A Shouting Match Live on Air With George Galloway

Saturday, May 02, 2009

A Shouting Match Live on Air With George Galloway

Iain Dale 10:39 PM

Click HERE to listen to the interview

I have never shouted at a radio presenter before, but I have just had the Mother of all rows with George Galloway on TalkSport. Quite incredible. I had been invited on to talk about the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's 1979 election victory.

He started off by introducing me as an "apologist for Margaret Thatcher". I explained that 'apologist' is a pejorative word which I objected to. I then started talking about what the country was like in 1979 and how it had been brought to its knees by the trade unions. He interrupted me and went on a two minute monologue about how awfully she had treated the steel industry. I tried to interject on several occasions but it soon became clear that my mic had been cut off. When eventually he finished his monologue I complained bitterly that he was trying to silence me, and it developed into a very ugly spat in which I accused him of propagandising and not understanding the role of a talkshow host. We were both shouting at each other, which I am sure why very unedifying to listened to. I debated whether just to put the phone down but in the end decided to continue. In fact, even during the on air row he closed the microphone so a lot of my ranting wasn't heard.

I wonder whether they will put it up as a podcast after the show.

I am still fizzing.

Must get him to phone me up next week during my programme so we can have Round Two.

UPDATE: Feedback to the confrontation from Twitter & Facebook seems to be that I held my end up and made him look a fool. I'm not so sure. I suspect I ranted too much...

Labour Women Kick Gordon Where It Hurts

Iain Dale 10:01 PM

The Chipmunk has got him by the nuts.

YouTube if you want to, but it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre,"Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government's lamentable failure to get our message across... Whatever the problems of the recession, the answer is not more government documents or big speeches

Kate Hoey kicks him in the balls.

I don't think many people talk to the PM about much...There is genuine confusion at the heart of our understanding of what he's trying to do, and he's been too quick to react when he's been criticised. The classic example was the YouTube appearance. He should never have done that...The problem is there's no real leader that we can coalesce around. I think if we do extremely badly in the European elections, there's no doubt about it people will start talking again... Our country economically is in such a terrible position, people are feeling 'how could things get worse?' It's not inconceivable that the Tories winning won't be greeted in the same way as if the Tories had been winning eight years ago... Would I be devastated?' No absolutely not.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, a Labour MP has apparently claimed the cost of a saunaon expenses. Wonder if that came with "extras"...

UPDATE: And the House of Commons is censoring details of expense claims.

UPDATE: The Mail on Sunday reports that Peter Mandelson had to calm an angry Gordon Brown after he lost his temper following TV interviews during the week and that Charles Clarke is calling for Ed Balls and Tom Watson to be sacked. it;s all kciking off, isn't it?

UPDATE: The Sunday Times reports that Labour Peer Baroness Uddin has claimed £100,000 for a flat which is empty. I never knew Peers had a second home allowance.