Tuesday 17 June 2014

Floreat Dunelmia?

I shall be in the audience for Any Questions? on Friday, as part of the six hundredth anniversary celebrations of Durham School.
 
At precisely 8:30, I might shout, "balderdash and piffle!"
 
But no, of rather more import is that the panel will include both Michael Forsyth, who is admittedly a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and Mike Russell, who is an erudite and eloquent man, but who is a Minister in the Scottish Executive.
 
Does the BBC imagine that Durham is in Scotland? Was no one local available? I can think of dozens, from the full range of political affiliation and opinion.
 
Oh, well. If you have any doubt that the No side has already won the Scottish independence referendum, then look no further than the fact that the SNP is sending one of its best thinkers and speakers to Durham for this weekend.

13 comments:

  1. The Yes side has now won whatever happens in the election.

    As has been pointed out numerous times, the size of the swelling Yes vote is set to be so big that the status quo just can't be preserved any longer.

    Once, independence supporters were tiny and eccentric enough a band to be ignored.

    That's all gone now.

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  2. It's a disgrace that they haven't got you on the panel. You are the most celebrated son of Durham and the greatest political thinker of our generation.

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  3. Apparently, Rod is on. That'll do nicely.

    The Yes side has only won if there is a Yes vote. That is how it works.

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  4. No it won't do nicely. We want Mr L, the greatest political thinker of our generation.

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  5. I suggest that you make representations to the BBC. Do please let me know how you get on.

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  6. Go on, have the guts to put your hand up and speak.

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  7. It doesn't work like Question Time. There is no audience participation beyond asking questions.

    I might try and put one in, although I assume that everyone does. I'll see how I feel at the time.

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  8. You can do it. My friend's been on, and as long as the question is topical that week (and half decent) it gets chosen. I mean look at the ones that make it through.

    You can join in when they turn to the audience and start picking people with hands up.

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  9. They don't do that on Any Questions?, it is very Radio Four. That is how it can be broadcast live. Question Time has to be heavily edited.

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  10. At least put a question in, you're full of it on here-you must be brimming with them.

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  11. It's incredible that the BBC doesn't have you on AQ. Time they flipping well did and took an interest in the world outside London.

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  12. I'll see. But I'm dashing straight there from something. And then straight on to something else.

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