Liam redux

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Diane Abbott interview

A sensible precaution when applying for a high profile job is to have a couple of glib answers ready for questions about the sticky areas on the CV. Leader of the Labour Party is the sort of job that’s guaranteed to put wannabees under a fair bit of scrutiny. Here’s the transcript of the section…

Liam
1–2 minutes

A sensible precaution when applying for a high profile job is to have a couple of glib answers ready for questions about the sticky areas on the CV. Leader of the Labour Party is the sort of job that’s guaranteed to put wannabees under a fair bit of scrutiny.

Here’s the transcript of the section of Diane Abbott’s radio interview with journalist Anne McElvoy in which the aspirant leader deals with the delicate subject of her son’s private education. It’s two hours forty minutes in.

AMcE: You have your son in private education. You said you are in tune with the Labour membership. A lot of that membership does not like or accept the idea of private education. Isn’t that a bit of a clash.

DA:

(slight rustle of papers)

AMcE: (eleven silent seconds later) Aren’t you going to comment on that…

Isn’t that a much better response than some blustering half truth of the sort you’d get from a more typical politician? Here’s a song.

7 responses to “Diane Abbott interview”

  1. Jodley Avatar
    Jodley

    Even the founder of the Campaign for Comprehensive Education (Caroline Benn) sent Hilary to two “independent” (aka private/public, whatever you want to call them – certainly not state schools) for pre-prep, and prep (i.e. from age 4 to 13). Before sending him to a very good state comp. It’s not quite clear what was the Benns’ justification was for these choices given that existence of universal state primary schooling. Indeed, I can’t remember anyone ever asking about it. But it certainly didn’t represent an insurmountable bar to support for Tony’s leadership campaign, as far as I recall.

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  2. Gary Avatar
    Gary

    Still, probably better of her to stay silent than going back into how great West Indian mums are. The campaign is improving.

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  3. Doug Avatar
    Doug

    What exactly are you saying Liam – she should be applauded for avoiding an important question?

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  4. Simon John Whitten Avatar
    Simon John Whitten

    Her campaign does seem to be at its most effective when she’s not saying anything…

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  5. jonno Avatar
    jonno

    another embarrassment following the cringeworthy Andrew Neil interview.

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  6. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    Doug “What exactly are you saying Liam – she should be applauded for avoiding an important question?”

    I assume it’s sarcasm, Doug. Quite a gaffe by Abbott. Of course her position is undefendable but to just say nothing is pretty much incompetent.

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  7. DemoCritic

    Labour Leadership Contest 2010…

    I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…

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