James O'Brien grills Daniel Kawczynski MP on Saudi arms sales - BBC Newsnight

[@monkeytron5061]

I wish he was still on Newsnight doing this. He is so brilliant at it. Going back to Talk Radio LBC was a national loss.

[@the_hinchy]

Don’t think it’s a loss when you can still listen to him and he still does exactly this, the politicians won’t even go near him cause they know they’ll end up broken apart.

[@monkeytron5061]

@@the_hinchy I just wish more people saw him

[@the_hinchy]

@@monkeytron5061 it’s slowly starting to happen 🙌

[@BlokeBritish]

@@monkeytron5061 u r the man Monks

[@popshaines5492]

JB is not a good interviewer. He cannot cope when the interviewee is not intimidated by his hectoring technique. He is more suited to cleaning floors, then he could walk all over them without any inconvenient contradictions.

[@SirAmicVarze]

Kawczynski is pathetic. He spent the entire segment whining about the BBC and dodging the question.

[@ParcelOfRogue]

There is something quietly revolting about Daniel Kawczynski MP which makes my flesh creep.

[@martinleo1818]

YES!YES!YES! An awful example of human waste! It's always ok if you refer to a section as the 'Great British Public'! All is then acceptable! Would you buy a second hand car from this man or Arthur Daly? 🤠🤠🤠

[@YouD0ntSay]

The problem is he has no respect for democratic accountability. These Tories act like dictators.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

Kawczynski a human 💩💩💩

[@TheEthanOBrien]

How easily this politician was undone, yet these are the people arranging the world behind closed doors. Madness

[@MrArchie800]

It's a shame this presenter had to leave the BBC because refused to tread more softly - we need more grillings like that.

[@mcooley88]

He wouldn't treat the serial lying Brexit Tories with kid gloves so they forced him out.

[@BlokeBritish]

@@mcooley88 u seem to hv selected a bad mood

[@sonnybmedina]

"The Houthis are not our allies and are not our customers. Therefore, the public interest of British journalism is not served at this point by investigating what they have or have not been doing. We sell weapons to Saudi Arabia." masterful

[@oliveroliver9732]

Excellent. This is the journalism we need.

[@stuckupbitch58]

That Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski is a hopeless liar & avoider of the truth. BBC I imploy you to keep asking questions & reporting on Yemen truthfully. Thank you

[@sophiestephenson5752]

+ILOVE JEWS Nobody is attacking the regime in Saudi Arabia.

[@mppawlowski]

+ILOVE JEWS Tool.

[@ACE999]

Like trying to get a straight answer from my dog after she's stolen the sausages off the kitchen table!

[@spunktasticjismmonkey8569]

+ILOVE JEWS Bias is perfectly okay when it's being used correctly to find out a truth that we, as a nation, have a right to know.

[@louiscartman4811]

+Boadacia Iceni The difference being dogs are intelligent

[@ACE999]

+louis cartman Just as well we stopped executing dogs for dogcraft quite some time ago. Still burning witches there.

[@Barney-ii1no]

+Boadacia Iceni you have to fucking interrogate these mp's to get anything out of them, this guy dident even answer the first question he asked

[@davidscole5549]

LOL, you dog probably got a bigger brain

[@psammiad]

If only James O'Brien was still on Newsnight. Too many politicians are allowed to get away with not answering questions.

[@estherV4N3V9]

Thank you, James O'Brien, for this amazing piece of getting at truth and justice.

[@clem1149]

Climb down from his arse

[@puddyvalentine]

James (kick ass) O'Brian....love it:-)

[@maxinemolyneux8325]

O'Brien did a brilliant job. Kawczynski's persistent refusal to answer the question was a complete disgrace, all the more so given his public and political responsibilities to be answerable. Attacking the BBC for bias is a cheap trick. This was journalism at its best. Good for you Newsnight.

[@clowncarqingdao]

Seems to me that Kawczynski 's extraordinary claim of falsification needs some extraordinary evidence.

[@andrewbaker9873]

O’Brien did a terrible job. It was boring to listen to two men squabbling, nothing in the interview was achieved, the listeners were non the wiser at the end, it was a shambles. Andrew Neil would never let and interview get into such a mess.

[@yemenair2002]

I am British and living in Yemen for the past 34 years. I can only say that after being in Yemen for the past 6 months and being in Aden and Sana'a, I can only say that Daniel does not know what he is talking about. We have received 300 missiles in the last 3 days from the Saudi-led coalition. Hitting 3 private houses behind my house in 2 hours and over 90,000 missiles in the last 6 months. I can assure you that the war crimes are being committed by the Saudis and not the Houthis. We had Geiger counters when they hit Faj Attan which showed maximum readings of radiation at the bottom of the mountain. Many people are now getting leukaemia and cancer. The news of Yemen is blocked and not shown anywhere in the world. Thank you for your investigation. At last someone can see what is happening in the world. Al jazeera, Al Arabia, Al Hadath are all Saudi funded stations. If you watch Al Masirah which is now blocked by the Saudis you will see the videos. We have received more than 3 Neutron bombs, 2 in Sana'a and in Sadah. The death toll speaks for itself. Daniels answers show that he has absolutely no idea what is going on in Yemen, or maybe the Saudis bought him also.

[@afaultytoaster]

+Hadi S neutron bombs are advanced thermonuclear weapons, i find it unlikely that they have been used. still, take care and god bless.

[@Lazylinepainter.]

+afaultytoaster I think he means the equivilent of that in radiation from the depleted uranium used in munitions by the Saudis.

[@disoye6227]

+Hadi S Obviously the vile Tory Mouthpiece doesn't know his XXXX from his elbow. But he does understand money!!!

[@ebbanjenkins5960]

+Hadi S im spreading news as much as I can and so are some of my friends....at least the internet can do that

[@ebbanjenkins5960]

Whatever is happening it is appalling it receives little to no coverage here in the UK,although it is understandable from a cynical point of view

[@WiseJoeyD]

I LIKE this version of the BBC. Actually hitting back and ridiculing the Tories nonsense and spin and bluster. Glorious to see him let that politician hoist himself by his own petard. Utterly sleazy and wannbe intelligent sounding by just banding about big words like "BBC bias" expecting that to frighten the presenter into changing tact. Also the interviewer is channelling Chris Morris. Love it.

[@jamesfernie8488]

The bbc is far left what are you on about

[@Sceusell]

@james fernie ah yes, the far left organisation that reports the opinions of transphobes as fact. The bbc isn't far left because they themselves are trabsphobic, youtuber Shaun did a great series of videos reporting that

[@darraghcorrigan2462]

​@@jamesfernie8488🤡🤡🤡

[@fruitbat62]

Why did he not just answer the question instead of attacking the BBC?

[@doublekatana95]

+Sean Hill because he's just a pathetic mouth piece for the west

[@stevegandalf4739]

+Sean Hill ... because he's Daniel Kawczynski ..... but there again there are plenty of other Tories like him, both inside and outside of parliament.

[@jedadruled984]

+Sean Hill Daniel Kawczynski was right about the biased coverage.

[@andrewmakesthings]

Because the Tories' next target is the BBC.

[@fruitbat62]

he was being interviewed about saudi arabian behaviour, not the bbc reporting standards. That is a different issue. It an issue that has become sadly more prevalent. hijacking a subject, avoiding same subject and saying its your fault. All he had to do was say yes or no and give his reasons. this is called debate. all that happened was an argument about a different subject. Saying that someone else is doing it as well is not reason for doing something, its a poor excuse as it means you have gone down to their level.

[@davidknell9676]

I miss Paxman but that would be soothed by seeing more of James on Newsnight

[@Thoughtful-]

I don't think Kawczynski could do a batter job of undermining himself and making himself look foolish.

[@deputyvanhalen6386]

He makes it his daily mission to do so...everyday!

@dan riley Do your research into Kawczynski and you should be shocked. The man is an arse and a crook and I would be willing to Call him out in public. Needless to if you are not shocked it's you who is the arsehole.

[@mmcfarlane001]

@dan riley What political insight. You must be very clever.

[@BlokeBritish]

but who r u battering ?

[@number94]

I prefered James O'Brien to the other Newsnight presenters before this but this elevates him further. Brilliantly handled.

[@pancakingon]

James O Brien had the patience of a saint during this interview

[@harryfrost2733]

I don't get his view, why is he pro-Saudi? I thought we were English and stood for free speech and 'democracy', that is certainly the opposite of what Saudi represents in global societies.

[@alkerdham]

He receives donor money from Saudis

[@FauxToez]

+Harry Frost *cough* Oil and money *cough cough*

[@TheMessiahization]

+Harry Frost Did you understand anything of the question he was trying to point out to the foreign ministry of affairs MP? He was asking how the British government are equally culpable for endorsing war crimes committed by Saudi Arabia by having British companies sell military arms to them. Instead he was constantly side stepping the question and going on about how the BBC were biased and falsifying the news reporting, which is utter nonsense. If you thought the British was all in support for free speech and democracy, well think again.

[@alkerdham]

+Saudi Girl I've a question for you, can you drive a car?

[@TheMessiahization]

+Saudi Girl You do not seem very educated to me despite your insistence. I am happy for you that you wish to remain persecuted for the rest of your life, can't wear shorts or bikinis in the stinking hot desert, nor are you allowed to drive, and if you ever get raped- your beloved country will stone you to death. How is that for a lovely country? Ruled by a monarchy that steals the wealth of its own citizens to enrich themselves, a country that endorses ISIS and terrorism and who persecutes Shia political activists and kills them. Your repressive regime is repulsive..... I am sorry.

[@informedchoice2249]

We need more direct and confrontational journalism like this.

[@PNETriffid]

The Tories love Islamists. On the one hand they can use them to whip up jingoism, on the other they can sell weapons of mass destruction. Win/win.

[@donaljoseph1]

James O'Brien is brilliant !!!

[@DJ-wm4ew]

Watching this in 2021. This MP is a complete Muppet. James has completely dismantled his argument or perceived defence.

[@sakent]

Someone should just unplug Kawczynski - he's a waste of time.

[@mmcfarlane001]

Perhaps if he was on life support....

[@sheilaroddick5853]

Another bullshit Tory sticking up for our hideous "allies".

[@simondb99]

This is the first time I've heard Daniel Kawczynski MP speak. I hope it's the last.

[@gherkins999]

Except for his resignation speech where he says he wants to spend more time with his fascism, I mean, family.

[@jagdavies1]

Oh my............look what the BBC is capable off....No criticism from me tonight - well done

[@ericcantona99]

+jazz strider Look what James O'Brien is capable of more like. Not to worry, I'm sure they'll get rid of him soon. We can't be giving the Tory government a hard time now.

[@MrArchie800]

And a few years later he had to leave the BBC because he was too close to the bone

[@colinbaker3916]

@@MrArchie800 He wanted to leave, as he felt hamstrung by the need to be impartial. His success has come from his time on LBC.

[@MrArchie800]

@@colinbaker3916 Yes but I think it was more the BBC's 'idea' of 'impartiality' that was the problem i.e. always giving the other side an equal voice even if it wasn't merited (like giving Nigel Lawson's opinion on climate change equal weight to a world renowned climate change scientist).

[@colinbaker3916]

@@MrArchie800 I think having to interview Andrea Leadsom as a counter to Pascal Lamy might have been the last straw, given how often he still mentions it!

[@mistermoog]

Brilliant! We need more of this from the BBC. Their interrogation of politicians is woeful at times, but this has given me a little glimmer of hope that they'll start to stand up to duplicitous liars, especially Tory ones.

[@paulrussell]

"This is not Saudi Arabia and politicians don't get to determine what journalists are and aren't allowed to do" hilarious.

[@BlokeBritish]

thats it Paul

[@yemenair2002]

We would like to have this discussion translated into Arabic, so we can show the Yemenis that not all English people are bad, we also have some good caring people unlike some of our politicians. Is it possible?

[@BBCNewsnightonline]

+Hadi S Thanks for the suggestion. We may follow up on this - if we do, we will let you know.

[@Algahafy]

+Hadi S it's interesting that you're jus assuming that we Yemenis are against Saudi-led coalition strikes. Unfortunately Saudophobia is blinding journalists and news outlets. Saudi is helping Yemenis get rid of a trechearous alliance between Saleh and Houthis. The UN issued a resolution and who's not complying with it? We are suffering suffer from Houthi-Saleh alliance the most because they're the ones who dragged the country into this violence. Maybe if you know how this intervention came to be, then you would understand who's the real culprit.

[@Metsada007]

+Ala Mohsen Saudi Arabia is the biggest culprit of all these conflicts together with America and Israel. You have been lied to if you believe otherwise. You can choose to deceive yourself of course.

[@RaywesLookForward]

+Ala Mohsen I'm Yemeni and I've despised the Houthis before they even entered Sanaa but Saudi is definitely not helping. You seem to miss out on the obvious fact that the UAE was a major supporter of the Houthis until very recently. They supported them out of their hate for Muslim brotherhood. You also seem to forget that it was Saudi who recycled the previous dictator Saleh and treated him after the assassination attempt. There was a really huge chance to stop this big war a few weeks ago but that doesn't make Saudi and Hadi very pleased and they are adamant on a complete military victory. Be a decent human being and stop being a warmonger. Stop drumming!! They don't care about us. It's always the little guy who suffers...

[@sofnaji]

@@BBCNewsnightonline did you do it? If you want, my organisation arabbureau.org can volunteer this service in the interest of the Arab community. We are working on a similar project with the EUISS. Let us know.

Since this interview James was gotton rid of by the right wing board of the BBC. He is a man of great integrity and his foe here is an absolute crook.

[@owenevans6615]

James is true to his morals at his best in the fire of heated arguments. Although this doesn't happen very often, resulting in him sounding dull as dish water. LBC

[@hamsatd]

The BBC political team have a lot of right leaning journalist. The BBC entertainment team is pretty left wing. I wouldn't mind if it was the other way round lool.

[@poox8362]

Sadly, the BBC would not allow James O'Brien to perform his job properly. Thank God for his shows on LBC

[@jjcam007]

Danny boy is such a good example of what we can expect from a politician in a Tory government. Though I am surprised that they let him out on his own.

[@FauxToez]

"Well, that is what one would expect perhaps from a television station in part funded by one of the coalition partners" - Epic

[@ModernSocialist]

This proves that they should get James back. He destroys thick right wingers.

[@danwic]

Rule 1 of an interview with James: Don't talk BS to him. Rule 2: see rule 1.

[@BlokeBritish]

thats it Danny boy

[@Skylark_Jones]

The BBC can be biased but on this occasion the MP was in the wrong. He filibustered and behaved like a mouthpiece for the Saudis in response to a direct question. Very suspicious indeed.

[@donnellykieranj]

Give me an example of their bias please.

[@mauricemoss429]

And has recently been found to be touting for work from Saudis. Proper tory filth.

[@BlokeBritish]

@@donnellykieranj cool it kiery

[@googleuser4467]

I want to say thank you to James for his wonderful journalism and for grilling the MP.

[@VanlifewithAlan]

This traitor only considers what money is in it for him.

[@ryanharriss7950]

Aye, the military industrial complex as they say..

[@2gunzfilms425]

This is amazing. I would love to have a journalist like James O'Brien here in America. I wish we would've got him instead of Piers Morgan

[@Driver2616]

Piers Morgan isn’t a journalist. He’s a columnist.

[@ArabResearchAdvocacyBureau]

Real journalism. A long time since I've seen this. Amazing.

[@rdh-daliasjb3796]

Fast forward to 2019 and Yemen has the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and the BBC has capitulated to the Tories!

[@benangel3268]

Sanctions and warfare create horrific economic problems. Not for the imperialists but for ordinary people.

[@ralphreed5663]

Fantastic interviewing. I would like to see this guy interview each UK party leaders next general election.

[@SilentReports]

Thanks Mr James for your journalism!

[@Liverpoolboy01]

He is a Tory, avoid, avoid, and lie through their teeth!

[@pw4259]

Labour supporters are on benefits lives in council accommodation 5 plus kids lazy and Families out of control

[@a.nahari380]

James is an honorable journalist

[@jjoriordan2670]

James O'Brien has the uncanny ability of letting people beat the sh1t out of their own argument.

[@danwarb1]

What awful people we have representing us. Thank you James O'Brien.

[@pacificanorthwest1015]

James... Shame on you, picking on poor Daniel like that. He'll go home now and have a good cry to his mummy. You know how sensitive he is. You big bully.

[@aelfman1]

I wish we had journalists like this in the United States.

[@marclewis2500]

Why did O'Brien leave Newsnight? I love to see MPs squirm.

[@-HRH]

Not normally a fan of O'Brien, but this slimebucket Tory did his cover-up agenda no favours by dodging the question and resorting to transparent attacks instead. A disgrace.

[@jibraani10]

Truth hurts nice one BBC newsnight

[@BallyBoy95]

I've fallen in love with this newsnight reporter, he's got a little bit of Paxman in him lol.

[@JoseighBlogs]

+Bruce Wayne JO'B (James O'Brien) is beginning to settle in. But, he is nowhere near delivering his renowned nasty, putdown arch-belligerence as he does frequently to phone-in listeners during his daily London based conversational LBC 97.3 FM Radio show (10am-1pm GMT) on political, social and other topical issues.

[@ekattri]

I think anon a. mouse is one of the people who called in to his show once and got spanked by facts and logic

[@JoseighBlogs]

I can categorically affirm that I have never been factually or logically spanked by that Hobbit.

[@MegaAdamjohnson]

James (slitting throats and taking names) O'Brian. Simply Brillant.

[@KaiHonsou]

Daniel was earning his kept during this, Saudi money must be sweeter then most for some people.

[@daikucoffee5316]

When newsnight actually had real journalists.

[@BlokeBritish]

u mean newsnight needs to wake up now and smell the daiku coffee ?

[@steveparker4343]

The Nasty Party in full Glory!

[@danielokeefe2072]

One of the worst of the Brexit Junta. Appalling man

[@ohthelushlife]

Can we in the U.S. borrow James O'Brien for a while? We could use one...

[@criticmajestic6486]

wonder how many watch the bbc and like james now

[@erzan]

James is a journalistic legend.

[@danmoar94]

I don't know why people think the intent behind avoiding questions like that isn't blatantly obvious

[@garydean777]

He didn't answer the question because he has no answer. There may be an element of truth in his accusations against the BBC, I really don't know, but he was certainly evading the question which infers the blatant guilt of the Tories in this matter.

[@robertoneill3806]

Guy is an absolute genius

[@ReegusReever]

AVOID! DEFLECT!

[@Manasses1961]

Anyone with a Polish Surname in Politics should be ignored

[@letmegoletmego]

It's none of our business. Except it is business isn't it. And our politicians are up to their necks in it.

[@MrTinkx]

Great interview. Holding the government to account.

[@billdavies6463]

And on 15 Dec 2021, the Guardian reports that the "most Pro-Saudi" MP was seeking a well-paid second job with Saudi or other work related to the Middle-East. School fees are very expensive, so needs a steady extra income. Dissolutioned with Parliament since 2017, and hoping to become UK Ambassador to Riyadh. A Conservative with a constituency adjacent to ex-MP Owen Paterson. Given recent news, who do they work for? Nice job, James.

[@BlokeBritish]

u r wrong Billy boy

[@daudabappa932]

"Promise you will push for good remuneration too for me … I need it to pay school fees". Colour me surprised why you defended their government's action so much.

[@soradeso]

Wow a BBC journalist that actually is a real journalist! well done Mr O Brien how refreshing.

[@belindat4312]

wow! now I understand why JOB left the BBC. No one else scrutinises politicians quite like he does. quality

[@jamesfernie8488]

Because he’s a far left extremist

[@davetherave6197]

Yes James

[@2011dyrose]

James O'Brien holding the Daniel Kawczynski MP to account. Refreshing.

[@Sam-lw6mx]

Wow the greate James

[@crayzee1372]

A select committee should be unbiased and hold the government accountable

[@kramconley7972]

At last, thank you James O'Brien

[@johnny1961S]

James o'brien, well done sir, you made the MP sweat, can't answer the question you ask!!! Loved it!!!!!

[@147sterling6]

Just shows how far the BBC has been restricted on what it can investigate and broadcast.

[@Stibsart]

That was fucking hilarious. I haven't seen O'Brien on Newsnight, yet. I'm going to have to start. It was the wtf? shrug at 4:03 that finally set me off giggling.

[@BlokeBritish]

haha Stibby

[@helen4542]

This is why MP's won't go on his show, they would be mincemeat 🤭 James is great.!

[@hawkesworth1712]

Why would someone go on TV with the intention of making themselves look like an arsehole. Does this sorry excuse of a politician think he won some fans with this train wreck?

[@Andyinth]

And in today's news "Tory MP needing ‘to pay school fees’ pleaded for lucrative Middle East work. Exclusive: Daniel Kawczynski’s WhatsApp messages show he claimed to be most ‘pro-Saudi’ MP in bid to secure second job" which makes his interview on NewNight even more revealing of the character.

[@KeithApp]

James O'Brien is the greatest journalist right now. Love the way he delves into truth seeking and corruption exposure. This prick of a MP is bent as hell. The sad thing is we are paying his lavish salary through taxation.

[@doctorpex6862]

By dodging to answer he confirms involvement.

[@theredraven]

Bet if this was Corbyn being interviewed you'd all be crying about it and demanding the BBC say sorry.

[@robtyman4281]

Newsnight were foolish to get rid of JO'B. It's now practically become a 'girls club'. He was hard hitting, and perhaps they found him too hard hitting. People think Emma Barnett and Emily Maitlis are both hard hitting, but neither are as acerbic and 'nonsense busting' as JO'B, when in full flow. He really goes for the jugular.

[@asadmohammed1057]

Love James O' Brien. Stopped watching Newsnight when Paxman left. Will be back on it.

[@ScottZ370]

I just can't get over how he says Yemen. Also isn't there any training for MPs about how to deal with journalists

[@Driver2616]

The BBC really messed up by letting this journalist go…..

[@lunesdeambiente10]

It makes me upset when they have adverts trying to help people in Yemen 🇾🇪

[@Dead-Ball-Situation]

This is how proper journalism should be. The problem is, most of the time, it isn't; especially here in the UK.

[@mickdarabuka7778]

Keep on pressing them, James. This man is a top hat and a shirt front.

[@billy1276]

Wow, BBC actually doing real journalism for once

[@thatbritishguy577]

james o'brien nailing it here this is how interviews should be done. hold his fwwt to the fire

[@alidawson6118]

This MP was suspended for bullying!

[@ProjectOverseer]

Well done James ... More Tory BS exposed 👍

[@Sou1defiler]

Someone throw Kawczynski a lifeline he's flailing out there..