MICHAEL PORTILLO: LIVE CHAT TRANSCRIPT & VIDEO
Tuesday 18 February 2003
Michael Portillo joined us in the BBCi Studio in London after the first episode of Dinner with Portillo to answer your questions. This is an edited transcript of the chat.
Joey: What's it like to be hosting your own TV series?
Michael Portillo: A wonderful privilege. The great thing for me was to try and make it feel like a proper dinner party. We do it in a public building in London - not a studio. It's a round table so everyone's looking at each other so they forget they are being filmed. And it becomes extremely natural, and you see it the way it happened, even though we edit it down.
George: What did you all have for dinner?
Michael Portillo: George, I can't remember! We've recorded five now. I remember saying we were eating something that wasn't British. I was concentrating so hard on the conversation, I didn't notice the food!
Zoe: Where was the dinner held, it looked fantastic?
Michael Portillo: I have to ask you to keep this a secret - it's actually the Carlton Club in London. It's a Conservative political club, but there's no political reason - it's just a lovely room, and luckily none of our guests objected to going there!
Susana Wright: Would you invite Rod Liddle around to your own house for dinner?
Michael Portillo: Yes, I would! I think that sort of person, who is so sure of his opinions and provocative, I think he's terrific. He's now associate editor of the Spectator after leaving Today and he's very provocative doing that too.
Jez: Do you actually live in your constituency?
Michael Portillo: No I don't. I live in Victoria. My constituency is Kensington and Chelsea and I'm half way between Parliament and there.
FD Williams: How much input do you have to the discussion topics on the show?
Michael Portillo: A fair amount of input. I discuss with the producer in the advance what we're going to talk about. We get good briefings about articles which people on the show have written. Then we draw up the questions we want to go through.
James: If you could invite any living or dead person to dinner, who would it be and why?
Michael Portillo: It's funny you ask because there's about to be a new TV show called Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and the theme is that a guest comes along and tells you who they'd have to their dinner party, living or dead. I'd like to have Alistair Cooke, the broadcaster, because I listen to him on the radio, and I think the wisdom and elegance of the way he expresses himself - he's be a marvellous guest.
Benjamin Cohen: How long will you give Iain Duncan Smith to survive as Tory leader, and how long would you give Tony Blair?
Michael Portillo: I think they're both going to be around for quite a long time. There have been rumblings in the Conservative Party, and I think what's fascinating is the number of people in Labour who talk about getting rid of Tony Blair. But if I had to go to the bookmaker I'd put money on them both surviving quite a long time.
Jabberwoc: I think your shows are interesting and I was wondering, 30 minutes seems a very short time not only for a dinner, but also for an intellectual discussion. Can the programmes not be longer and how long does the dinner go on for, before it's edited for TV?
Michael Portillo: The answer is about two hours - we sit down at eight and try and finish by ten. So you're seeing about a quarter of what actually happened. I think the length of it is good. Obviously with any conversation you get a lot of repetition so you want to get that edited out and get a pace to the discussion. I think it's well edited.
rmal1: Would you have Ken Clarke on the series?
Michael Portillo: We don't have him on this series of seven programmes, but he's be a very good dinner party companion. He's got the gift of the gab so he'd be very good indeed. I think one Conservative is enough for the dinners perhaps!
Jabberwoc: How conspicious are the cameras during the dinner and do they affect how people act during the debate? Indeed, are poeple conscious of them?
Michael Portillo: Even people who arrive at the beginning nervous soon forget the cameras are there. The table is well lit and the people get engaged with each other and the conversation. The cameramen are dressed in black and we really aren't aware of them to any great extent.
Cherie: Who's your favourite guest so far?
Michael Portillo: I don't want to give an invidious answer because I'm so grateful to all of them. Let me give you a generic one - I like the people who know what they think and say it loudly and clearly. And if they cause a row, that's okay. It's very watchable.
Lady: How do you like to spend your free time?
Michael Portillo: I'm very serious about holidays. I put a lot of effort into planning them. I went to Cuba for Christmas as an example - a wonderful holiday with my extended family. I like travelling for music - this year I'm going to Germany and the US to hear Wagner operas. And I did a programme about Wagner on BBC Two this year.
Mary: If you hadn't become a politician, what job would you have done?
Michael Portillo: I'd have hoped to be a TV presenter I think! When I was young I was interested in politics and TV. I remember David Frost visiting our school when I was in the sixth form and being captivated.
Heather: What kind of briefing do you get on the topic to be discussed before you host the dinner? At times the guests turned to you as font of all knowledge on a specific issue and you made assumptions for the sake of argument.
Michael Portillo: I don't think it's true that they turn to me as the font of all knowledge! I get briefings mainly consisting of articles written by the people at the dinner, expressing their point of view. So I get a feel for the subject and know who to turn to for different viewpoints.
Ian Morris: Mr Portillo, do you think Britain will have a single currency by 2005?
Michael Portillo: If I had to bet I'd say no. I believe the story that the government is thinking of postponing the referendum beyond this parliament. I don't think it would be easy for the referendum to be won now especially as the German economy isn't doing very well at the moment.
aim2bgreat: New Zealand farmers have been unsubsidised since 1984 and successfully export to the European Union despite the subsidies. Now NZ is undertaking bilateral free trade agreements with other countries and is beginning them with the US after frustration with EU stalling over CAP reform. Do you think the EU is in danger of becoming the "poor farmers" trading block if it delays too long?
Michael Portillo: Yes I do. I didn't know that about New Zealand - I think that's fascinating. The failure to reform the Common Agricultural Policy year after year is hugely disappointing and there must be a big economic cost to Europe from that failure.
Susan: Hunting: are you for or against?
Michael Portillo: Susan, I'm for it. I haven't ever hunted, I've no interest in it, but I'm a strong believer in the freedom to hunt. And I haven't been convinced by the arguments against.
Tom: How do you think we can get more younger people interested in politics?
Michael Portillo: That's the $64,000 question. We have another dinner in the series about political apathy. I don't think we managed to answer the question of how we get the younger people more involved. The BBC has been thinking about how to present politics differently to get young people more interested. Perhaps the BBC is trying to do that by interactivity and webcasts like this.
Lizzy: Do you personally believe the countryside is in danger?
Michael Portillo: Yes, in some ways I do. I think it's hard to see how new generations of people can afford housing in their villages with so many commuters going large distances. There's a shortage of employment, pressure on subsidies. But nowadays it ought to matter much less where you live as far as what you want to do is concerned. We talk about remote working by computers and visual connections like the sort we're using tonight. Perhaps we haven't learnt enough about it yet.
Kate: What experience do you have the countryside?
Michael Portillo: Kate, very little. I've never been employed in the countryside. I've spent many years as an MP and as I explained in the programme I'm an urban member. I must be one of the more ignorant Conservative MPs as far as the countryside is concerned. I don't yearn to get on the wellies at the weekend at all. I love to live in the city, especially to be in London at the weekends. I'm a confirmed urbanite.
Ian Morris: Mr Portillo, I know this won't be helpful, but you really should be the next Tory leader!
Michael Portillo: Ian, you're right with half of what you say - that isn't helpful! But thank you!
Dave: Would you still want to try to become party leader?
Michael Portillo: No, I wouldn't. I don't think I'd be successful anyway and I don't think I have sufficient support, particularly amongst the British media, to have a go at it.
ElPanzas: Is there is a strategic value for farming? Can it be calculated (e.g. real option theory)?
Michael Portillo: I don't understand that theory. I guess you can only calculate these things very broadly. I guess the amount we give in subsidy doesn't derive from calculation, but political compromise.
rmal1: What do you think of Stephen Twigg, after his shock win in 1997?
Michael Portillo: He was my opponent who defeated me in 1997. Even before the election I thought he was very nice and very bright. So I'm not surprised that he started to climb the ministerial ladder and I'm very pleased for him. He's always continued to be extremely courteous to me.
eastanglianfarmer: Do you think British agriculture genuinely stands a chance when all publicity from the government and the media is negative?
Michael Portillo: I think it stands a chance but I take the point that most of the publicity you hear about farming is negative. I sympathise because I'm also in a profession in which publicity is often negative.
Teddycycle: What is your opinion on the asylum issue? Should we take in more or less?
Michael Portillo: I think the system is in a complete mess and has become a sort of fraud because it's clear the government can't cope with the numbers who are claiming asylum, and it's in no real position to judge whether those claims are genuine or not. After claiming they tend to disappear into the country and even if the claim is then found to be invalid that can't be put right. There's talk of reducing the number of applicants, and I think that can only be achieved if the country achieves a different regime where people can only believe they can get in with a valid claim.
Peter: Do you think the public feel their voices are heard over asylum concerns?
Michael Portillo: The public on the whole does not think that its concerns are being heard, but I believe that's beginning to change. I think the prime minister has changed his view. When he promised to reduce the numbers by half, people thought it was spin. But in the Commons he said he would do it and people should judge him on it.
Joan: To what extent do you think supermarkets are dominating the agricultural industry?
Michael Portillo: I'm no expert, but from everything I hear, they are in an extremely dominant position, which is partly good and partly bad. The standards supermarkets set are high meaning we get terrific quality good, but farmers to feel under very substantial pressure from them.
aim2bgreat: Michael, Re House of Lords reform. The argument against elected seems to be that there are specialists needed in the HoL's and it needs "stability". Do you think that a proportional representation off party lists on six-year terms with a third re-elected each two years would solve any of these concerns from anti-reform members? It would enable a democratic solution to be implemented.
Michael Portillo: I'm one of those who believes in having an appointed house for a different reason to you. My main point is that the House of Lords should be unlike the Commons in that MPs are controlled by party whips and mainly lose their independence. There's a danger that party whips could control those in the Lords too. But if you have a condition that there's no re-election then to some extent you mitigate that problem.
Jabberwoc: I think the Commmon Agricultural Pplocy is anti-competitive and a cause of many problems within Europe. Considering the vested interests of the beneficiary nations, do you think it's likely the CAP will be scrapped and replaced by a fairer system of aid?
Michael Portillo: I agree in your analysis. I think what you say is absolutely right about the CAP. But I see no prospect of it being reformed. Nearly everyone has recognised these terrible deficiencies, but when it comes up for reform, particularly Germany and France oppose it.
ElPanzas: Both major parties are nearly neo-liberal economically (perhaps), and yet both parties seem not to be socially liberal (even if Mr Letwin tries). Is it time for a new breakaway party that has neoliberal economics with liberal social views (so I have someone to vote for)?
Michael Portillo: That's an interesting question. I agree that both main parties appear to be neo-liberal in economic terms. It's interesting you think neither is liberal in social terms. I personally would like to think politics that was liberal in social terms and economic terms. But I shy away from the implication of what you say and don't think it's time to have a new party, but to work on the ones we've got.
Rory: What do you think about the congestion charge? Does it affect you significantly?
Michael Portillo: I don't like it for two reasons. One is that I think it's a big imposition on people with low incomes who have to use their car. I also think it's an inefficient way of raising a small amount of money. It's a large cost to raise a relatively small amount. It affects me personally in that I have to pay the £5, but I can afford to pay it and it seems to me an irony that a policy that allows me to drive and allow freer roads because poorer people have been taken away from them is extraordinary.
BillyConwy: Do you think there are too many politicians taking too little responsibility? In Wales we've given up caring who our MP, AM, MEP or local councillor is - all doing well for themselves but delivering little. No one can keep up with them all
Michael Portillo: Yes, I do agree. But not just in Wales. I don't know how you voted in the referendum, but when we offer people the chance to vote for more politicians, they vote for them. I think it is a feature of poltitics today that politicians take less and less responsibility - lots of decisions get passed to experts, public inquiries, judges. I think part of our discussion on political apathy passes to too many politicians taking too little responsibility.
Teddycycle: What is your opinion on the possible war with Iraq?
Michael Portillo: I am pretty close in support of the prime minister. I think the authority of the UN is at stake. Iraq has defied the UN since 1991. I am convinced Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and is a threat to the region. I hope, like the prime minister, that war can be avoided. The fate of Iraq lies with Saddam Hussein.
Ian Morris: Mr Portillo - This electronic interaction is bringing politicians to the people - what are your views on electronic voting?
Michael Portillo: In general elections, I think it's a good thing. A lot of our politics seems old fashioned to members of the public, and this business of putting a pencil cross on a piece of paper is a pretty old fashioned way of doing business when most of us spend all day at a keyboard. In the Commons we still vote in person, rather than electronically, and I'd like to continue that because it's a time when ministers and MPs come together.
Tony: Is broadcasting your new love or is politics still your passion?
Michael Portillo: Can't I have two loves?! I think the link between the two is that I like communicating. Part of what I do is communicate about politics as well as being a politician.
BBC Host: Here's Michael with a final word...
Michael Portillo: Thank you very much indeed for participating in this webchat. It's my first time doing this, with a camera, and I've enjoyed it. It's very good fun to have people coming back with questions again, putting the public in the position of the interviewer.
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