charisma and speaking prowess of Kinnock, but the catch was, many voters did not trust the man to run a country. A somewhat hysterical and blairy-mouthed individual, it was understandable. Major came across very differently from Thatcher, appearing gentlemanly and honourable.
In the end, the Tories tallied up with 336 seats, and were left with a surprising 21 seat majority. Kinnock's Labour gained 42 seats to a lacklustre 279 seats. The newly merged Liberal Democrats, after the late- 80s failure of the SDP-Lib Alliance, struggled to make a mark with leader Paddy Ashdown, losing 2 seats, down to 20 seats. The movement under the Nationalist parties like Plaid Cymru and SNP (Scottish National Party) stood solid with only Plaid gaining 1 seat. The Conservatives bubble was to burst 5 years later, with all worthwhile parties happily scrambling for seats in the next election.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Back to a Time when Politicians were Much Respected and Admired...
UK General Election 1950 - Election Night Report
At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.
Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.
The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.
At present, here is our is earliest TV nostalgia moment from 1950. Nowadays, especially with the shocking revelations of the Expenses scandal, bursting one of many confort bubbles for our pampered politicians. With a General Election now just months away, many voters are more apathetic that ever, despite the fact this might be a very close election, and the fact that a good deal of voters are in the mood for a change of party, the trust and respect in our MP's have dropped fairly dramatically. It's now hard to imagine a time when politicians did not have inflated wages, and were deemed honourable, admired and respected by the public.
Well, is a BBC information video on the campaign for the 1950 election, such as how votes are counted and organised, what goes on, in election night. Here we have 2 of the greatest British Prime Ministers facing each other. In one corner was Labour's Clement Attlee, who in this administration, brought some huge changes in state welfare, such as the introduction of the free National Health Service (NHS). In the other, was the Conservatives leader Winston Churchill, looking to get back into Government after his election defeat in 1945. He was thought to be a great leader in times of war, but not in peacetimes, in the public's view.
The film shows much enthusiasm for the election process, a gala night to commemorate the election, a large outdoor crowd watching the election score. Politics would crave for that kind of interest these days, but that is a long shot now, especially after dodgy dealings spending taxpayers money on duck moat homes, or whatever you call them.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Resign Now, Mr. Eden
UK Labour Party Political Broadcast - Nov 1956
The leader of the opposition, and known as one the greatest politicians to never become British Prime Minister, Hugh Gaitskell, speaks in 1956, arguing against the British intervention in Egypt, as a result of "The Suez Crisis". He demands that Conservative PM Anthony Eden, steps down from his role. He also mentions the Hungarian Uprising against Soviet Communist rule. Eden now, is one of our least celebrated Prime Ministers. He wanted to be a "Man of Peace" however the Suez Crisis almost contradicted his values. Eden never heeded Gaitskell's calls, but his term in office ran for only 2 years, retiring due to ill health and old age, replaced by fellow Conservative Harold MacMillan.
"The Suez Crisis" was a disaster for Britain, and was a symbolic gesture of the diminishing powers of the Great British Empire, especially in the Middle East. Britain, Israel and France invaded Egypt due to the actions of the country nationalising the Suez Canal, a very important region of trade and commerce which transferred Saudi Arabian oil to the Western World. After Egypt started to become more independent, taking itself out of the "Warsaw Pact", and the ability to arm themselves with the fear of an alliance with China, and trying to turn other Arabian countries like Jordan, Syria and Iraq against the western nations involved, and the tension between the Jews of Israel and the Arabs. This all came to a head. Egypt's leader Nasser was regarded as dictator by the British press.
Gaitskell was leader of the Labour party from 1955-1963. He unfortunately died in the latter year, which ended his leadership of the party instantly, dying of an condition known as Lupus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease. One of the main reason he didn't become PM sooner, was because of the rise in prosperity in UK living standards after the dire state of the UK economy in the early 1950's, under a Conservative Government.
The leader of the opposition, and known as one the greatest politicians to never become British Prime Minister, Hugh Gaitskell, speaks in 1956, arguing against the British intervention in Egypt, as a result of "The Suez Crisis". He demands that Conservative PM Anthony Eden, steps down from his role. He also mentions the Hungarian Uprising against Soviet Communist rule. Eden now, is one of our least celebrated Prime Ministers. He wanted to be a "Man of Peace" however the Suez Crisis almost contradicted his values. Eden never heeded Gaitskell's calls, but his term in office ran for only 2 years, retiring due to ill health and old age, replaced by fellow Conservative Harold MacMillan.
"The Suez Crisis" was a disaster for Britain, and was a symbolic gesture of the diminishing powers of the Great British Empire, especially in the Middle East. Britain, Israel and France invaded Egypt due to the actions of the country nationalising the Suez Canal, a very important region of trade and commerce which transferred Saudi Arabian oil to the Western World. After Egypt started to become more independent, taking itself out of the "Warsaw Pact", and the ability to arm themselves with the fear of an alliance with China, and trying to turn other Arabian countries like Jordan, Syria and Iraq against the western nations involved, and the tension between the Jews of Israel and the Arabs. This all came to a head. Egypt's leader Nasser was regarded as dictator by the British press.
Gaitskell was leader of the Labour party from 1955-1963. He unfortunately died in the latter year, which ended his leadership of the party instantly, dying of an condition known as Lupus erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease. One of the main reason he didn't become PM sooner, was because of the rise in prosperity in UK living standards after the dire state of the UK economy in the early 1950's, under a Conservative Government.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Interesting Report on the Raw Version of the early BNP (British National Party). Skinheads at the Ready!
Old and Bad-style British National Party in 1991 on Panorama
Now, I was going to show some much-awaited old by-election coverage from a far flung corner of the UK, but I found this, and it's a great find, from the long-running investogative series Panorama. Thumbs down though, it is a thuggish party and still is. Nowadays you have Nick Griffin appearing on "Question Time" trying to modernise the party, in a suit, however it still the same type of party it was, just that there is more of this (above in video)under the radar. The BNP back in the early 90's did indeed take a more alienating and hardcore stance in the public sphere, under the leadership of John Tyndall, who appears in this clip, harvesting his hatred to a crowd.
The clip first ventures into a pub full of skinheads, wearing either black jackets or denim, but the first person they talk too, is a flouncy-haired farmer-looking guy. One guy is shown proudly showing badges conveying the Nazi flag and BNP logo. The haircut that female BNP supporter; I've tried searching to find the name for it, as I remember it being an early-80's style too. The best I can find is, it's called a buzz, but a buzz can mean short, shave hair only. Alright, that's enough of that.
The BNP were a far-right, fascist party formed in 1982 by John Tyndall. This was a section of members of "The National Front" who split from the party. Their were hopes of them merging together again, but it never happened. For much of the 80's, the National Front were the better performing party, however the BNP over-took the lead in this movement, in the 90's, and very increasingly, in the 2000's. The documentary here, probably ties in the the surge in popularity for the party in the early 90's, especially in London and the South East. The BNP did not allow homosexual, black, Asian or lesbian people to become members, while the National Front was more relaxed to homosexuals. This clip is quite an important piece of history, to remind us of the outright hatred that is portrayed openly, compared to recent times.
Now, I was going to show some much-awaited old by-election coverage from a far flung corner of the UK, but I found this, and it's a great find, from the long-running investogative series Panorama. Thumbs down though, it is a thuggish party and still is. Nowadays you have Nick Griffin appearing on "Question Time" trying to modernise the party, in a suit, however it still the same type of party it was, just that there is more of this (above in video)under the radar. The BNP back in the early 90's did indeed take a more alienating and hardcore stance in the public sphere, under the leadership of John Tyndall, who appears in this clip, harvesting his hatred to a crowd.
The clip first ventures into a pub full of skinheads, wearing either black jackets or denim, but the first person they talk too, is a flouncy-haired farmer-looking guy. One guy is shown proudly showing badges conveying the Nazi flag and BNP logo. The haircut that female BNP supporter; I've tried searching to find the name for it, as I remember it being an early-80's style too. The best I can find is, it's called a buzz, but a buzz can mean short, shave hair only. Alright, that's enough of that.
The BNP were a far-right, fascist party formed in 1982 by John Tyndall. This was a section of members of "The National Front" who split from the party. Their were hopes of them merging together again, but it never happened. For much of the 80's, the National Front were the better performing party, however the BNP over-took the lead in this movement, in the 90's, and very increasingly, in the 2000's. The documentary here, probably ties in the the surge in popularity for the party in the early 90's, especially in London and the South East. The BNP did not allow homosexual, black, Asian or lesbian people to become members, while the National Front was more relaxed to homosexuals. This clip is quite an important piece of history, to remind us of the outright hatred that is portrayed openly, compared to recent times.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
And You Thought Politics was Boring?
Roy Jenkins and the Flour Bomb 1975
Hello, and welcome to first edition of the Politics section. This will profile election coverage, by-election coverage, and whatever on youtube that shows some of Britain's greatest leaders and politicians, and some not-so.
First we have a clip, that I would say is not only something for fans of politics, but politics haters. Roy Jenkins, a very instrumental politician in the 1960's, 70's and 80's. Here he is pummeled by a flour bomb, and the he reacts with a great deal of outrage, in that great well-spoken voice of his, which provides the entertainment.
Roy Jenkins was Labour's Home Secretary, and passed and liberalised some of the most important law changes in modern Britain. Homosexuality was made decriminalised, abortion was legalised and capital punishment for crooks was suspended. No more hangings. By the late-70's Jenkins had become disillusioned with the Labour party and the increasing power of the left wing of the party. After a reign as President of the European Commission, Jenkins returned to the UK political scene and became a member of the breakaway Labour "The Gang of 4" Group, and they founded a true political party of the centre, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which under his leadership, merged with the UK third force, the Liberal Party, to become the "SDP-Liberal Alliance". This was successful for a while in the early 80's, but when Jenkins lost his Glasgow Hillhead seat to left-wing maverick "Gorgeous George" Galloway. This was the end of his career, but was still in the public, writing books. Jenkins died of a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 82.
Hello, and welcome to first edition of the Politics section. This will profile election coverage, by-election coverage, and whatever on youtube that shows some of Britain's greatest leaders and politicians, and some not-so.
First we have a clip, that I would say is not only something for fans of politics, but politics haters. Roy Jenkins, a very instrumental politician in the 1960's, 70's and 80's. Here he is pummeled by a flour bomb, and the he reacts with a great deal of outrage, in that great well-spoken voice of his, which provides the entertainment.
Roy Jenkins was Labour's Home Secretary, and passed and liberalised some of the most important law changes in modern Britain. Homosexuality was made decriminalised, abortion was legalised and capital punishment for crooks was suspended. No more hangings. By the late-70's Jenkins had become disillusioned with the Labour party and the increasing power of the left wing of the party. After a reign as President of the European Commission, Jenkins returned to the UK political scene and became a member of the breakaway Labour "The Gang of 4" Group, and they founded a true political party of the centre, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which under his leadership, merged with the UK third force, the Liberal Party, to become the "SDP-Liberal Alliance". This was successful for a while in the early 80's, but when Jenkins lost his Glasgow Hillhead seat to left-wing maverick "Gorgeous George" Galloway. This was the end of his career, but was still in the public, writing books. Jenkins died of a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 82.
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