Friday 6 December 2019

Andrew Neil interview: the BBC step up the pressure

Johnson's decision not to be interviewed by Andrew Neil is a massive gamble. His advisers (Cummings?) presumably believed it was less damaging to refuse than for him to be exposed as the fool that he is. A couple of weeks ago that calculation might have held good but they must be worrying this morning as the BBC step up the pressure. It was the lead item on Radio 4 news bulletins and is starting to make the PM look like a coward as well as a liar, charlatan, cheat and all the other things.

Last night Neil interviewed Nigel Farage who was predictably skewered but that wasn't the highlight. The interview ended slightly early so that Neil could issue a challenge directly to Boris Johnson which he did as this Tweet from BBC Politics shows:
You can read the full text of Neil's challenge HERE.  Also note the brief video clip had been viewed 3.33 million times by 5 o'clock this morning.

Neil and the BBC are making the whole thing a matter of trust and outline the questions they want to ask Johnson, "why at so many times in his career, in politics and journalism, critics and sometimes even those close to him have deemed him to be untrustworthy."  They cleverly fit in a reference to the interview being "oven ready" and ask how we can trust him on the NHS when he has already gone back on his solemn pledge to the DUP over the Irish sea border.

This is all dangerous ground for Johnson precisely because he is so untrustworthy. It matters particularly to many Tory voters who want to remain in the EU but for reasons of democracy feel the referendum outcome should be delivered.  They may dislike Johnson intensely and do not need much of an excuse to vote tactically to prevent him getting a majority.

Trust is one issue, but another is Johnson's graphene thin knowledge of the details. In another interview yesterday as he was talking about tax cuts, some bright reporter pointed out the party's costing documents, released alongside the manifesto, showed the tax burden would rise under his plans. He at first denied it.  Pressed again he said:

“I don’t know what you’re talking about – we’re cutting taxes on business rates, we’re cutting national insurance contributions for everybody in the country paying their NICs.”

Told again the manifesto would overall raise taxes and such details were in the party’s costings document, the prime minister said: “We’re cutting taxes on national insurance contributions and on business rates and I’m certainly not aware of the data you describe.

This is his own data that he was not aware of. It's this sort of thing that makes party leaders look stupid, although Johnson doesn't need any help on that score, and his carers will be seeking to avoid it if at all possible. Cameron had huge ambition and hubris but at least he could handle details and think on his feet.  So can Neil. Johnson only has the first two, dangerously so in my opinion. The prime minister can barely think sitting down while ambition oozes out of him like sweat.

Nick Boles tweeted that "Johnson wants people to think of him like a modern day Churchill. He is in fact a big girl’s blouse."

David Gauke was even more scathing:
Personally, I wouldn't underestimate how much damage this is doing to Johnson. The Labour party has complained to the BBC Director General about bias so the corporation is under pressure and won't let it go easily. There will no doubt be other stunts to try and force the PM into Neil's interview room.  When the refusal to do an interview becomes the story you have to find a way to get it off the front page.

I assume his advisers are weighing up what the least worst option is. Double down, tough it out and face accusations that their putative leader is running scared of doing an interview with a journalist or do the interview anyway. It looks finely balanced with both options looking pretty dire and while they prevaricate it can only get worse, much worse. With just six days to go the balance may soon tilt towards facing up to Neil with all the potentially disastrous consequences.

I also see Johnson is now refusing to be interviewed by Julie Etchingham.

Andrew Neil is a very tough interviewer and being nervous about it is understandable but when a prime minister refuses to be interviewed by Julie Etchingham you know you've got the wrong man.
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