Ian Hislop dismantles the government, piece by piece | Interview

Ian Hislop is the editor of Private Eye.
His new documentary, 'In Suburbia', is out now on BBC Sounds. Listen to it here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001...
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[@PoliticsJOE]

Want more Hislop? Watch him embarrass MPs in their own select committee here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2SyaaCteauiaq8

[@lisastickytuna8668]

After this? Yes please! 👍

[@ericajohnson3504]

He was brilliant at that committee 🤣

[@alanhat5252]

I think it was edifying for quite a few of them :-D They should have him in at least twice a year because he sets them straight on so much.

[@trevorknight2626]

Hahaha why do the BBC employ only pro establishment and wef marxists turds partly funded by Putin and his allies.

[@brigitteapplegarth112]

Ian Hislop -Delighted to be the 100th thumbs up for one of my favourite journalists! Please do more TV work please….👍💋 And thanks both of you for the interview, made my day after listening to that horrible PMQ mooo-ing time!

[@tobyjugg6202]

The man is a national treasure - high intellect, great sense of humour, and the knack of going straight for the jugular whenever necessary. I could listen to him all day long.

[@thursoberwick1948]

He works for the state broadcaster and endorsed censorship over 2020 & 2021.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@ekZ11761 None needed whatsoever. Suggest you read every recent edition of Private Eye that goes on about "misinformation" and has mocked people for criticising the establishment's line on certain subjects. He has done the same on that silly pseudo-quiz show too. Private Eye has come a long way from the 1970s when it challenged the establishment to the 2020s, when it has repeatedly endorsed huge sections of it. It plays the party game but leaves certain things off limits.

[@chickenfooker74]

He's part of the establishment. Wake up sycophant.

[@HALLish-jl5mo]

Hislop is a man who prioritises going for the jugular and sticking it to the establishment over going for the right jugular or being correct. See his handling of Andrew Wakefield and the “vaccines cause autism” claims. Private Eye went all in, devoting a 32 page special report, taking Wakefield at face value. It took until 2008 for Hislop to admit he was wrong. And then, Private Eye, which frequently criticises papers for the visibility of their redactions, published his on page 29. Anyone with even the most basic understanding of the scientific method could have pulled Wakefields claims apart. Even ignoring the fact that a man of “high intellect” should be able to do this on their own, a man of high integrity would have consulted people with relevant expertise. Hislop either lacks intellect or integrity. Probably both.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@HALLish-jl5mo He may have defended Wakefield, but he did the exact opposite in 2021, by refusing to cover the numerous health problems that the jags did cause. These were acknowledged to some extent within the government's own publications but that is likely the tip of the iceberg. He could too have covered the abuses, economic warfare, creeping authoritarianism etc, but he chose not to.

[@teviottilehurst]

Not all pensioners have savings and the UK state pension remains one of the lowest pensions in Europe.

[@barriewilliams4526]

Who the hell can save money on the state pension? Mine is £9,627 a year, try saving on that.....

[@OTheQuietOneO]

From a relatively young age, I’ve held Ian Hislop in my mind as the moral compass and articulate voice of how people should be. Honest, informed, funny and wholly, wholly good. Revere this man.

[@HA-in1me]

Make him a Prime Minister?

[@EmyrDerfel]

@@HA-in1me Don't think he'd want to do it, he'd find way too much in need of fixing and be frustrated by the processes he'd have to go through to fix it, only to face a vote of no confidence from the privileged who would feel under attack.

[@TheUnshownVideos-Hoaxes-FalseF]

He changed his tune on the EU before the in or out vote. The BBC told him that if he did not support remain he would not work on the BBC again. No more hobnobbing with politicians and celebs which his huge ego requires to survive. He loves appearing to be the important man appearing before select committees and on TV, he needs to feel important and will do anything to retain his status. Just another TV tosser with a huge but fragile ego. Take his money and political and celeb friends away and he will fall into pieces.

[@thisismyuniquestory]

Spot on, me too

[@kierandick-doyle5647]

Agree in principle with this but would like to posit that revering individual personalities are the antithetis of good democracy (see thatcher, blair, trump, boris etc)

[@myce-liam]

Politics Joe is such a gem. Great interviewer, he always asks thoughtful questions, obviously does his prep beforehand, and doesn't interupt the interviewee.

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

Interrupt.

[@myce-liam]

@@Nickbaldeagle02 Thank you Microsoft Paperclip!

[@lindadoughty9252]

Just one point, you do know that Politics Joe's a collective, not just one person!?. 🤔

[@myce-liam]

@@lindadoughty9252 Yes, believe it or not, I'm aware that the channel isn't run by a single guy aptly named 'Politics Joe'.....

[@jbloveday9538]

Fun isn’t it Liam? Two insulting replies to your nice comment!

[@richardmckenzie5030]

Ian Hislop is always great to watch/listen to

[@hurri7720]

I think is quite painful to waich him these day.

[@cuebj]

@@hurri7720 Odd comment. Wonder how watching a TV can be painful?

[@ranapour]

Ian has a soul and fairness which is great for a journalist.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

Journalists should ideally be equal opportunity offenders, calling out nonsense wherever it is found. Unfortunately, these days we have left wing media that won't even entertain discussion around certain topics and a right wing media that will back their side no matter what, with very little in the middle calling out the bullshit on both sides.

[@888ssss]

has this chinless wonder taken his government vaccine is my first question. then ill decide if he is bought or not.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Spot on.

[@thursoberwick1948]

He endorsed censorship in 2020.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

@@thursoberwick1948 Any details/reference for his please?

[@palmeraj70]

Well, that was an hour well spent. Peter Hitchens and Ian Hislop, both compelling, in their individual ways. Thanks again JOE!

[@SpacialKatana]

Can't go wrong interviewing Hislop, and this guy didn't. Fantastic, ty both v much :)

[@getreal7964]

So love Ian Hislop, he should be interviewing politicians!

[@rodpickard1763]

The right wing wouldn't dare let him

[@alanhat5252]

see the pinned post on this video, it's quite entertaining

[@philcooper279]

He is a politician.

[@philcooper279]

Listen carefully, too this interview, it is one reason, why this country is screwed.

[@pault1289]

@@philcooper279 Hislop is far from a politician. He's a journalist and thinker.

[@nicke.1904]

This needs to be a scheduled monthly discussion, they flow so well I could watch these two nonstop 👍👍👍

[@petedavies588]

A life you need.

[@teabagtowers3823]

@@petedavies588 It was a 30 minute video you tosser.

[@cotonbird]

@@dredwardclapton2459 Absolute rubbish except for his comments on the windfall tax - the usual biased BBC fare and I can't stand Hislop anyway.

[@mynameisleeyesitis]

Cottonbird thats hilarious you absolute dunce

[@Louisg191]

Agreed!

[@chrisblenkinsopp8588]

Spike Milligan wrote a poem about "Gunner Blenkinsopp"... he was my father! They were in the Wesern Desert together during WWII.

[@TomWhi]

Love this interview! I’d love to see it more regularly as Liz has just left office and hear Ian’s thoughts

[@danielbuxton4493]

I think Ian Hislop is just a national treasure!

[@serinadelmar6012]

Definitely.

[@paolagrando5079]

International. Enjoying him from Italy 😺

[@888ssss]

has this chinless wonder taken his government vaccine is my first question. then ill decide if he is bought or not.

[@alanhat5252]

@@paolagrando5079 is Private Eye available in your town?

[@paolagrando5079]

@@alanhat5252 do you mean at the newsagent? Then the answer would be no. But you can subscribe and receive it via snail mail.

[@Emanon...]

Men like Hislop is the very reason democracy still has a chance

[@markpage7196]

unlike correct grammar.

[@brendanpmaclean]

@@markpage7196 Or indeed pointless criticism devoid of a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence. 😉

[@lfc6times]

@@brendanpmaclean 🤣

[@Ndlanding]

@@brendanpmaclean Sentence? Where's the verb?

[@ryanharriss7950]

@@markpage7196 🤣

[@tingewickmax]

I was born in 1956. At that time my parents had a flat, on the ground floor, in Hyde Park Gardens. The basement flat was occupied by Ken Tynan, who enjoyed long conversations with our Siamese cat Thaisan. The flat above was occupied by either Spike Milligan or Peter Sellers. They would rehearse episodes of The Goon Show in this flat. The hilarity that ensued could be heard in our flat below. My parents think that this had a lasting subconscious effect on their one and only son. Can't wait to see a production of your play Ian.

[@janedavid8701]

Watching this again today in the light of what is happening in the markets due to the disastrous mini budget, I would like to respectfully request a part 2 if possible. Brilliant interview Oli!

[@thursoberwick1948]

The economic collapse is partly a result of shutting the world down for months on end. Yet barely anyone has the guts to say it's related.

[@williamhunt1776]

This conversation is fantastic. The interviewer and Ian have such a rapport, the information is flowing freely. The informal environment only adds to this. It is refreshing to see individuals in the public eye relating closely to the person on the street. It seems we may have not been totally forgotten

[@danielcrafter9349]

"In the public eye" I see what you did, there.

[@MickeyMouse-ul2zs]

Ha ha ha...................one unpleasant far-left 'little-man' talking shite to another unpleasant far-left' little-man'.

[@alanhat5252]

"The informal environment" in this case is Hislop's office.

[@alanhat5252]

Reader's comments are a major part of Private Eye, the editorial team very obviously reads it respectfully which you can tell from the responses. Also it's a small building, I don't think there's enough room for the whole staff to be in at once, they have to go out & talk to people.

[@simonsimon2888]

Attitude problem is yours...in standard of living..sleep on the hard floor or a comfortable bed you need to buy with the cost of living.

[@chrissilver7719]

Brilliant interview, Private Eye the most honest media outlet in the UK.

[@simplesimonhadapie]

absolutely it holds everyone of them to account and if its ever gone we will have a huge loss. its a sharp magazine about politics and as impartial as you get pointing out the balls on all sides

[@terryboland3816]

@@simplesimonhadapie Except Jimmy Savile of course.

[@apkk5594]

You're right of course. But isn't it such a shame that a satirical magazine holds this position.

[@BritishBeachcomber]

Got to laugh at that. Private Eye is pure satire. It invented the Twitter mindset decades before most people had internet access.

[@margarettyson875]

So unlike Ian Hislop not to get his facts right. Really pissed me off targeting pensioners, I receive a state pension, no Triple Lock to protect me from inflation. It will be very much a case of heat or eat.

[@applepye87]

This was an incredibly good interview with very thoughtful questions. Good to see an interviewer who has done his research! And great to see Hislop speaking so intelligently at great length. Thanks!

[@daveb3987]

On the point of living more "densely", the issue from my point of view as someone from Australia, living in various cities in Asia and visiting the UK a different times, is that Aus and the UK attempts to live in cities result in a huge loss of green space. Basically, the developers get greedy. There's no wider social plan to make cities liveable. Living in apartments should be offset with access to plenty of public green space along with the convenience of good transport and thus access to many services. In contrast to Asia where cities are being improved to include what we would consider luxury lifestyles in condos with pools and gyms, surrounded by parks, bike tracks and world class transport, Aus and the UK fail at this dismally. I've lived in some of the most densely populated cities in the world, yet feel like there's far more green space and public amenities than I would have in an Australian suburb. This is what happens when we hand things over to developers who support political parties and squeeze every dollar out of property, rather than have levels of government with plans and vision to make our cities truly liveable.

[@dancarter482]

Problem with England - only really applies there - is it is TINY! I remember a borough in London in the '70's that is now like Calcutta - it HAD green spaces and a community that knew each other .... . Certain warring demographics cannot be expected to live in harmony on a vast continent let alone in pleasant leafy side streets!

[@kentonian]

Exactly Also consider how much the motor vehicle as taken over. Not only has it resulted in vast swaths of green space covered in tarmac but now we are scared to let children play outside, scared to cycle and much unhealthier. If a new city were built now like Milton keens it should have all roads underground with electric only allowed inside the city. High rise surrounded by parks and Forrests

[@daveb3987]

@@kentonian agree 100%.

[@chrisburn7178]

@@kentonian Couldn't agree more. Obviously Hislop is talking of emotions rather than practicalities, but the sad truth is that people THINK they're buying a bit of their own space, but they're buying a greedy developer's idea of the minimum they can get away with building and ironically removing much of the pleasantness that would go towards the feeling of satisfaction and contentedness. The biggest part of this is infrastructure, both in terms of lack of amenities within walking or cycling distance, and well-planned safe routes to get there. It feels like decades of poor planning have made people forget the content that comes from walking to school with your kids, jumping on a bike to get some milk and bread or enjoying green space. Ironically all things cities now do better than suburban and other rural expansionist developments. Perhaps that's why we move house so often, because nowhere makes us feel content anymore?

[@marcowen1506]

we tried dense living surrounded by green space - the 60s and 70s tower blocks - they were an unmitigated failure. The green space became a crime-ridden no-man's land and tended to cut off the residents, not provide them with an amenity. I'm starting to think that some societies are culturally and politically incapable of the degree of integrated thinking required to produce a liveable city. Regarding your experience of Asian cities, I would be interested to know which ones. The Asian cities that I have visited have enthusiastically built over their green space and do not plan parkland when they put in the marching ranks of tower blocks.

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

The interviewer actually listens to the answers - and builds the questions on them. It's a rare pleasure. It becomes apparent to me, that too many journalist don't seem to bother listening. They just shoot off their prepared questions, without actually bothering to hear the answer. Oh, and of cource I loooove Bishop

[@Dreyno]

You can tell that they’re just going through a series of questions because they rarely have a follow up question and usually fail to notice when someone has given a wrong or contradictory answer. People who can grind their way through a degree will often get these jobs because of their degree rather than any real aptitude for it.

[@fritzhenning1]

The interviewer (Marr, Hartley-Brewer, Morgan etc etc) frequently gives the impression that they are the important person in the interview. It is their show and the interviewee is a mere prop.

[@jamesjoseph7508]

Totally agree. Watch any "political" show with a panel of "journalists" and you will see something similar. As one guest is speaking the other guests will be busy on their phones, oblivious to what is being said. When the interviewer then asks for their opinion, said guests will just reel off their take on the subject. It is as if they believe they are beyond learning anything new. Apart from anything else, it is just pure rude.

[@bobcosmic]

Ian Hislop always goes for the jugular !

[@Cryptic_Crypt1d]

in the most eloquent way

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

I absolutely love Ian Hislop, I hope on day Im lucky enough to bump into him and tell him how much I admire his works

[@jojonesjojo8919]

Including "My dad's the Prime Minister"?

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

@@jojonesjojo8919 in all honesty as a kid I had no interest in any political content so I have no knowledge of this show xD I was too busy at the time watching ginas laughing gear or tracey beaker xD hell I only vaguely knew who Tony Blair was at the time (2002 ish) xD

[@kevingrant7098]

That is such a nice thing to say e

[@thursoberwick1948]

Hislop is a sellout. That much was apparent in 2020 when satire and investigative journalism was needed most.

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

@@thursoberwick1948 I dont think hes a sellout atall and im sure there are reasons for why we didnt get the satire we needed at that point, I cant speak for him

[@davejh3514]

Excellent conversation. Ian Hislop is a ⭐ Please, please, please make it a regular event

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

Ladies and Gents, *THIS is an interview.* Notice how the interviewer both engages with what is said, refers to what was said, contributes relevant information and moves through topics gently. An interview IS NOT, just asking a question and nodding until the guest is done talking.

[@Notalloldpeople]

Ian Hislop plays his part as an honest interlocutor whereas most politicians are evasive and dishonest.

[@Threemore650]

It was choppier than the Bristol Channel ... edited to smithereens. You didn’t notice?

[@littlebaby-pigeon7128]

@@Threemore650 i didnt see that at all. I saw quite an unedited interview, the whole conversation was pretty much included

[@petedavies588]

Thanks for the schooling. Jesus help us...

[@Threemore650]

@@littlebaby-pigeon7128 you can see the editing in the first part... I switched off after seeing that it was so edited. I was probably reading Private Eye before your mother was born. Not liking the changes.

[@mcjs8640]

A wonderful guy, clever, funny and has integrity.

[@wayland7150]

He has some integrity but has his price. They bought him over the MMR scandal.

[@philcooper279]

If you say so.

[@alexsexy09]

Intellect, humour, and bravery to express yourself in public = Ian Hislop. Respect.

[@markstarmer3677]

Didn’t realise this little lefty hobbit was still around.

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

pity he cannot transfer that to HIGNFY, where he spouts garbage

[@markstarmer3677]

@@jameswiglesworth5004 indeed sir

[@christinelightbody3065]

What a load of Crap about pensioners and I take exception to this. Many of us, are very financially challenged and VERY worried indeed. Pension triple lock probably will never be reinstated by this despicable government

[@domb1994]

He was referring to the large number of pensioners in the Tory party membership, who are, on the whole, pretty well off.

[@vincekerrigan8300]

@@domb1994 How do you know that? They will be people with massive private pensions - the 'triple lock' is relared to the state pension, which is paltry.

[@m6j159]

What an excellent interview! The more I listen to Ian Hislop, the more I like him; a thoroughly decent individual, funny and engaging with a very finely calibrated moral compass. Brilliant man. Thank you.

[@MrDigimal]

Totally agree

[@simplesimonhadapie]

i've always had respect for him and even though some little things we don't see eye to eye on doesn't stop him being a brilliant satirist and political investigator and commentator. He will be sadly missed and not properly remembered precisely because of who his targets are the people who wish to be elitist or criminal in public office

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Privately educated of course . ? Like all our most vociferous lefties . ! ( guilty conscience ).

[@teabagtowers3823]

@@2msvalkyrie529 Ok and? What is wrong with being privately educated?

[@Ndlanding]

@@2msvalkyrie529 I think you mean "badly educated", as there's no full stop before a question mark.

[@RonaldChump]

Pensioners with some savings may get some more interest but it will never match the rate of inflation so they are losing money in real terms. And the pension here is among the lowest in Europe.

[@PurushaDesa]

Same with our meagre welfare, yet the Benefits Street narrative of greedy layabouts wanting too much remains.

[@alanhat5252]

the "triple lock" links the State Pension to inflation & many private pensions are "index linked"

[@135Ops]

@@alanhat5252 Interest rates on savings never keep pace with inflation you muppet!

[@barriewilliams4526]

@@alanhat5252 In actual fact, very few pensions are index-linked (unless of course it's a government one funded by the taxpayer) as it is just too expensive....

[@alanhat5252]

@@135Ops did I mention savings? It was certainly unintentional if I did & for that I apologize.

[@lukedogwalker]

Best story I heard about Spike and Co.'s time in the army was when they were supporting an anti aircraft unit, which was positioned on a hill. One of the guns managed to free itself from its tow while it was being positioned, and rolled down the hill right past them. Moments later a breathless officer arrived, and asked them "Have you seen an anti aircraft gun roll past?" Harry Secombe's instant response was "I dunno, Sir. What colour was it?" And Spike later said this was the moment he knew he wanted to work with Harry.

[@dancarter482]

GOLD!

[@supertramp6011]

As the commenter above me stated- GOLD! 🤣🤣

[@donrobertson4940]

Just to clarify -Spike and Secombe meet during the war. After Spike was injured he joined a concert party. That's where he met Secombe. Possibly Bentine and Sellers, but definitely Harry. Spikes also credited with the funniest joke ever written. In a goon show. Someone answers the phone. "Ambulance service' 'you have to help me. There's someone here - I think they're dead' 'are you sure they're dead?' 'hang on ' Footsteps run off Gunshot Footsteps run back 'I'm sure'

[@donrobertson4940]

I've read the op four times and I'm still laughing.

[@annecarter8409]

@@donrobertson4940 thank you 😊 Comedy gold!

[@cruachan1191]

Well said Ian, I've been saying something similar myself about Boris's "legacy". Apparently it was OK when he and Ress-Mogg and everyone else ousted Theresa May (which was over Brexit, so ideological differences) but it was a "coup" to get rid of Boris despite the parade of scandals and lies resulting in ~60 resignations from Government. And now we've got Truss, who will clearly change her mind at the drop of a hat or say anything to get the biggest cheer from the crowd in front of her, praising his legacy and putting all of his loyalists in her cabinet.

[@andrewcheadle948]

Think the biggest problem with having Truss as "leader", is her trying to out flank the left by becoming the left! Appears a bit strange to me for a right wing "Conservative" party to slide that far to the left that we get a choice now between three left wing parties, all of them being "green" of course. Sure, I understand that they wanted to shed their nasty party image, but I don't think becoming centre left is the answer. As there's literally no right wing voice then. I'm guessing that if we continue down this road then a right wing party will emerge that makes ukip look like a bunch of choir boys!

[@dannysatchell3408]

@Andrew Cheadle What planet are you living on? Can you actually name one policy where Liz Truss is “trying to outflank the left”? She’s so green she’s quietly unbanned fracking. She’s so left wing she’s posturing about no more hand outs despite the cost of living crisis forcing millions into destitution. The Tories have taken a very hard turn to the right over the past 5-10 years. Jacob Rees Mogg and the European Research Group used to be the radical right of the party and they are now in control. UKIP has vanished because it’s ideas have absorbed by the Tories.

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@andrewcheadle948 Boris appointed Susan Michie in charge of the response. I suggest everyone looks up her political background.

[@Karl_with_a_K]

Ian Hislop is the right combination of politically astute and absolutely hilarious. More Please!

[@patrickbyrne5070]

He’s a treasure. Always has been.

[@Jack-fs2im]

@@patrickbyrne5070 ANTI TORY WITH THE SAVILLE CHANNEL IMO

[@finger3181]

Anti tory? Yes. Hence the 'politically astute'.

[@Jack-fs2im]

@@finger3181 biased imo

[@patrickbyrne5070]

@@Jack-fs2im biased against what? Saville was Thatchers good friend. They were thick as thieves. I suggest you do a quick search you’ll see all you need to know. I don’t hate anything or anyone just for sake of it but if you think that stuff was a left wing thing…. I got news. It was mostly a Tory thing. But here’s another… the ‘left’ never called them out either. So. You can be a little fascist friend of the child abusers. You can be an idiot hoping a half decent politician leads opposition. Or… you can remember that they’re all a bunch of self serving egocentric corrupt disgusting pieces of crap.. because.. they’re politicians

[@KeithRingo]

I love the private eye offices. It looks like they just kind of bring in furniture from home as its out of date

[@blackenedsprite8542]

"We were going to have shelves, but they got in the way of all the faff"

[@stephendixon8575]

Bloody marvellous that - Thank you so much. Really, really enjoyed that …. a lot! Well done, and as mentioned by @Nick E. would be eager to see something similar to this on a regular basis 👍

[@billholmes8255]

Brilliant, thank you both!

[@justinjones8552]

Not one I thought up, but getting rid of Boris and getting Liz Truss is like tunnelling out of Josef Fritzl’s basement and emerging in Fred West’s garden

[@michaelkennedy2790]

🤣🤣🤣

[@scotrum3093]

Lets hope it doesnt end up the other way round 😳

[@flowerpower7288]

Oh God, thats so true 😫

[@MrDigimal]

🤣

[@lizhughes2852]

🤣

[@gategi10]

Brilliant . We need more journalists who tell the truth are witty and predict exactly what will happen to our politics.

[@pillowdestroyer5694]

They all promise the world become prime minister and do absolutely naff all!!!

[@SammyInnit]

Get yourself a subscription to the Private Eye, best thing I did.

[@stoopsolo4187]

@@SammyInnit a very informative publication but I had to take a break from buying it because articles I was reading wound me up too much. I started buying again as I was missing important stories.

[@dambrooks7578]

Do you read Private Eye also?

[@monkeyboy2297]

​@@stoopsolo4187 totally agree, I'm thinking of buying it again, the problem I have is that they exposed dodgy politicians and business people, but there seemed to be little or no consequences, and I found it frustrating

[@dmacaulay75]

Fantastic interview. Ian Hislop is a national treasure.

[@Jack-fs2im]

BBC SAVILLE CHANNEL

[@briansymmes7917]

To be fair, dismantling LizTruss is like knocking over a poorly-made sand castle right before the tide comes in.

[@briansymmes7917]

@Lazer Benabba metro is a great paper, I hear they are up for the Pulitzer Prize this year.

[@tokinsloff312]

@Lazer Benabba Must be a Mail/Express/Sun reader if you think that's nonsense.

[@murraymarshall5865]

FFS she has been PM for days and most of them have been overshadowed by the Queen’s death, give her a chance before condemning her.

[@finger3181]

She's been incompetent for years. I can't see that changing with the additional responsibility

[@briansymmes7917]

@@murraymarshall5865 she’s had plenty of chances, her record as a minister shows what a disaster she will be as PM.

[@saturdayplayer2492]

Ian is always very insightful. He doesn't take B S from establishment figures and this is what is needed at this time.

[@theascendance]

Grate! Everybody buy a PRIVET EYE it’s the only news worth buying thank you Ian Hislop

[@anthonylloyd-rees]

In the mid '60's I saw Spike live in the West End in a play called 'Son of Oblomov" which I thought hilarious so I took a friend to see it the following day, it was almost completely different. I took various friends and work colleagues to see later shows and to my huge delight Spike never allowed the script to interfere with his performance.

[@leo1314ok]

Brilliant. Love Ian Hislop. He hit several nails on the head in that interview.

[@wotireckon]

I have all the time in the world for Ian Hislop.

[@philcooper279]

He is a left wing copy of Boris Johnson.

[@sy2see]

I would love to see Ian Hislop pull the Tory MPs to bits. He’s so good at it.

[@colinbaker3916]

He has done that on Have I Got News For You.

[@davidbetts9332]

Why not the Labour ones?

[@dondoodat]

@@davidbetts9332 He does that too. No need to be so precious.

[@colinbaker3916]

@@davidbetts9332 He goes for all of them, irrespective of party. However, as the governing party, the Tories should expect most of the mockery.

[@sy2see]

@@colinbaker3916 Well said.

[@CrookedSkew]

Great interview. Thanks. More please!

[@mrsh810]

Love this interview, so spot on at all levels

[@maxkazzora4234]

Well done for having Ian Hislop on your video. Not only is he funny but is articulate in what he says. Shame he isn’t a MP. He would have my vote.

[@billywoodward584]

I'm a pensioner and I'm bothered, the triplelock is at risk as soon as inflation rates go up under disconnected and dishonest Tories, I still have most of the living cost I had when I was working, I have been stressed and worried by being unable to afford energy costs even before the cost of living crisis

[@mcallisterwill]

I think in the context of his full comment, which is missing in the intro, he is talking about those older people who are members of the Conservative Party who are well off and largely unaffected by the issues which should be preoccupying any PM.

[@aries6776]

@@mcallisterwill Yes that was my view, the pensioners among the 140,000 Conservative party members who voted in the Party Leadership election. They are members of prestigious golf clubs, and holiday homes in Southern Europe, although they voted for voted for Brexit.

[@Clodhopping]

@@mcallisterwill I think you're being generous here - it's a common misconception that pensioners are loaded having bought houses years ago that are now worth a fortune. All the pensioners I know are skint, living on pennies in badly maintained rental properties. They worked hard jobs for low pay and never had the chance to save.

[@mcallisterwill]

@@Clodhopping are they also members of the Conservative party though?

[@huwtindall7096]

Ian Hislop is a national treasure. Up there with Attenborough and Fry IMO.

[@irena7777777]

Richard Attenborough and Colin Fry are dead

[@skoot2u]

Give over.

[@anthonysadler8258]

Hislop is brilliant and his presentation...hits the spot on today...so sad that so so so many will not it is recognise this 10/10

[@MartinJames389]

I can't agree with Ian Hislop about the inner cities and class dynamics. Living on an inner London council estate, I can say that the pressure of gentrification is intense. This borough was once proud of its identity, now it is divided and we are sneered at by the newcomers with posh accents. Neither are these young "Lupin" types (though there are a few pockets where such people are predominant amongst the incomers) but families with children requiring expensive nursery provision and definitely not going to local schools when older. Others are a bit older and might be called "young middle aged". The pressure in terms of ripping buildings down and building blocks of expensive flats did mark time for about 18 months during the pandemic, but has taken off again quickly. The developers have bunches of planning consents in their pockets and five years to use them, with extensions readily granted.

[@jherbert7417]

Exactly Hislops point 👍

[@MartinJames389]

@@jherbert7417 I think it's the contrary of Hislop's point. It is the "densification" he claims was rejected by has, in fact, been adopted by the comfortable middle class, or at least a large section of it, to the detriment of all the people driven out and cohesive communities broken up.

[@Dreyno]

I think this phenomenon is specific to certain places. One area can experience this while another similar area is unaffected by it. I’m from a small seaside village on the west coast of Ireland with a population of 2,500. It’s close to a larger town of 20,000+. My village has become the place to be for the well to do and upwardly mobile. As such, property prices have skyrocketed. People born and raised there have been priced out of the market and end up moving away. Sometimes they have to commute back to work as waitresses and barmen serving the newcomers. The original locals are looked on as a waste of property that their friends could buy and “Grand Design” the sh1t out of. Developers buy up every scrap of land and instantly get planning permission whereas locals are flatly told that they will never get planning to build anything, either to sell or to live in. Social housing is opposed and even when built, rarely goes to a local. Meanwhile, other villages nearby are left untouched for now. Only when one gentrified area has reached saturation levels of well moneyed, uppity tw&ts, and property prices gets so ridiculous that even the well off can’t afford it, some nearby location gets the spillover and the cycle happens again.

[@thepm3972]

No answer to why you are not on the picket line. Liked the guy. Unsure now.

[@saydvoncripps]

Hello from another, northwest london housing estate. Yes. Our problem is the middleclass. You know the ones, they tell us we dont speak properly and sneer at what we do. They make the rules, the middle class. If you want to know what class you are, just ask them. I live in Barnetm the only tory shit hole in london. And we are drowning in both contempt and well meant patronage. Blerh. They make me sick.

[@amr5388]

I would point out that a victorian suburb is utterly different to a modern one. Victorian ones were essentially a single city borough surrounded by countryside. People still had all the walkable amenities. I think very few people want to live in high rises, but I don't think the modern suburb is the alternative or the rural countryside. As some american urbanists style it 'the missing middle'. Its also the reason victorian suburbs around cities are the most expensive suburbs available.

[@alanhat5252]

the census of 1901, conducted 2 months after Victoria died, listed 41,458,721 people, it's now 67 million. It makes a difference.

[@jingshelpmaboab]

@Ben Chuft Wrong. Both are correct and commonly used in UK English.

[@amr5388]

@@jingshelpmaboab thanks Bob, not sure why he's so intense lol

[@amr5388]

@@alanhat5252 absolutely, but still need to build decent places to live and not just attempt to copy American sprawl but worse because the houses are tiny!

[@Dan_1348]

Sounds like I live in a Victorian suburb then. What would be an example of a "modern" suburb?

[@chrisburn7178]

Very interesting to hear Hislop talk about the move out of cities and the emotion that drives it. I'm not sure if there's as much truth in the reality of that move as there used to be. More and more suburban or rural expansionist developments sell the "idea" of personal space, but completely fail at connecting that (increasingly meagre) space to amenities, services and green stuff, lacking the amenities themselves and the well-planned walking or cycling routes to get there. Car reliance is so accepted through decades of poor planning that we seem to have forgotten the content that comes with sharing a walk to school with the kids or jumping on a bike to get some bread and milk. Instead too many people rage at the other SUV drivers for getting their parking spot outside the school and then drive 2 miles to work because there's no safe and pleasant way to get there, and even if there is nobody thinks to try. I can't help thinking that this continual undercurrent of dismay helps drive the frantic pace at which we move house; what we bought is a lie and we're too proud to admit it. Ironically as others have said, cities do all this stuff better and better every year, maybe because the young live there and still have enough spirit to demand it.

[@DrRepper]

From personal experience of being an estate agent and mortgage adviser in a Somerset market town during the resent Covid-inspired exodus from the capitol, it's very much the young deserting the cities to have kids in the country. Flogging your flat in Hackney buys you a great deal of house down here and no need to resort to a crappy out-of-town newbuild estate either. You're right about car reliance in very rural locstions, but that's been the case for decades and the fact is that they can afford it.

[@chrisburn7178]

@@DrRepper Interesting to have that real world perspective. Yes car reliance in Somerset must be pretty normal and much more justifiable. I don't suppose you have many areas with ugly "new build" estates clinging onto small established market towns there? Not sure just guessing. Here in Kent they are everywhere and not one of them has proper sustainable infrastructure built in in spite of being near enough for walking or cycling to the local town, and the houses are bog standard. They are branded with names like (I'm sure you're familiar with these) "Meadow View" or "Church Fields", "an exciting new development of family houses". And it's just another sprawling scribble of roads with haphazardly placed houses the wrong side of a main road; you might get a footbridge and a Mace if you're lucky, but no cycle storage, proper segregated paths or integration. It drives me mad that developers take green-field sites with seemingly no responsibility to make them future-proof and car-reliant (and therefore miserable).

[@maryelizabethord7915]

@@chrisburn7178 Nearly every market town has an excrescence of new houses. My own home town has got uglier over the years, and we have fewer amenities than forty years ago, sadly. Unfortunately, I think the answer is political. Cities tend to either have left wing councils, or the nasty party have to work harder to get votes. In rural areas, not so much. Pin a blue rosette on anything around here and it gets in every time. Not that a Marrow has won an election, although sometimes I have my suspicions.

[@73BigMC]

The much-touted move from cities is already reversing in the UK, as WFH segues into flexible working because WFH is ruinous for productivity. Plus people realise - as you say - that cities are where the amenities are. Wealthy middle-aged people, especially if they can afford to maintain a flat in London, might stay in rural areas, but that has been happening for generations. It's a bit different in the US, because many large cities are crime-ridden hellholes for all but the super-rich, so the move to smaller cities and rural areas will be longer-lasting.

[@Fractus]

@@73BigMC wfh isn’t ruinous for productivity what are you smoking? To be more charitable I’m sure in some industries it is a bit worse but everyone I know gets way more work done and also gets to spend more time with their kids, etc. it’s just so much better.

[@dracosduckus]

Enjoyed the interview, thanks for sharing!

[@laurieharper1526]

Thank heavens for Ian Hislop. I tend to sit and grind my teeth in helpless rage at the spivs and rip-off merchants (as I'm sure many do) and he manages to make me laugh at them. I urge anyone watching who does not subscribe to the Eye to do so asap. Btw, not all of us pensioners with savings living comfortably in the suburbs are content to say "I'm all right, Jack" and watch much of the population go to hell in a handcart. Most of us have children, grandchildren, friends and relatives and people we care about who are not as insulated from harsh reality as we are. Many of us were committed trade unionists whilst we were working (and many, including me, are still members of our unions in retirement). I've been enjoying seeing Mick and Eddie of the RMT sticking it to the MSM and the government. More power to them and their members.

[@debb6393]

Well said, totally agree. Very worrying for younger generation and imperative to remove this ghastly government. I’ve recently got my bus pass as a waspi that was hit with the whole 6 (soon to be 7) years and have seen quite a few I went to school with pass away before seeing their pension. I’d still be working but my company came in with new terms and conditions that our unions over years had fought for(less holiday less sickness) and I was eased out. They’ve strangled younger generations aspirations with 12 years of jobs for the boys and corruption.

[@lizroberts1569]

Totally agree, I’ve always been in a union and urge others to join too. I used to subscribe to Private Eye but I don’t at the moment maybe I should.

[@cotonbird]

Hislop spouting more nonsense - this is why I don't watch the biased BBC or rubbish like Politicsjoe. As for the smirking interviewer - God help us!

[@laurieharper1526]

@@cotonbird Don't tell us. Let's guess. The BBC is "biased" in favour of the left, eh?

[@cotonbird]

@@laurieharper1526 I like the 'us'!! You might just have answered your own question. After all there's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.

[@salmonesque]

Great questions and fascinating answers from an extraordinary man. Long may he remain greedy for the enjoyment of what he does. It benefits us all.

[@grahambrown7720]

Brilliant interview, start to finish, well done!

[@iangregory3719]

One of the best political/social interviews I have seen in years.

[@Gwalion]

Top notch nterview. Ian Hislop is an erudite, interesting and amusing commentator.

[@keithcroissant5640]

Great satirical paper and man and the interviewer is very good too.

[@thursoberwick1948]

Private Eye failed us all in 2020 and 2021.

[@JG-nx3jg]

It's sad that both these men are clearly more intelligent and articulate than our current PM. I feel like Liz is there precisely because she's easily led and controlled by donors and international lobbyists. It was the same with Boris, he was just someone who was in love with the idea of being PM. He was too lazy and disorganised to handle the realities of the job, which again made him easy to control. 'Just pass this through and we'll make sure you're jobs safe for another month, also that wedding you have, don't worry about any of that, we'll organise and pay for it all'.

[@annabizaro-doo-dah]

That's cobblers about John Betjeman who lived his whole adult life miles from anywhere in Trebethrick, a tiny hamlet on the wild north Cornish coast. His nearest neighbour was my great Aunt, 2 miles away. If he wrote poems about suburbia he certainly didn't love it enough to live there!

[@gazza595]

Love Ian Hislop's stuff in general, I subscribe to PI. But Pensioners? Maybe Ian needs to broaden his experience of pensioners. It's worth remembering we have one of the lowest state pensions in Europe, over 2 million pensioners live in poverty (around 20% of pensioners) and we have among the higher retirement ages. If you're a retired banker living in Surbiton it might be pretty good. If you're a retired building worker from Leeds, not so much. Not everybody has a private pension and a bunch of savings.

[@BigHenFor]

The Triple Lock applies only to the State Pension, which everyone can qualify for if you live and work long enough. However, state pensions are problematic because of demographics. Our society is going to fail because its birth rate is below the replacement rate. With not enough people to work and be taxed, eventually State Pensions will become unaffordable especially as neither the corporations or the plutocrats want to pay more tax to subsidise it. It's astonishing but snobbery about the working class families, plus neoliberal policy accelerated that change. We now have an economy that's forcing the wages of working people down, and they can't afford to have families large enough to save things. We need to rethink our attitudes to families, or accept more immigration to do the work and pay the taxes.

[@gazza595]

@@BigHenFor The demographics are, to be honest, no excuse re pensions, or for that matter many other things. Every ten years we have a census. The government is well aware of the trends in population. They simply fail to plan and kick the can down the road at every opportunity. As you say we should have and need immigration. We should have a sovereign wealth fund as countries i.e. Norway but instead we chose tax breaks for the wealthy and gave all of the money from fossil fuels to the wealthy. Now fossil is going away the opportunity is lost. Pensions and many other problems could have been resolved.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

He's not talking about pensioners in general, but the specific group of pensioners who are tory party members and a large propertion of the final elecorate in tory party leadership elections.

[@plebjames]

@@gazza595 you're both right

[@bluegtturbo]

I agree. The Irish non contributory pension is 1000 a month plus lots of other benefits. The UK pension is derisory in comparison.

[@michaeljijus980]

Legend & national treasure of Brits.

[@johnpower4705]

I could listen to Ian Hyslop all day as he talks so much common sense. I have not had a pay rise in 8 years and with the increase in fuel I with others will have even less to spend which will effect the economies recovery.

[@andregrysify]

And if you and all the others get a PAY rise what happens to inflation and the cost of what you produce?

[@thisismyuniquestory]

@@andregrysify So you've never had a payrise in eight years? Or you're a pensioner and the the Triple Lock protected you? Or you're extremely wealthy and an 11% rise in inflation. Energy costs of 4.5 times won't affect you?

[@kateanddavelacey2267]

Excellent. Honesty. truth! Make it a regular podcast.

[@jeffsuter344]

Great stuff, Hislop is always interesting and always on point.

[@daphnescombine]

What an incredibly intelligent conversation between two intellectually sound individuals. Thank you.

[@hallohallo1332]

Thanks for the great interview.

[@phil2003ashleigh]

Pure and simply the best political observer anywhere

[@reallylionbastard]

Always great to see hislop on youtube. A rare voice of decency

[@thursoberwick1948]

An established voice of "trusted media "

[@kaz555]

Great interview from the interviewer and Ian. More truth in one man than the government

[@shameless0voyeur]

Loved this, great chemistry between the two. Ian Hislop is quickly becoming a bit of a national treasure

[@johnt8453]

If Ian Hislop is not yet a national treasure he'll do until he gets there. Wonderful chap.

[@herbertvonzinderneuf8547]

Has been for decades already....unless your politics are true blue.

[@-Osiris-]

Becoming? Where have you been for the past 30 years

[@thursoberwick1948]

@@herbertvonzinderneuf8547 He let us down in 2020. He also works for the Beeb

[@peterowen4456]

Made my day. Great interview.

[@Azphreal]

My favourite Spike joke is 'This is your captain speaking, we are travelling at 35 thousand feet which is not bad for a cross channel ferry' lol.

[@bertrandtumelty2963]

At 8:30 you demonstrate an excellent knowledge and synthesis of the subject matter in this interview. You blend it well. Far better than a lot of mainstream journalists. Hislop is lucky to have a good interviewer. Bravo.

[@Ken_oh545]

He says pastoral 'idol' rather than idyll

[@herzkine]

Its vrty soothing a half educated guy who can give sonwthing to a discussion, sadly something special in times of trumpism Twitter tik tok lenght

[@markcollyer7080]

Great interview. Thank you.

[@davidjma7226]

Brilliant interview Joe, I enjoyed every minute.

[@barriewilliams4526]

How about you take up the challenge Ian & live for a month on my state pension of £9,627 Oh, that's for the year Ian, not a month..... Triple lock or not, the state pension is pathetic, and I would not be able to live on it, I would term it "surviving" As it is, I have a small private pension that tops my state pension up allowing me to have luxuries, like having a shower every day, and heating my home past the point where I would freeze to death. The people that think the state pension is adequate, should try living on it for a month. A couple of MPs have tried this (stunt) in the past, and never made it past the first week!

[@MF-hq9mq]

Well said! Ian is a twat for assuming that all pensioners have massive savings to fall back on. What people need to remember is that we paid contributions all our lives for this pension. Check out the Silver Voices site, this movement applies pressure by the means of targeted voting.

[@barriewilliams4526]

@@MF-hq9mq True!

[@barrywest2170]

Well said Barrie and very true

[@harveybrown37]

Your generation was the luckiest in uk history. Free Education, cheap housing etc. Think yourself lucky you haven’t grown up as the victim of English Tory voting Jokers who have voted to disadvantage the young since 1979.

[@jamesgornall5731]

Is it worth being alive? If it's so bad just do yourself in

[@samjordan6509]

This is wonderful. Really, really great.

[@1972hermanoben]

What well-articulated and interesting questions. Hooked on this channel

[@paulharrion3398]

Brilliantly informative and interesting to hear a decent conversion about politics in the UK. Not a load of soundbites and bollocks nonsense. Well done!

[@jamieashton3835]

The state pension is the lowest in Europe

[@beachcomber2008]

So many thumbs for Ian. Even so, it's hard not to kick an apologist (and he knows for what). Cheers. The *_IRONY_* of him as PM . . .

[@polliebain7450]

I was going to comment about Diary of a Nobody! So pleased it got a mention. Anyone who hasn't read it - you have such a treat in store!

[@buddhababy2005]

Thank you, Ian. I love you and I love The Eye! You spoke for me - I was pleased to see the back of Johnson but horrified to see the party lurch even further to the right instead of being contrite and learning any lessons! I'm worried about Liz Truss as I think she is a pure idealogue and a tool of the super-rich. Knowing that someone of your calibre understands this really helps! Thanks for all that you do for truth in a post-truth world!

[@jonathanbuzzard1376]

No Liz Truss is just an airhead. She will say the first thing that comes into her head that she thinks will work. According to my brother who was at Merton College with her she was no different back then.

[@loganmedia4401]

Surely that pretty much describes the entire Conservative party, a tool of the rich elite.

[@andrina118]

I Hislop for PM!

[@maxkazzora4234]

Without a shadow of doubt: he would definitely have two terms in office. Imagine him at PM’s question time against any Shadow leader of the house. He would wipe the floor of any of the current political party leaders. Shame this is just wishful thinking on my part. God help us with Truss.!!

[@barriewilliams4526]

Not if he thinks pensioners have savings. My pension is £9,627 If Ian was PM, he would reduce it as he obviously thinks that I get too much, and I have savings too🙄

[@andrina118]

@@barriewilliams4526 What makes you think he thinks your pension is too much ?

[@keithraison1212]

Thank you Ian for your resume of life today, entertaining,humorous, informative, remarkably similar to my own 78 year old view of the situation today. So you are obviously a genius.

[@halfpintbuckaroo]

I wish we could see more videos with Ian Hislop on KZbin. Great interview, thank you.

[@douglascheung5815]

Good to hear such a forthright interview - you give us hope, Ian Hislop and PE.

[@Jack-fs2im]

PE is old media ,

[@cotonbird]

Can't stand him or his views - the usual BBC nonsense.

[@peterrenn6341]

@@Jack-fs2im and all the better for it

[@peterrenn6341]

@@cotonbird nice of you to stop by and share that with us

[@Jack-fs2im]

@@peterrenn6341 its just a upmarket VIZ imo

[@zappasmoustache23]

Well this guy certainly did his homework. Excellent questions which he allowed to be answered instead of interrupting with his own opinions. Class interview, really enjoyable.

[@jeannielemesurier1414]

Ian, although i largely agree with what you say please don't make assumptions about pensioners having savings. I have nothing and rely on a state pension. This is because I had to give up work when I had my children in the 70's and 80's and there were no nurseries in those days.

[@davidrichards613]

I think he was aware it was a generalisation, as was the point that the current electorate are all going to suffer. There are some that will not feel any effect from this crisis, but the majority will.

[@pyjama9556]

Yes I was rather put out by this too! To be clear Ian, state pension is not a windfall or generous amount in any shape or form. Most people struggle with just state pension and will even more in the coming years.

[@rosemarydickson1603]

I too admire you Ian but was shocked at your intro Do not forget the 50s born "WASPI" women who lost up to £45000 when the State Pension Age was raised on them with inadequate notice and their qualifying years for a full state pension (which most rely on as during their careers many were excluded for years from an occupational pension and couldn't afford a private pension) was also raised by 5 years from 30 to 35 meaning less qualify for a full new State Pension due to caring breaks in service. Osborne boasted about how much money this saved him. Now this year's suspension of the triple lock further devalues their pension if they are lucky enough to reach 66. Over 200000 won't. Please don't feed the narrative of the rich pensioner nor do they back the current government with Truss dismissing this injustice at the hustings despite the PHSO findings of DWP Maladministration. We won't forget that in a future GE and hold the power in many key marginals. We aren't all the Surbiton rose clipping pensioners in the life insurance ads.

[@TheValeyard92]

He was talking specifically about Tory party member pensioners. If you're not one of them, awesome! He wasn't talking about you. If you are... I mean, please stop.

[@jonathanbuzzard1376]

@@rosemarydickson1603 What over 20 years was not enough notice? Any woman who thought that being able to retire earlier than men was going to continue indefinitely is an idiot. It was rampant sex discrimination and had to stop.

[@michelewortelhoek6860]

That was brilliant, I love Ian Hislop and the fact that he is a fan of Spike Milligan, thank you

[@david-reason]

I left the UK 14 years ago because I felt country was going to the dogs! - and now look at it! I left with very few personal possessions, a photo of my son, a diary and a copy of one of Spike Milligan's books. I had to leave my Milligan collection with my sister. Since then I have lived in Kazakhstan, China and Thailand. Thank you for this most entertaining interview, best wishes from S.E. Asia.

[@HkFinn83]

We know what you’re in Thailand for🤢

[@accountnamewithheld]

So you've led a charmed life gallivanting around and now you feel you have the moral authority to comment on domestic politics? Stay in Asia and shut up, frankly

[@jeannielemesurier1414]

unless you were receiving certain benefits. and/ or receiving social services help. Despite returning to education and doing my MA I could only find work in my occupation as a lecturer through zero hours contracts. By this time i was a single parent and doing lecturing at 6 different universities trying to make a living. There was no spare money for\ paying into a pension, even if I'd been allowed to - in the earlier years part time workers were not allowed to pay into work pension and as you know most part timers were women - because - yes you got it - no child care support! Neither was I able to save money for my retirement. I left school at 15 btw, from a working class family of 7 children. If you speak to many of the women born in the 1950's i think you hear similar stories to mine. Life is a constant struggle, it always has been. So please don't assume we ALL have savings, we certainly do not!

[@raystewart3648]

I come from a large family and we all have struggled and still do, but we try and stay happy and keep going even though at the moment non of us have any more than a hundred quid in our banks. With energy prices running at a all time high, businesses closing down (inc my brothers pub that has been open for business since 1759, he took it on in 1995) and with no support from our local (rich) MP or (rich) Council members, its going to get harder. Yet we try and stay happy and have fun, but its getting harder. My mother when she started work at 15 years of age in 1957, was on a salary of £10 a week..............just think of that.............look how fast inflation has gone up. Back in those days it was Shillings and so on, not Pounds, but it works out to to be £10 a week in to days money. I was born in 1976 by the way. Shes struggled all her life and has my wider family. No savings, no long holidays away in Spain, Turkey or where ever people go these days.

[@TheSapphire51]

Yes I could never understand why zero hour contracts were allowed. Didn't realise universities adopted them and am disgusted to discover that they did.

[@robdee9341]

Yes Jeanie sounds very familiar. Worked hard all our lives not claiming benefits. And now we struggle from week to week to make ends meet on a paltry state pension which is one of the lowest in Europe..

[@stevenredpath9332]

He was referring primarily to members of the Tory party. Overall you find more pensioners have savings than the general population. But it’s never 100%.

[@bobmiller7502]

power to u sister, we r the captains of our own ship

[@sueheale8029]

Ian, you can't generalise on pensioners as many live on much less than the living wage. Yes, they have been guaranteed the triple lock this year but 10% of just over £7,000 for a single pensioner doesn't amount to much in comparison to the amount the cost of living is rising.

[@PurityVendetta]

But unfortunately the Tory party's largest voter base are pensioners if surveys are to be believed. Well off, white, home owning pensioners living out of the cities have elected the tories for 80% of the period post WW2 and those Tory administrations have set the lowest level of state pensions in Europe. Of course the Tories have sought to gerrymander provincial constituencies and utilised the FPTP system to keep the lever of power in their hands. While I agree with you that you can't generalise about any group but I think there is an overwhelming truth in the statement about pensioners.

[@immers2410]

@@PurityVendetta it’s not a statement about pensioners, but about Tory party members. That is to say most Tory members are pensioners, but not nearly as many pensioners are Tory members.

[@thimbur3543]

I think he was meaning the pensioners who are Tory party members who voted in the leadership election. Not pensioners in general.

[@jillybe1873]

Some of us are 50s women and pensioners without a pension

[@sueheale8029]

@@PurityVendetta Yes, I agree with you. My point is not to generalise as it plays into the Tory agenda of divide and rule by pitching generations against each other. I have children and grandchildren, and hate to think of the damage the governments of the last 12 years have done for their prospects.

[@Muesli711]

I could listen to Ian Hislop all day