SponPlague

I thought Mike did well. I missed the start, though: Why was Hoon on stage, with candidate relegated to audience - surely that was over-representation of Labour, and therefore bias?

Resigned Member

Quite correct . This was a most bizarre programme with
it becoming a Geoff Hoon love-in. In the circs Nattrass was as dignified as could be but was,through no fault of his own,made to look foolish.

eublues

Particularly odd was the absence of the Tory candidate from the show. We were told he had another engagement - but hard to imagine what could be so important elsewhere.

cassie

I think you're being unduly harsh on Nattrass - and the others for that matter! I thought he spoke in a sensible and reasonable manner. It is easy to criticise from the sidelines!

The whole programme was - as usual- skewed, more for entertainment than enlightenment and to safeguard the position of the Big Three! Why didn't the panel comprise solely the local candidates? The cynical English nationalist in me suggests that it was to ensure that the inevitable Scot could be present, even better if he is a carpet bagger from Aberdeen who allows the unperceptive to gain the impression that he is English!

As you say, Paxman was disgracefully arrogant . . . "You're the UKIP candidate! So we know where you are coming from!" Pity Mr Nattrass himself wasn't invited to say for the benefit of those viewers who did not know! After all, what IS the purpose of Newnight if it is not also to inform and, on this occasion, it should have been the candidates themselves doing the informing. Here then, was a fine opportunity for the BBC to enable the candidates to show themselves to voters which was, as is all too usual, squandered on the altar of entertainment [I use the term relatively] and kow towing to the current political establishment!

The fact is Paxman was operating in his milieu which is unfamiliar to the vast majority of the others present in the studio. It needed someone to elbow their way in and to take on Paxo directly - not an easy challenge when, like the Uni Challenge quizmaster, he has the cribsheet! However, it has to be said that cheeky, chubby Salmond is very good at it, but he has now acquired considerable experience in that environment!

I missed the start of the programme, but what I saw indicated that both Scots and Welsh opinions were represented in what is supposed to be a by-election in England! Can anyone seriously envisage similar treatment of a by-election in Scotland or Wales - or Northern Ireland for that matter?

Petrina's comment about UKIP not leading the revolution has to be seen for what it is - a cheap, unworthy shot! Such comments are better directed at the real enemies of England and Great Britain!



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Bob FM

Not unexpectedly it was 3 party politics again. Paxman is as 'pig' ignorant as you can get. He likes the sound of his own voice, but Mike did come across OK, I guess Petrina was watching a different channel.

mkpdavies

Paxman gets paid to treat guests with contempt. It is his trademark.

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blueblood1920

Its why politicians hate him, but typical BBC hyping up the Main parties.

VOTE MONSTER RAVING LOONY!

kernow

Agreed, but on the other hand he did rubbish Mike with one sentence, without giving him the chance to reply, whereas he let Hoon run off at the mouth!

mkpdavies

Buff Hoon is best left to ridicule himself anyway.

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