Ian Hislop reviews the insanity of 2023

We popped down to the Private Eye offices to catch up with Ian Hislop to mark the release of the 2023 Private Eye annual.
We roll back the months in what has proved to be yet another unhinged year of British politics, touching on the coronation, the scandal surrounding the SNP, the Covid inquiry and Rishi Sunak's weak attempts to steady the creaking ship that is the Conservative Party.
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[@ferios2]

This guy should be a regular on some sort of satirical panel show which covers politics

[@MrHaveaword]

I reckon he could be an editor of a similar themed paperback publication

[@thenefyncat6970]

@@MrHaveaword I'd buy it.

[@RobBCactive]

Satire is difficult, fact is stranger than fiction.

[@RowdyTheHitman]

Well have I got news for you mate

[@hazelhatswell4268]

I wouldn’t miss any episode of HIGNFY 😂❤️😂 we need more of the same 👍

[@gabrielcoventry4586]

The poppy becoming a symbol of patriotism is definitely a newer thing, I imagine it's been around for a while but it's only the last few years that it became a test for how patriotic people are. The poppy isn't supposed to represent how great, Britain is but rather a representation of the death and destruction of a war that should never have happened. There's a reason it's a poppy and not a crown or a union jack. Poppy's grew in fields fertilised by the dead, It's to remember the death and a warning about war brings not a glorification of it.

[@theregolfer9721]

Sadly (and ironically) destroyed in the minds of many as a symbol of peace by the far right, just as the swastika was once a symbol of peace.

[@crzxr]

Even poppies grew in Flanders.

[@crescentsi]

Very true - a symbol of tragedy, loss and the hope of regeneration. Personally, over recent years I've detected a burgeoning dislike of the poppy because of its associations with Churchill, the world wars, empire and colonialism. There seems to be a growing distaste for democracy and a notion that dictatorial approaches allow for more compassion and remove us from the "errors" of the past. Of course these ideas are erroneous but fashionable and, therefore, I feel that the poppy will be on the decline as miscomprehensions of history become more fashionable.The fact that millions of soldiers died from all around the world fighting an insane and abhorrent dictator and the appalling regime that he lead doesn't seem to matter so much anymore. Adjusting the past to fit with contemporary tropes, now seems to take precedence.

[@cyber_rachel7427]

@@crescentsi it seems very fascinating to me that you could detect people disliking the poppy because of it's associations with 'empire and colonialism', and come away with the impression that the people who dislike it for those reasons are anti-democracy Not criticising your view, per se, but I do find it interesting

[@etow8034]

@@cyber_rachel7427 They died for King and Country ...because they had no choice !

[@thomasmount7388]

'Politics is meant to make people's lives better'. Ian Hislop stating something that should be obvious, but to his ironic amusement, isn't. LEGEND that man!!!

[@brenglover72]

Politics do make peoples' lives better. Sadly it's the lives of party donors.

[@frankshailes3205]

​@@brenglover72corruption makes their lives better. They should be in jail.

[@graemefk6519]

That one comment nails it!

[@Michael-hr6lq]

It does, dont you know history, did you know how bad things were for average people before we had political representation ? Work houses ?

[@davesmith9325]

"Is meant to" in some childishly naive and innocent fantasy ideal perhaps. But surely few people old enough to vote expect that. In an ideal world anyone actually believing this will happen shouldn't be allowed to vote

[@alundavies1016]

I had a friend (still have), whose father was a subject of a few Private Eye pieces because he was a bit dodgy (this was a few year’s back). Anyway we were chatting at the bar and he was getting quite irate about “Hislop’s muckraking”. So I asked him if the articles were true? “Oh yes, but he’s making it all seem so tawdry!”. I left it there, but I think that is what I like about Hislop, he doesn’t genuflect to rank and wealth, he has a nose for hypocrisy and the tawdry.

[@Mickparrysstepdad]

Hislop is still one of the establishment. He's done a lot of good, but he helped demonize Jeremy Corbyn, so still more one of them, than one of us.

[@Mickparrysstepdad]

Hislop is still one of the establishment. He's done a lot of good, but he helped demonize Jeremy Corbyn, so still more one of them, than one of us.

[@peterduncan5034]

well said @@Mickparrysstepdad

[@charlytaylor1748]

@@Mickparrysstepdad "demonise" = "make fun of" ? It's what Private Eye exists for

[@nick260682]

@@MickparrysstepdadHow is he the establishment? He literally mocks the establishment every week. What do you even mean by establishment? You’ve not through this through, have you?

[@buchanfoulsham6314]

The Greek flag tie jibe from Charles reminded me of the Queen wearing the hat with the EU colours in parliament during brexit.

[@dannyboy-vtc5741]

Well his old man was a greek after all, well as greek as windsors are english at least, so a bit more personal than just some spite and banter i'd say..

[@buchanfoulsham6314]

@@dannyboy-vtc5741 are you suggesting that the hat was a spiteful jibe from the queen? I thought it was funny. And let's face it, she wasn't wrong in what she was implying with it. The sunlight uplands are shite.

[@carolynshaw9823]

King Charles and his family are half Greek, half German, and Russian, with some Scottish and English.

[@andrewcheadle948]

​@@buchanfoulsham6314how have you reasoned that? It's not like Germany and France are racing ahead of us on the economic front now is it? So despite our dire inept "leaders" throwing as many spanners in the works as possible re brexit, plus covid, we're still about the same as Germany and France regarding economic growth. As far as I'm aware, Germany and France are still in the EU, so maybe, just maybe there's other factors at play.....

[@Mackerdaymia]

@@andrewcheadle948 The big difference is the wealth inequality and the cost of living crisis. Britain's economy can pretend to be doing better than it really is on the ground because finance and speculative investment makes up so much of it. France and Germany are slowing organically across all sectors due to the global recession, Ukraine etc. but things are still affordable and mortgages aren't putting people into poverty. So you can quote some bigwig economic performance metrics if you want, but the reality is that poverty is rising faster in the UK than anywhere else in the developed world, whilst public services don't have the money to deliver the most basic level of care. A perfect storm of disaster for ordinary working people who don't have capital or already own their home. That simply isn't true in France and Germany where the public sector is still at the very least respectably - if no longer well - funded and although the weekly shop is between 15-25% more expensive than 2 years ago, the governments have thrown money in terms of bonuses and tax-free schemes to balance out the extra cost.

[@user-dp1le5fh1q]

I no longer feel patriotic or loyal to my country. I feel loyal to people, but not my country. I think it has something to do with the way I’ve been shafted by power hungry millionaires and billionaires in government every which way for 13 years and ended up worse off than I was when I earned 1/3 what I do now. I’m fed up with being told by greedy back-door-dealing MPs telling me to uphold British Values whilst lying and cheating their own way to healthier bank balance whilst crapping on the most vulnerable in society.

[@evelbsstudio]

The way they are tied to business needs to change, there is a clear conflict of interest with the current political system. I would like to see a rule set where no politician is tied to business, no conflict of interest and politicians actually prisoned for fraud and not working in the interest of the UK and her citizens but that will never change they are above the law as we have seen time after time. Making deals, policies and bills in favour of there own pockets and there business partners should be a prisonable offence. If you did what they do in a private company someone would be in prison

[@NeilCWCampbell]

Iblame brexit and conservative voters

[@ouethojlkjn]

My Conservative MP wouldn’t deal with me because he demanded my private address phone number and email, and when I said he could have those as soon as he gave his to me it all went silent…

[@NeilCWCampbell]

@@ouethojlkjn sounds like abrexit conservative

[@belindamay8063]

@@evelbsstudio It’s high time for a new Parliamentary Reform Act along those lines. Nowadays, neither the Commons nor the Executive is at all representative of the British people. We have lost our internal connections . The people are drifting - without their natural leaders. Active democracy (as we knew it 40 years ago ) has been replaced by a kind of colonial rule, run by the world’s richest men. They have no armies, they aren’t looking for territory. They just need to manipulate our economy. It’s so easy now. And the Tories are very happy to cooperate. They take the sweeteners and hold the ring for those insanely rich guys, men whose start-off capital came from the modern slave-trade : cheap, enforced , unregulated and unprotected labour in the Third World. While our own fine industries are killed off, we colonials have to buy the cheap inferior products of a rotten society. Though steeped in patriotic obligation, these Tories, proud guardians of our common inheritance have abandoned us for dirty money. Whoever would have thought it ?

[@user-fu9ic1ut2b]

This is so right! My Dad's last few years were very restricted because he stayed at home, "to stop the spread of the virus". I had elderly friends who died at 98 and 92 and I was told I could not attend their funerals. Meanwhile "drinks parties" were going on. I will never, ever forget that.

[@SilverHunterN]

Everyone should show the partygate videos at the next election. And that election is not very far away!

[@andhi100]

@@SilverHunterNlabour wanted harsher lockdown restrictions.

[@JelMain]

​@@andhi100 That was after the horse had bolted. I was the European hot-desk manager in 2002 when SARS was on the loose, and so I bought the WHO report on it when it was published in 2006: it contains a set of recommendations, lessons to be learned, which never were. Labour by that time was as pathetic as it is now, but the Tories had a decade to get it sorted and did sweet Fanny Addams. They retired me in 2011, I returned here, and showed what I was capable of in full view of the Savile Club, and more specifically the military faction of the Cabinet, who had known of my potential in my early 20s, which had been kept fresh throughout my time in Europe, and in full view of half of Harley Street. The diplomatic deal I landed solo, in just six hours, met Dominic Cummings search for competence, as he described it before the Covid Enquiry in October: however by that time Boris had trampled the lot of us and they discovered we're not ten-a-penny as they hoped. The employment conditions offered the "weirdos and misfits" included such juicy items as an instruction to ditch any personal relations you may have, you'll be working close to the centre of power 24/7 now - what happened to the 40-hour week? Human Rights to a family? The NHS' butts were saved at the start when, having despaired at the Civil Service, they called on the CEI, created by my father at the behest of Prince Philip, and Dad's IMechE in particular, to produce the ventilators which saved so many lives. I found them the electrics company which made the controls. But that isn't all. I'm not just a very competent economist. I'm also a legist, appointed by the Belgian Supreme Court, and by virtue of that fact, a member of the beta test panel for the StatuteLaw database, which is the rear end of legislation gov uk. I checked a suspicion I had from some equivocation Sunak made about holding the election next year, and discovered they'd sabotaged the five-year law. That was introduced in Section 7 of the 1911 Parliament Act, and deleted by the 2011 Fixed Term Elections Act. That was in turn repealed by the 2022 Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act, which states "The powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new Parliament that were exercisable by virtue of Her Majesty’s prerogative immediately before the commencement of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 are exercisable again, as if the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 had never been enacted." There is no reference to the reinstatement of any other legislation on the matter, and a narrow reading of that indicates Sunak has cancelled the statutory constraint. He is free to continue this abuse ad infinitum, an was the case in the 1640s, until Cromwell put an end to it.

[@JelMain]

@@SilverHunterN Don't be too sure. Sunak pulled a fast one in 2022, forgot to reinstate the five-year mandate limit, as described below.

[@charlieh2081]

@@andhi100 The point is the hypocrisy my dude.

[@nothingbutchappy]

I have never watched an interview with Ian i didn't enjoy... He is a national treasure.

[@paulloveslamp]

Hislop is a national treasure, I don’t think most people realise how important his work on government accountability and transparency is to us all.

[@johnmcintosh5413]

It’s important that he exposes liars and corrupt politicians but it’s all laughable as nothing changes they don’t get punished or arrested and the fun begins again just like before.

[@AaaaandAction]

His whispering of accountability is as in a hurricane of news chatter. Nothing lasts longer than the minuscule attention span of the average smartphone glance ……. and then it’s gone.

[@quietcircus]

Private Eye is the only reliable source of non-fake news in the UK

[@martsmith6298]

Hope your comment is satire. Hislop was one of the first to jump to mock and attack a grassroots movement that promised to change the ills Hislop makes a career out of attacking.

[@corbuzchristi365]

People talk like he cures cancer. He's just virtue signals 99% of the time.

[@stefmanbrett91]

Ian Hislop never ceases to make me smile. And he's so astute in his observations and delivers it in such a frank manner - love it

[@mrmensa1096]

ROFLMAO - HISLOP is BBC Mainstream propaganda - controlled "opposition"

[@justmejustme4444]

I listened to this and can't think of anything that I disagreed with. I find Ian to be very well measured poking fun out of all sides.

[@mrmensa1096]

@@justmejustme4444 Has he ever mentioined the Fact that they are all WEF puppets including Starmer or that Truss and Sunak are unelected or Sunak is a US citizen ? or 9eleven or that 2020 Plannedemic Year had the 18th LOWEST DEATH RATE over previous 30 years !!! - Office for National Statistics. "Anything on Mainstream Media is planned and agenda driven" - Franklin D Roosevelt Please WAKE UP !!

[@jeremywestern7067]

Wankrr

[@Gabaja21]

He’s not been a stranger to the courts, I think he’s pretty well versed in what he can and cannot get away with saying. Kind of wish he’d set up a channel with the opposite viewpoint of the Gbeebees and Talk shite TV channels with the onus on taking the pee out of the current government. Caroline Lucus, Mhairi Black and Yvette Cooper would be excellent talking heads. I’m not gender biased, these three are the ones that have consistently spoken truth to the right wing loonies with eloquence and humour. True orators imo

[@Joekond89]

I watched Ian Hislop’s play about WW1 in Cardiff back in 2017. It was outstanding!! He perfectly mixed the horror of the war with humour. After the play, he stayed ages to do a Q&A with the audience, which included some of the actors. He was so easy to talk to, and gave great answers. I always knew he is witty and highly intelligent, but was surprised to see how down to earth he actually is. Basically what you see here is what he’s like in person. A very genuine man and a great writer!

[@johnwright9372]

Hislop keeps up the fine tradition of Private Eye to spare no humbug.

[@iancraig6070]

All prime ministers should have to have a job interview with Ian.

[@subcitizen2012]

And he should get to decide!

[@dezmundo1251]

And it should be filmed

[@anneroy4560]

before moving into #10 & meeting Larry ...

[@seanelstob5922]

Just having ‘an interview’ for the job would be a start. So many unqualified duffers and intellectual pygmies going for and getting the top job.

[@Alex-mj5dv]

@@seanelstob5922well, in fairness they are often qualified, more-so than your average person (and really, they are meant to be a simulation of the average person in a true democracy.. Angela Rayner would be that, and why Keir saw her as his ‘running mate’, same vein as Sarah Palin was, but just as cynical). Usually, they have held cabinet roles previously, obviously leader of the party, often Oxbridge educated, and ACA and maybe worked in banking, or the military sometimes. It’s not having any experience outside of politics that’s becoming the big issue these days - like senators in the US. They begin as political advisers straight out of Oxbridge and go on from there. It’s a problem and a bubble.

[@saltwell]

Talking of protest: when Churchill toured the East End of London during World War 2 (in the Blitz) it was said that his calling "We can take it!" to the crowd was answered with "It's us that's f***ing taking it, not you!"

[@ericstephenbrenner]

I have never even heard from Ian Hislop before (I am austrian), but holy god. Intelligence, wits, reason, brilliance ... I want to hear more from him now.

[@MQWalkman]

Plenty more of him out there! Try have I got news for you. Mr Hislop is great.

[@ericstephenbrenner]

@@MQWalkman I already watched a few videos yesterday, he's is indeed great.

[@victoriahill6001]

He is a national treasure

[@stewart6156]

His nickname in the UK is "The most sued man in Britain". He's been fighting against the establishment for decades and is an absolute treasure.

[@colinbaker3916]

This is an excellent exchange from this year between Ian Hislop and Jon Stewart kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppOymoujgtOsrZYsi=Er99Z1NgGdI08MvI

[@trampertravels]

I do not want apologies from Johnson and company - I want them in court and preferably in prison.

[@ohdearism]

If we had a show trial of epic proportions. Followed by tar, feathers and a parade, Boris would still feel no shame.

[@followthetrawler]

One thing about Partygate that has never been brought up, but I think it shows the Tories in their true light - Kit Malthouse MP was Minister of State for Crime and Policing under Johnson. He knew about the parties, the drinks, the law breaking and didn't resign, we never heard him utter a word. He was *Minister for Crime and Policing* and on his watch allowed the law to be broken by his Ministerial colleagues and his boss, Johnson. It truly shows you they are all in it for themselves and do not care one iota for the public.

[@randomdaveUK]

Party first, mates next, country last

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

There is also the then head of the Met, who screwed up and got John Charles DeMeizes killed, was censured for obstructing the still unsolved Daniel Morgan case. Then she, who knew Boris from University, got put in charge of the already problematic Met. The most policed street in the UK and no one saw anything? Clearly if reported upwards it stopped there, or they were ordered not to report anything. Either way, the only one with the authority to do that is….. With or without Malthouse’s instructions.

[@stevebeer3324]

Be reasonable. One or two of the SPADs were fined 50 quid. Back in Blighty, youngsters, throwing snowballs/ having a few friends round were fined 10,000 quid ( A years wages for some) And the Treasury refused to pay extra for deep cleaning ( which they specified) after the parties.. Some of the cleaners died. As I say, be reasonable. Kit Malthouse is a rich and influential person and obviously no blame attaches to him or any of his little schoolfriends .

[@andydudley1775]

who

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

I find it amazing that in a country where you have people literally begging for food amongst other things the Tories have brought us there's such a fuss over that party, what happened to the expenses thing?-that was quickly forgotten about

[@user-ej3fl9uh2u]

Ian Hislop is a national treasure

[@mrmensa1096]

HISLOP is BBC Mainstream propaganda - controlled "opposition"

[@stephanguitar9778]

​@@poplife123Yes, the opposite of Farage.

[@1inchPunchBowl]

@@poplife123 Some treasures can become tarnished.

[@ethzero]

Don't let the Tories know that, they'll try and sell him off!

[@jameslewis2635]

@@poplife123 More likely some ally will lay a claim to him and our glorious leader will then do his very best to insult them and look even more stupid than he already does!

[@cruelycruel1032]

Ian is a truth speaker and hes fearless, we so badly need people like him, unfortunately power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

Ian struck it so well. My dear mum died in a Nursing Home and I couldn't be there. Then her funeral was 5 of us. I am what the Conservative Party would consider their core demographic. I am white middle aged, veteran, in the south east of England. I will not be voting for this shower of s**t in 2024.

[@johnking5174]

Who will you be voting for, or will you abstain?

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

@@johnking5174 tactically, so it will be Liberal Democrats here. I have in the past been unhappy with manifestos and abstained. Not being a socialist I would not vote Labour either. I remember the complete madhouse UK was in 1979 and the folly of Gordon Brown and lets sell all the gold of when the price is low as we are short of cash. Then his governments sabotaging of the next government which I bore witness to myself. It would not surprise me if this current government would do something similar.

[@danhay2000]

This is my new favorite Christmas tradition!

[@philipellis7039]

My mother died in a care home with COVID in her system, we had been unable to see her and we had to have a socially distanced funeral which meant many family and friends could not attend. I have not forgotten. I will not forgive. Very happy for Ian to add that to his list.

[@martywestywood6004]

....This happened to me also, ...and as Ian said... I may forget a change in planning policy, detrimental to water quality, but this won't slip my mind, ever.

[@SkepticalTeacher]

Same. 😢

[@johnsowerby7182]

I didn't have it happen, thankfully, but as an expat with elderly parents still in the UK, we had conversations along the lines of 'Don't even try to come over. Once lockdown is done, you can come over and celebrate our lives then....'

[@mdd8887]

Same here, and despite what they tell me I should be doing and thinking, I won't be forgetting or forgiving.

[@martywestywood6004]

Without drifting in to an on line therapy session!!! the actual pandemic was totally tolerable, but been locked out from care home visits, but the flip flopping policy, ship show tory partying, ppe and general incompetence etc, knowing the clock was ticking, was just excruciating.

[@BellaRainDrops]

I started avoiding the news and politics in 2016, between Trump and Brexit and Boris I couldn't take any more but this appeared on my feed today and I'm glad I took a chance and watched it, very interesting and I enjoyed it. Thanks both.

[@ianwhitmore7828]

Absolutely MUST watch this if you want to know how to vote and the BOOK is a MUST read 😊

[@jezedwards3858]

“The enquiry is now confirming EVERYTHING that they denied!” Brilliant & funny as always and, so true.

[@barbararowley6077]

I don’t always completely agree with Mr Hislop (though I do most of the time), but I do deeply admire his unflinching honesty. It’s a rare, and often undervalued trait, that requires great personal courage and integrity.

[@andiross8898]

The honesty comes from NOT being a politician.

[@lucyharding4825]

Hislop is our champion, passionate, articulate, so, so politically astute & true upholder of democratic values. The Private Eye crew telling the Parliamentary Standards Committee that it was failing to (police) “regulate“ bent MPs, which had the cheek to ask the Eye’s editor to give ideas on a process the Committee obviously knew was inappropriate! Excellent.

[@CrazyTechLab]

I lost my dad to prostate cancer in 2018. The last two weeks of his life he spent dying in agony in hospital and the only solace I can take from that is myself and my siblings and mum were at his bedside for 2 weeks straight 24/7 before he passed away. That's the only good thing to come out of that - knowing we were there. So imagine, for a moment, being told, no I can't see my dad. I can't be there for him. He's going to go through all that on his own without us thinking we can't be bothered. CAN YOU IMAGINE. I can. It's almost impossibly hard to imagine it. But I'd have done it. Because I believe in the science behind it. But then, imagine finding out the Tories were groping and snogging colleagues, were having parties and breaking the very rules they set that prevented people from seeing dying loved ones. IMAGINE how angry they are right now. Jesus, Boris fukced them for life - turned them away in their hundreds of thousands - for life away from the Tory party. They've never even consider voting for them again. EVER. It's a rare thing that you turn so many people away from your party so violently. But Boris managed it. Think about that.

[@johntaylor8463]

It was absolutely pathetic how people who hated the Tories their whole life suddenly obeyed their every word, and all it took was fear of death. The British people are feeble.

[@CrazyTechLab]

@@johntaylor8463 I think it’s really funny that people who voted Tory their whole lives suddenly turned against them because they were believing conspiracy theories and antivaxxers on Instagram rather than actual science.

[@SandymoorFerrariClub]

@@johntaylor8463 The idea that keeping physical distance from people who might be infected with a respiratory virus will reduce your chance of catching that virus is pretty basic science which I think a majority of people already understood to be true before covid appeared. Same thing with being in unventilated indoor spaces increasing your chance of catching a respiratory virus from somebody. A lot of the guidance about social distancing was good, albeit already widely understood common sense. The problem that most people will have had with situations like 'partygate' is that the Tories were not following their own advice, and not displaying the basic common sense that a majority of the UK population was displaying. It shouldn't have surprised people though, given that Boris had managed to almost die from covid having managed to catch it while being obese, both of which (catching covid and being obese) should have been easily avoidable for somebody with the access to medical expertise that the prime minister has.

[@jasonwright5232]

​@@johntaylor8463idiot

[@JelloTR]

@crazytechlab you’ve summarised partygate perfectly. I can’t imagine the suffering huge swathes of the UK public endured whilst No10 was turned into a roller disco whilst we were locked away in our homes to save the NHS. It should never be forgotten just how bad they behaved whilst 10000s of their citizens died alone in hospital.

[@alexharrison2743]

I look forward every year to Ian Hislop's wrap up of the last 12 months. I would be so happy to have this monthly

[@Androgen321]

Daily? There’s always something hilarious these days 😅

[@fang_xianfu]

He publishes it every fortnight, available for as little as £1.73 per issue!

[@brelshar4968]

That's expensive toilet paper. @@fang_xianfu

[@philoliver8598]

Good idea. Monthly roundups with an annual end of year review would be most amusing and informative.

[@alundavies1016]

With how quickly things are going wrong it seems as if this should have been recorded on New Years Eve!

[@michaelrandall4624]

Peter Cook would be proud - keep going Mr Hislop. Always gives me hope for a better year ahead.

[@heckelphon]

Indeed, long may he carry on -- but it's interesting that 30 years or more ago there was an undercurrent of feeling that he was the upstart who had somehow conned the Eye old guard into getting them to believe he could run the magazine, and that it would never work: well he's resoundingly proved that wrong! So the thing is, who can keep that essential publication going long after IH is no longer with us?

[@rrbh]

Peter Cook would conclude that he was a cant and would go and get his huge nailed boots .

[@jenn976]

I just love Ian H. This is a great year-end conversation. Makes me want to watch (because of the story Hislop told toward the end), The Wiper’s Times again, a movie about the satirical newspaper some British soldiers put together in WWI.

[@nigeltilbury276]

Brilliant gentlemen, as ever. Now I can approach my day with some semblance of tranquility, in the knowledge that at least someone knows WTF is going on!

[@tonyhall699]

Sunak, Truss, Rees-Mogg and Johnson, it's like saying which one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse you prefer.

[@shortandopinionated]

I'd rather an apocalypse

[@mickodillon1480]

Great answer!@@shortandopinionated

[@annewalden3795]

​@@mickodillon1480I think Short and Opinionated needs a dictionary as apocalypse is clearly not the answer .

[@mickodillon1480]

No it isn't but it was funny @@annewalden3795

[@Rosco-P.Coldchain]

Headless horseman

[@FTZPLTC]

Labour's slogan could pretty much be "How Much Worse Could Things Get?", but I think the public would call that a failure of imagination.

[@davidwilliams5300]

They are bound to show us after the next election, Neither party are a viable vote this is only an informed opinion at this point

[@fatbelly27]

I think it should be (in a Clarkson voice) 'How hard can it be?'

[@stevenhoward3358]

@@fatbelly27 the hardest thing... in the world

[@olaa5534]

Name one thing the Tories have done in the last 13 years apart from gaslighting the people, broke the country along devises line and then trash the economy. I'm guessing you want them for another 5 years?

[@fredatlas4396]

​@@deeingalaplike Things did get better from 1997, but I'm 100% certain things can only get a lot worse if the con-servatives remain in power

[@duncansteedman9986]

Ian is always honest and kind. This was a great discussion - thanks for posting 👍

[@idontwanttopickone]

NHS waiting lists get longer and longer because we have had decades and decades of multiple governments stagnating taxes or cutting them while also doing the same to public services, like the NHS. A National Health Service clearly works, we just need to fund it well enough so that any kid at school can look at any role in the NHS and think "yes that's worth doing financially". The public need to learn that you get what you pay for AND that the Tories are always going to push for private everything, which is bad for the public. The uncomfortable fact is we all need to be paying a small chunk of our taxes into a pot that can't be touched for a decade or so, so our public purse is much larger in the future and less likely to be destroyed by the mismanagement of the likes of Truss, Johnson and Sunak. Planting trees for our grandchildren to enjoy is clearly the way we need to be thinking if we want to avoid the mistakes that lead to climate change and the current housing crisis and cost of living crisis. On top of this we, as a country, need to be taking back control of things that should be making us all money - Thatcher and co selling off our social housing stock and our fossil fuel reserves has made life harder for us all and everyone in the UK poorer - that's a fact. Countries that remained in control of their oil and gas now have buckets of cash for each and every person. Countries that have a solid social housing scheme don't have massive issues with homelessness and sky rocketing rents or house prices. Less people looking for a home means more affordable homes for families who can afford to buy one. It's got nothing to do with boats on the channel and everything to do with cutting taxes and mismanagement of our countries assets by previous governments. For too long the economic foundations of stability have been chipped away at and the only way to fix that is to start putting a tiny bit away for the next generation. Sadly that means paying now for the mistakes of our parents and grandparents so that our children and grandchildren don't have to suffer the same thing we are.

[@TheBadderman]

It's immigration. Wake up.

[@johnwright9372]

In Wilson's first government Barbara Castle tried to ring fence NI contributions into a separate account to fund future generations of pensions, health care etc. It was never legislated, largely because of concerted and vicious opposition by the Tories and Insurance companies.

[@peterc2248]

As someone who is profoundly disappointed with all politicians from all parties, I totally agree with Ian's view. I don’t want ideological extremes and petty power plays, I just want a Government that works and provides services.

[@thatguykalem]

The problem with that idea is that it relies on nothing ever changing and your country encountering no challenges. You can only successfully conduct the humdrum, day-to-day politics of providing services in a humdrum, day-to-day world. The desire for that politics feels more like a longing for the “simpler” days. But there never were simpler days. The world is a vastly different place now as it is at every other time, and people are asking new and difficult questions of governments in the UK and overseas. It’s no solution to limp on with the ideas and systems of the 20th century - they’re the ideas and systems that have gotten us to this point to begin with. Ido understand the yearning but it isn’t what the UK or other countries need anymore. I’ll let you know if I figure out exactly what we *do* need.

[@robyourtime]

Naive take

[@rickjensen2717]

Don't hold your breath!

[@mikeryan7468]

We need people to come together more than ever now. It's desperate.

[@DaddyDevit]

All the parties in every democratic country are going through the same problem. Parties are more concerned with being ‘conservative’ or being ‘left wing’ then they are with being a government for the good of its people. Both sides are playing a pathetic culture war wherein the right is always moving more right to create an illusion of progress and the left have to crawl right in order to appear less extreme.

[@fuferito]

Thanks! Young people fielding smart questions to older, wiser people gives me hope for the future.

[@AstroTorch]

Love watching these chats, I part ways with both of you quite deeply in some places but always a pleasure. Long may they continue.

[@SashaGrace94]

Had to come back to this to digest it a second time and it’s so true re the COVID enquiry. My brother died in December 2020, on the very day they had a Christmas party and vomited over their secretaries. We had a tiny funeral for him because that was the law. We live in Wales and that made it even worse as we were locked down over that Christmas and during the time of the funeral. I won’t go into the ins and outs but here we are just over 3 years later and I swear to god me, my parents, their partners, other close relatives *cannot let this go.* People from every side of the political spectrum are now further divided (as Westminster was Tory run at the time and Wales was Labour run, both still the same at the time of writing) over the decisions that were made and the Westminster scandals that we all may have suspected now being undone in front of us. We will never forget my brother’s life and the contributions he made but not one of us can think about him without remembering his funeral with a handful of people because of the restrictions and how awful that felt and that will last forever as the next funeral and the one after that rolls around you are constantly reminded of it.

[@lollybaby2]

I am so sorry. It was a terrible time.

[@Fredmayve]

It's awful and it's not forgivable.

[@YHIEEDC]

Do not let this go. This isn't an issue that "with time" will fade. They deliberately partied at the expense of the publics health. You are one of thousands who have experienced not only the loss of a family member but you had to give up the time and space to grieve. I work in mental health and understand that funerals and time for family to come together and grieve is the biggest healing factor one can have. I'm a lib dem but i don't care what party you are from, if you willfully show the amount of disrespect the Tories did in 2020-2021 you deserve nothing from the British public. Not a seat in parliament, not a public pension. I hope you are now able to grieve for your loss without it impacting you too much. Just know that although you may have missed out in things during the lockdown you saved countless other families going through the same trauma you have gone through. It won't help to heal you but it may just give you a reason to keep going when times are tough. I'm always available if things are hard and you need someone to talk to. Good luck with the future :):)

[@rosequinn]

I support your views and give condolences for your suffering. At the same time I lost my mother and a dear Aunt (who died alone and in a nursing home). the restrictions at that time were a first in history whenever before did our dearly beloved die without the succour of loved ones being by their side and Ushering them on their final journey... it was Sinful and unforgivable for our leaders to have partied at that time. shame on anyone who belittles the impact on your family esp the suffering of your dear parents.

[@kwilson5832]

I'm sorry for the loss of your brother. Like many others, I will never vote Conservative again after the absolute shambles they have made of the country over the last few years. I can't say that I have liked any Tory PMs that have been in post since they were last elected. Rishi Sunak is too motivated by money - his background is in finance and he and his wife are multi millionaires. His main concern during Covid was the economy. His 'Eat Out To Help Out' scheme' was designed to bring money in to the economy. He was advised against it but continued anyway, helping to spread the virus among crowds of people queuing to get in to eateries. He failed to understand the concept that if people are ill or dead, then they aren't contributing to the economy. He scrapped stamp duty on house purchases, forcing the values of properties (of which his personal portfolio is worth £millions) to increase exponentially, forcing first time buyers out of the market, and making it impossible for some buyers to purchase property in their local area. When he had the chance to reinstate the stamp duty, having seen what a mistake it was to scrap it, he didn't. All he could see was how his personal fortune was increasing as a result of it, so he kept his policy in place. He keeps saying that his government is tackling the immigration crisis, while providing accommodation for those who arrive illegally. They end up staying, further increasing the strain on resources such as housing, education, healthcare and increasing his personal wealth as a result. As Ian Hislop points out, Rishi just does not have a clue how anything works. As a result, we have rampant inflation, with many people striking, struggling to find a place to live, unable to heat their homes properly or feed themselves. Liz Truss was out of her depth for the short time she was in office, while Boris Johnson and David Cameron were liars (although at least David Cameron had the decency to step down after losing the Brexit vote). I did feel sorry for Theresa May, as she was given a tough time and had difficult situations to deal with, but again, a proper decisive 'leader' with a strong team behind them may have coped better. The country is a worse place as a result of this terrible government and people will never forget the actions of the politicians or the lies they have told about their own actions. Meanwhile, members of the public suffered as a result of obeying laws instilled by the government while the politicians openly broke their own laws, then lied about them.

[@georgespence5600]

My sister’s funeral in December 2020 was attended by just 7 people. ‘Nuff said.

[@AA-hg5fk]

Sorry for your loss, the government must be held to account for their mishandling of the pandemic.

[@margarettrueman9483]

So sorry... perhaps, you could have a memorial service for her at a special time, such as her birthday.

[@SampleTracks2224]

​​@@AA-hg5fkno-one will be "held to account" (lol!) for their de-humanising behaviour and you know it. But post away on social media all the same.

[@davidjuson5608]

Private Eye! I've been reading it since the mid 1960s and it still makes me feel proud to be British.

[@SuzanneO707]

I have read it since the late 80s. People thought I was weird lol. Sadly we lost cartoonist Tony Husband a while back, he lived in my town & popped in the local.

[@TheInquisitorPodcast]

HM official Opposition!

[@paulharrison8828]

it's a great shame that it's not available online as I live in Turkey now. I used to read it back in Britain.

[@richardkell4888]

I thought they were both drunk and then I realised I had it on 0.5 !

[@chriscooper9905]

Me too, haha.

[@francescahamilton6856]

Wonderful discussion. Succinct, witty, funny and so spot on. Ian Hislop is not running Private Eye for nothing. Soo clever. Put me in good spirits for the New Year. Messy as 2024 probably will be 😂

[@kellywiffen8505]

I look forward to this every Christmas. I enjoy hearing Ian Hislop's perspective on the year and PoliticsJOE does a fantastic job of teasing all the good stuff out of him.

[@ericdavison6186]

yes,,he did a great show with Jon Stewart chewing US and UK absurdities

[@stuarts9386]

Kklĵj mmmmñn​@@ericdavison6186

[@JanetJames-dw6xo]

He is not telling us anything we dont already know. I have never known things to be so bad in England and I'm 72 now.. The country has gone downhill for everyday people especially since lockdown. Its just awful now almost like a third world country.

[@CelticSaint]

And it is all being done by design. No mistakes are being made. Our politicians are no longer in control of anything. They are pawns to the 'higher ups'.

[@patcampton7163]

I agree. I'm 76. I wish I could be apolitical but I can't. Its too important. I'd still take Wilson over Starmer any day.

[@PrinceJohn84]

This roundup really does put into stark contrast just how fundamentally broken this country really is. Happy new year all 🎉🤣🤣🤣

[@stephenbarrette610]

Ian, all I can say is thank you for doing what you do. Your are, as others have said, a national treasure. And Joe thanks as well you are very close to getting that designation as well. A fantastic channel. And just to harp on about Mr Hislop, a little bit longer, Peter Cook would be very proud of what you have done with The Eye.

[@harveysmith100]

I never forgot Ian an Paul Merton's words after Boris had first appeared on HIGNFY over two decades ago. The week after Boris appeared they said he was a idiot and couldn't believe he was an MP, a back bencher in those days. I carried that thought with me all through Boris's time as Prime Minister. What do you know, they were right all those years ago.

[@margaretalice6343]

I saw Boris on HIGNFY Boris tried to argue a point then proved his argument was rubbish- all by himself - what a berk🤪.

[@exigency2231]

Read a book called Chums by Simon Kuper

[@harveysmith100]

@@exigency2231 Just had a look at it's revues. It's now in the basket. 7% of the British population are privately educated but over 80% of board members come from the private schools. Not a level playing field to borrow one of their sayings.

[@dh1380]

No shit

[@harveysmith100]

@@dh1380 My last line was meant in the satirical format of HIGNFY

[@laurencerushton3544]

The annual chat with Ian is one of those things which reminds me that I am not completely insane for thinking that handing power to the dolphins is sensible.

[@grahampovey8073]

So long, and thanks for all the fish! D.

[@richardkell4888]

Yes, I just clicked on and realised heck, i did this a year ago too. Excellent commentary, we need as much of this as we can find.

[@laurencerushton3544]

I think a minute of Ian should be served instead of after dinner mints in order the cleanse the soul.@@richardkell4888

[@xDJxG0LD3Nx]

I watched last years one recently not realising it was a year old🤣

[@zeenatbaer138]

😂😂😂😂

[@izzytrue8630]

We lost a shipload of people ... and we will NEVER forgive or forget ... never mind about the other horrors of the last 13 years under the Tories!

[@funbegins2371]

how is covid British govt fault?

[@lynnedelacy2841]

They did well getting the injections covered

[@B4MBI72]

@@lynnedelacy2841 at least they and their chums made a healthy profit from it, thats all that counts after all.

[@SilverHunterN]

​@lynnedelacy2841 The tories did well, not blocking the border, doing all lockdowns very late, and doing partygate, then blamed the queen's death for cost of living crisis happening. Even with the vaccines being distributed, NHS were the ones physically giving the injections out for free. Imagine paying hundreds just to get a vaccine from a private GP instead.

[@murphy7801]

​@@funbegins2371because of opening up and getting people to socialise caused a second out break. Also they actively did things that endangered lives of vulnerable people.

[@stephenlee1756]

THAT cover really did just state the bleeding obvious, and the fact that so many people found it offensive demonstrates how blinkered they are'

[@Paul-li9hq]

What a wonderful discussion. It echoes my two main views a little bit: 1.The bar has been set so low in politics now, that failure is just expected. 2. Corruption and incompetence in politics is now just a simple fact of life and just doesn't cause the bat of an eyelid anymore.

[@pootincopes]

This also foments the 'they're all the same' sentiment.

[@Omegon8536]

if you got rid of corruption and incompetence in politics labour, the green party and the other left wing parties wouldn't exist anymore

[@residentenigma7141]

That's how they like it.

[@MisterFluffyBags]

​@@Omegon8536Curious why you left the Tories off that list. They're just as bad.

[@jonharrison9222]

@@residentenigma7141 I don’t think many people actually do like Donald Trump or this fantasy land he pushes. Just me.

[@diabl2master]

You two have brilliant chemistry. I hope this remains a tradition for many years to come.

[@Shirtguy3]

Re Ian Hislop,s comment that the railways are being taken back into public ownership by stealth.This is because the privatisation model hasn’t delivered and/or has proved to be dangerous to public safety. They are being taken back because of bad and irresponsible practice. The water companies are a further example, where the importance of profit taking, far outweighs the damage they commit on a regular basis to the environment.

[@Finimabob]

It was very heartening to see such a smile when discussing such depressing news

[@sfBE11]

I don't think I'll recover seeing Ian Hislop with his top button undone.

[@blehblah9309]

At least he didn't go full Brosnan

[@bridiesmith5110]

Sunak works for his father in laws best interests.

[@alanread4763]

Whatcha this space ! Cameron's return is for one specific reason only. The continued enrichment of the Sunak Family Empire, via a quickly cobbled together trade agreement. Just stating the glaringly obvious!!!!!!

[@bridiesmith5110]

@@alanread4763 indeed. Sunaks fil buisness was fined many millions due to vis irregularities. He was also being investigated for lobbying impropriety to the tune of 6 mil. Nothing in the media.

[@dolphine675]

Let's not limit the corruption to those unelected puppets

[@biancacastafiore383]

I love that bit when he talked about the history of respect towards monarchs. In germany (I am german) I think there was so much mistrust and spying on ones own people by the authorities. We have an extra word for that, the moment you commit „Majestätsbeleidigung“ you were thrown in jail or worse. And in England people throw turds at the monarchs if they were not satisfied with his performance. That is great and I guess one reason there is still a monarchy in Great Britain. Thanks for this very interesting interview.

[@danremenyi1179]

Why don't we listen to this man? At least a little bit. Thank you Ian.

[@legaldinho]

Time person of the year: Mick Lynch

[@redlion145]

Speaking as an American, you have no idea how ludicrous that suggestion is. Time Magazine? Honor a labor leader? Hell will freeze over first... I agree though, Lynch has done great work for the RMT.

[@michaeladkins6]

@@redlion145 Taylor Swift

[@thesuperlive]

I've never had a conversation that flows like this.

[@brenglover72]

Very enjoyable. People have had an epiphany after 13 years - the tories have been the mouse that has been left in charge of the cheese larder.

[@johnwright9372]

About time! Contrast the right wing media to Private Eye.

[@bernardgooch4308]

Ian just gets it right everytime . Its personal i lost 5k out of my pesion pot but more importantly my sister to covid infected in hospital . That and all the lies and the corruption .

[@Mackerdaymia]

Couldn't agree more about the poppy point. I'm not that old at 37 but I remember having a remembrance assembly at school as a teenager, our teachers reading names of boys from the school that died in the Great War, the last post being played and thinking of my grandad and other relatives whilst proudly wearing the poppy and donating to the poppy fund. All very sombre and reflective. Nowadays it's a festival of who can be the most patriotic by building some 100ft tall lit-up poppy. Virtue signalling to the highest degree. No-one ever shamed you for not wearing a poppy 20-30 years ago, now you're a pariah for so much as questioning it. Tasteless jingoistic nonsense.

[@stephenlee1756]

Also, Remembrance Day has become hugely militaristic. People forget that nowadays the victims of wars all over the world are civilians - women, children and old people just trying to live their lives in peace. And all the time we are selling huge quantities of powerfully destructive weapons to all sorts of unsavoury regimes.

[@robertjsmith]

Israel,Saudi Arabia,to name but two

[@hadorstapa]

I think there's this sense of pride that some seem to be associating with the Poppy now as well, which is also absolutely not what it's about. We Poppy Appeal tagline "lest we forget" is not about remembering with pride, it's because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

[@Stop..carry-on]

I was recently in my dentists waiting area nervously waiting when the chatter from the two receptionists caught my attention- they were comparing who has the better poppy one was a sort of fake diamond stone pin on brooch and the other was a oversized plastic shiny version of what we normally see, I was sat there thinking they simply don’t get it - took my mind off approaching procedure!

[@petergaskin1811]

I rarely wear a poppy, but do subscribe to the charity on a monthly basis.

[@karonsky1]

Ian for PM!! After listening to him for years, he’s more knowledgeable and morally sound than any of the many recent dimwits ruining the country! 🇨🇦

[@tomhollandroberts1737]

They're not running the Country ~ THEY'RE RUINING THE COUNTRY.

[@paulhannan9739]

Great discussion about the first world war and the poppy. Top marks.

[@sarahbarrett1247]

“None of it makes any sense at all”. Well he could be talking about anything that’s happened in the past 13 years 😭

[@MartinNelson]

I find it really difficult to understand how ANYONE ever thought Sunak would be a good PM after seeing his utter failure as a Chancellor...or were they all just too distracted by Boris that they didn't pay attention to the idiocy that is Sunak and his oblivious nature.

[@ouethojlkjn]

Spoilt brat of a billionaire who marries another non dom tax avoiding billionaire, he’s always going to be in touch with the common people…

[@CelticSaint]

The people who thought that he would be a perfect PM are the shadow dwellers in the WEF and DAVOS gang. Sunak is just a useful employee to them. A middle manager.

[@gothmog2441]

I think it was that Truss was SO awful there was a strong feeling of “any port in a storm” … and maybe you are right, we should have expected him to have a go at being even worse …

[@johnwright9372]

The electorate has the memory of a flea. Sunak presided over all the corruption of Covid loans and contracts.

[@eaka68]

Ian is a Legend!!! Excellent interview.❤

[@cjsky5822]

Speaking of personal impact, the amount of tax I pay is sickening. All the main parties talk about is tax and spend. I'm tired of it, the UK is broken unless something dramatic happens between now and the election I'm taking my earnings and putting them into a more sensibly run economy.

[@lazslostpierre9951]

Ian Hislop is a hero. Private Eye doggedly followed for years the Post Office's false prosecutions of sub post masters due to the failure of the PO's faulty Horizon system. Currently being dramatised on ITV.

[@metalhead2550]

Fantastic as always, it's a highlight of my year when Oli interviews Ian Hislop and they put the world bang to rights! Keep it up

[@TrippyNoShoe]

I don't normally watch any You Tube clips that are longer than 10 mins max but this one hooked me for the full duration. Very well put together with the right mix of seriousness & humor. Well done sir !

[@M123OCT]

The most interesting and thought-provoking videos on KZbin usually start at ten minutes. 😉

[@johnt8453]

Ian Hislop national treasure. Love the man ! Happy Christmas everyone.

[@eddiehitler9822]

Merry Christmas!

[@ejr3331]

I have such a different life to Ian Hislop but find him incredibly funny and honest with humour. Bloody brilliant and made me laugh which can be an absolute rarity nowadays 😂😂

[@MrUniman609]

A very enjoyable interview, Ian Hislop never fails to entertain with his forthright political observations.

[@BoadiceanRevenge]

Yeah! Lots of people forget that the Kings father was Greek! We are so Fubard with the current batch of criminals in parliament! 😢

[@romeo20maypole68]

Watched Hislop for decades..yep truly is a national treasure

[@shellybelly35]

❤ Ian Hislop such a funny satirist, he's my fav team capt on HIGNFY, HIGNFY is the last worthwhile program the BBC have left after they cancelled mock the week.

[@BB-nl4rl]

Tbf it's been garbage since Angus Deayton left

[@gumshake689]

​@@BB-nl4rl who?

[@Buddythunder1]

"Can you imagine how bad it would be if no-one cares?" Ian, that gave me a little hope this evening. Hear hear.

[@nickjung7394]

When the first cohorts of soldiers came home on leave, often wounded and it was clear that the war was not going to end soon, any ignorance of what they would be facing disappeared. Knowing what they would be fighting against meant that hundreds of thousands volunteered. It took until 1916 before conscription was introduced!

[@oxygenkiosk]

What a delightful episode. Ian is hugely amiable and quite frankly right on all matters to do with anything. A delight to watch his brain being picked. Thank you

[@zoranblackie5921]

I must confess I expected Sunak to be a more sensible pair of hands (comparatively), but Ian is right about how spectacularly poor he has been at the 'politics' of it all

[@RobBCactive]

The give away was Cruella's appointment right after she was sacked for lying and yet another security breach

[@zoranblackie5921]

@@RobBCactive Demonstrated he had no intention to stand up to the far right of the party... and allowed the cartoon villain to be performatively cruel

[@RobBCactive]

@@zoranblackie5921 yes, exactly and I pointed it out at the time to too, to an Oxford prof who praised Sunak's start. There was another ERG appointment which showed he was not making a clean break from the swivel eyed loons

[@Omegon8536]

really. and what exactly is wrong with Sunak's time as PM? because last time i checked, the sky hasn't fallen down yet.

[@Omegon8536]

@@zoranblackie5921 you know why they're called the far right? because so far, they've been right

[@lizfuller400]

Admire Ian Hislop for his forthright views. Lovely person as well .

[@robintennant8473]

100% Ian, straight down the middle you are. Breath of fresh air!!

[@MrJ6000]

Enjoyable conversation indeed, bravo boys

[@techinfusions]

Sunak thinks that because he is he son of immigrants to the UK that he can be extra hard on immigrants, I am just wondering were Sunak would be today if his parents had been sent to Rwanda ?

[@alfsmith4936]

He can though..

[@robertshepherd-mo9vw]

Married to the woman whose father owns Rwanda.

[@davidfearn1052]

I once wrote a letter to Private Eye saying that politics was becoming so crazy that perhaps satire was becoming so very easy to write that the cost of the magazine should be reduced. Of course that tongue in cheek letter was never published but it was well before Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak took us to even lower level of absurdity.

[@xeecec]

This man is what i needed today. "It's been bad, it's been better, but it would be worse if noone cared"

[@mandaqu]

Comparing Wilson’s discretions with Johnson’s is like comparing a shoplifters crimes to Fred west

[@belindamay8063]

@mandaqu. I hadn’t noticed that. Thanks for the reminder. Ian is a treasure, but very occasionally, he slips back into “journalism’ - like the above.

[@SpearMinti]

Absolutely love Ian Hislop. Was lucky enough to watch HIGNFY being filmed tonight and he was so fun - he came in running and did a little dance. National treasure

[@albinorhino6]

I’m Canadian, so know nothing of British politics, but this yearly review is quickly becoming a favourite holiday tradition. Merry Christmas, happy holidays everyone.

[@bigdgaff]

The KZbin algorithm sent me here after watching the new Private Eye Annual Review. Really enjoyed the interview and have subscribed. Great stuff.

[@justgeneric2876]

Basically Atlee had it right with what needed to be nationalised and was: 1. Transport, Energy, Telecoms

[@jacobwilson9036]

@politicsJOE a monthly sit-down with Ian would be an absolute treat. Please make this happen!

[@davidnettleton7084]

Ian should be made a Lord and join the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Railways. He is in favour of Trains as a means of moving people around the country. Before the Beeching Report of 1963, it used to work. Ian knows this.

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

Yes, him and Christian Woolmar.

[@1258-Eckhart]

It worked incredibly well and the only place now with a railway like that is Japan. Not proud-making really.

[@bba48]

Considering we invented the railway's or founded them

[@Omegon8536]

fuck that, stop the war on cars and invest of roads

[@ilikemilkshake22]

This was brilliant, again. Love Hislop and Private Eye. If anyone has a link or any more information on the story of the veterans who nicked a piano and started a fire after not being invited to a remembrance event I would appreciate it. I hope it's not apocryphal

[@johnkelly6809]

Luton town hall was also burned to the ground by veterans who were ignored by the same town-hall hob nobs and for exactly the same reason.

[@granttrain3553]

For me part of the reason that Ian Hislop is SO important, is here you have a man who is a Christian, royalist, centralist, and he isn’t bat-shit crazy! He perfectly demonstrates to me that you can disagree with someone so completely on so many core subjects and not hate them! The insanity we see so often is not an emergent property of the gulf of opinion.