Let's Talk (but not about Jacko)
Last night I did a bit of double jobbing, filling in for a colleague on leave by helping out the production team on "Let's Talk". It's a programme which I've never worked on before so it was interesting to sit in the gallery driving the discussion rather than sitting at home as a viewer.
We covered the damage done to Northern Ireland's reputation after the departure of the intimidated Roma familes, whether the new Commons Speaker could tackle the expenses crisis, and if Ian Paisley is too old to stand again as an MP.
On the panel, Ian Paisley Junior told us his dad was "messing with my head" over his possible candidacy at the age of 83. You got a sense that Ian Snr. might simply be keeping his cards close to his chest. Questioned about Iris Robinson's claim (which the Fees Office never approved and the DUP said had been made "in error") for a £300 fountain pen, Ian Jnr. said that anyone who wasn't embarrassed by something like that would have something wrong with them.
Kate Hoey, Alex Maskey, the Equality Commission's Evelyn Collins and the "Apprentice" contestant Ben Clarke weighed in with their views on the topics already mentioned plus whether they would work for free to save their job and if there is a quick fix for the "grunting" problem at Wimbledon. Ben made it clear that he was more interested in looking at Maria Sharapova than listening to whatever noises she makes when she serves.
I don't think I'm giving away too many state secrets if I reveal that the programme is usually recorded about two hours before it goes out on air. Then when it is transmitted people text and phone in their comments. The staff monitoring these incoming messages were puzzled, as the programme neared its end, that an increasing number of viewers were asking what had happened to Michael Jackson. As these comments weren't deemed relevant to the debates on screen they weren't passed on to the edit suite where we were approving messages for transmission. And concentrating on the texts, I didn't think to peruse the news wires. So it was that the programme team were just as shocked as everyone else when "Let's Talk" finished and the London newsroom took over for a newsflash.
This weekend it's my turn to head off on leave, but never fear Inside Politics will be on air as usual on Sunday just after the one o'clock news. Our guest is due to be the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.
Oh, and the presenter? Here's a clue - who do you think the Deputy Speaker was thinking of on Tuesday before he called one of the Sinn Fein Foyle MLAs to speak in a debate on the full time police reserve?
Here's another clue, from the Official Report. "Mr Deputy Speaker: I call Ms Martina Purd -- Anderson. Ms Anderson. [Laughter.]"
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~13~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Mark
LET'S TALK, BUT DON'T UPSET ANYONE
That the Programme is pre-recorded has never been a secret and that's why it lacks spontaneity and edge.
Ben Clarke, with his 'Monkhousein' sincerity' was matched by Paisley Junior whose contribution was unctuous to the point of nausea.
Ales Maskey, Sinn Fein's Rent-a-Mouth did say something sensible at one point (you've no idea how it hurts me to say that) in relation to the expenses scandal, viz, nobody forced individual MPs to milk the expenses system.
As regards the racism issue, the entire Panel avoided the real issue: acknowledgement of the fact that having two Fascist parties running Northern Ireland makes racism an inevitable consequence.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
Mark,
Maybe the Deputy Speaker is in Martina Purdy's fan club too.
Let's talk is like question time in the Assembly. It is boring, jovial and most questions are planted. The odd time we get a livewire who either asks a fiery question or makes controversial comments. What is the requirement to be in the audience? A couple of months ago a TUV activist was heckling a DUP MLA, MP with the presenter standing on having a panic attack.
What we need is for there to hard questions asked to ensure our MLA's come away with bloody noises.
Also Mark no one appeared to realise that Ian Paisley is not the current father of the house. This post is held by Alan Williams as he has the longest unbroken service.
Just on the subject of Paisley brings on the election between Paisley and Allister. Note I didn't say which Paisley. Are the DUP having a strategy now off raising profiles with a general election in mind? Will Edwin Poots go for Westminster in Lagan Valley as Jeffrey wants to be in the Assembly? If Ian senior goes for North Antrim where will baby Paisley go? Looking at previous election results -
2005 25,156 voted Paisley out of 46,226. That is a 54% share of the vote.
2007 21,733 voted DUP 1st preference out of 44,655.
On that evidence Jim Allister would need to win 13,000 votes. It is a big task which I can't see him winning. If he doesn't get in there he will definitely get an MLA post.
An interesting thought would be if the nationalist parties spoiled the party. If SDLP and Sinn Fein only fielded 1 candidate and asked both supporters to support the 1 candidate it would not only spoil the party it would ruin unionism....
Stormontspy
Complain about this comment
Ian Paisley Jnr.'s performance was quite good. He was affable, polite and dealt well with the points raised, particularly racism and expenses. His manner was honest, sincere and he even managed a couple of good jokes. I expect any interpretation of unction might be due to a lack of generousity on the viewer's part. Give him the benefit of the doubt.
Also, Alex Maskey isn't a "rent-a-mouth" but an elected representative who is equal to other MLAs when it comes to having a mandate and having a right to speak on his constituents, his own and his party's behalf. He was the first Sinn Fein elected representative in Belfast City Council and although he was met by abuse then surely we have moved on?
Complain about this comment
Ian Paisley Jr, was smiling, respectful happy and seemed quite assessible. It creeped me out.
Complain about this comment
In the last edidion of Lets Talk the 2 MLA's on the panel both highligted in their own ways on the importance of honesty when it comes to politicians claims.
According to details of Office Costs Allowances on the Assembly web-site both MLA's claimed the maximum possible ammount in the years 2005/2006 and 2007/2008 namely £48000 & £68176 respectively.
In view of their comments regarding claims could I invite both Ian Jnr and Alex to be the first MLAs to personally release details of all claims and receipts for the two years in question.
Complain about this comment
Having been in the audience on Thursday night and then gone home, put some bread in the kettle and boiled the toaster, and (sadly) sat down to watch the programme as broadcast on the sofa, I was similarly surprised at the end to discover the breaking news.
That'll teach me to watch TV downstairs and not stuck in front of a computer!
Complain about this comment
Mark,
Just a quick practical suggestion re the website. Can you please get a link added to the 'Inside Politics' audio, from the main Northern Ireland politics page? At the moment you have to do a separate search to find it.
Regards
Woodhouseian
Complain about this comment
Susie Flood
Two fascist parties?
fascist:
a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.
Now Sinn Fein are part of a republican movement that in times past murdered the democratically elected leaders of nationlism , at the easter rising, and more recent; well we know about the troubles.
The DUP however, service ever, surrender never. well that aint a fascist politcal ideology. And it was the DUP who put controls in at St Andrews to stop minister going on a solo run, forcing collective ministerial responsibility to finally arrive at the NI Assembly for the first time since 1998. That means shared decisions by the way.
Or were you refering to the UUP and SDLP, who came up with brain wave of mandatory coalition that prevents a viable opposition? Forcible oppression of the oppostion is fascist yes....and they stopped people looking for alternatives didn't they, can't cherry pick and all that. Could be construed as forcible supression of the no vote and a rigged assembly to keep the no voters powerless.
Well all fascist fail in the end.
Complain about this comment
Madge
HAVE YOU A SORE FOOT?
You should have because you shot yourself in the foot by using that definition of Fascism. It fits the DUP and Sinn Fein to a tee.
What do you think about Sir Reg's observation that the DUP/Sinn Axis is running the Executive "like a huckster's shop"?
In future, let's call them Fascist Hucksters; sounds about right to me.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
'I call Ms Martina Purd -- Anderson. Ms Anderson. [Laughter.]'
Another gracious put-down Mark but this time it's the deputy Speaker. "I call Ms Martina Purdy"...oh hang on she isn't here, she's with "Mr Gelly".
Brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant.
Martina 'Purd' and Mr Gelly.
Complain about this comment
Susie, dear dear.
Where to start. Does the DUP exalt nation and race over the individual. No. They repeatedly forced elcetions to ensure the people had their say. The forced the UUP to resign and collapse the executive after they did the opposite of their election pledges. no guns no govt, no hand in of gun no hand in govt...etc. So they DUP exalted the indiviuals over the establishment.
DUP were the only major party in 1998 and ever since to continually oppose mandatory coalition, instead favouring voluntary coalition. Hardly can be called dictatorial.
Ask the Small business federation if they think the DUP stands for severe economic regimentation. The package the DUP put in place in 2007 before the recession bit its hardest is still the envy of the english SBF, read their website.
Socially the DUP have always said live and let live. Don't exalt one group over another, live together as equals including on funding.
Forcible oppression of the opposition....now ian pasiley said come on and get a hiding, but it was metaphorical....lol. No, the DUP have always supported a strong opposition, good for govt and democracy and one of them main reason the GFA was opposed.
Sorry Susie, don't know where you get your crack pot ideas.
Complain about this comment
Madge
CRACKPOT CALLING KETTLE BLACK
Don't call me Dear, Luv.
You've a nerve talking about "crack pot."
Crackpot is your Post 9 under the "REARRANGING THE METAPHORS ON THE RESHUFFLE" entry.
In fact your Post 9 is more than crackpot, IT'S BLOOMIN' NUTS!
By the way you haven't answered me about Sir Reg's "huckster shop" remark vis a vis the way the DUP/Sinn Fein Fascist Huckster Coalition run the Executive.
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
I didn't call you dear, i said dear dear, implying a wry smile and shake of the head in dispair.
I personally couldnt care less about reg empeys crocodile tears. He was a chief negotiator for the UUP when this sytem was set up in 1998, and it is more accountable thanks to the DUP changes at St Andrews.
If he thinks it isn't working well and amounts to a sectarian carve up of ministries, why didn't he listen to the DUP in 1998 when they predicted it? And what is so hard about reading 30 pages in an hour and a half anyway? If every other minister can do it why can't reg? I would understand more, maybe give him some credence, if other ministers had complained also.
This man is known for his hyperbole....BCC aparently doesn't have the power to change a light bulb...remember.
Complain about this comment
Ps Susie...what was nuts?
Ulster scots has a distinct vocab, structure and grammar and by definition therefore is a seperate language. It developed alongside english and scots gaelic over hundreds of years...thats a fact.
so the only thing you could think is nuts would be the Bible thing. Would you care to elaborate, I would like to see what historical, geographical and scientific evidence you have to back up your claims or craziness.....and be careful with this one...im a scientist!
I merely pointed out the factual basis of the Bible. Do you dispute that Jesus lived or King David was buried in Jerusalem etc etc.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS