The Quality of Mercy

Some five years or so ago the Beeb canvassed the public's views of various BBC interviewers. The survey included a question on which news presenters were deemed rudest and unsuprisingly Jeremy Paxman and John Humphries were top of the heap. It was instructive about the British character to learn Pax and Humph were simultaneously considered the most popular at their craft.

We, as a country, tend to take this journalistic tenacity for granted but it is a vital element to the modern British democracy. In many countries, such as Spain, there isn't anything like this level of news analysis. In the US, there are no interviewers on the main channels who would dare to savage politicians like Jezza did to William Hague last night. Hague is one of Parliament's more formidable performers, usually light on his feet and quite witty*. But he looked lead-booted and punch-drunk as Paxman turned on a vintage performance over the mighty Lord Ashcroft's tax liability.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8080379.stm

The clip does not show the first part of the interview when Pax pummelled Hague over the Conservatives' perverse position on the Lisbon Treaty (a referendum is promised unless the Irish vote yes to ratify, which they will). He also made as mincemeat, the Tories' bizarre re-alignment from the mainstream Conservative group in the Euro Parliament to join with parties of homophobes, quasi-racists and climate change deniers.

But it was high time the Conservatives were grilled about the status of their main benefactor. In the current climate, the Ashcroft funding issue has the potential to hole the good ship Cameron below the water line. The questions about Lord A's tax position have been around for more than ten years - the Times tried to reveal some murky dealings but were hit with injunctions and writs for libel. Ashcroft used his vast wealth to fight the Thunderer into a very expensive stalemate; no other media group has dared cross swords with him since. He never gives interviews and cuts such a mysterious figure, he could be viewed as the Ernst Blofeld of the Conservative Party.

It is, of course, asking too much for the feeble Government to hold the Opposition to account on the legality of its funding - they have their own Civil War breaking out. But at least we have merciless interviewers like Pax challenge politicians' complacency and to tear down the arrogant facade.

* Hague has a comic's timing. He was to be interviewed by Matthew Parris in C4's old Charlotte Street studios. There was no dressing room and both had to share the one set of make-up in the loos. Hague turned to Parris and offering him use of the foundation said, "Well, who would have thought it, Matthew? You and I in a Gentleman's lavatory with just one puff between us."