Michael Portillo | Cambridge Union

22 February at 2pm in the Chamber
Michael Portillo:
Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo is a British journalist, broadcaster and former politician. His broadcast series include railway documentaries such as Great British Railway Journeys and Great Continental Railway Journeys.
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[@mc-tv7uu]

very interresting and he would be a valued member of the British parliamentary system again. Britain needs people with such qualities

[@Stand663]

I honestly like listening to this man. I recently came across him on GB News where his calm rational explanation on current affairs was not only incisive but it was educational. People need to just stop and listen. It’s a good thing to hear a different viewpoint.

[@PhilBaird1]

Really enjoyed that. Thanks Michael and Cambridge Union.

[@cambridgeunionsoc1815]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christinelivesey9077]

In the 80/90s I couldn’t bear to listen to this guy but now I admire and indeed agree with so much of his views.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

Yea, most people get more right leaning as they get older and wiser.

[@rodjones117]

He's become a better and more likeable person since he left politics imho.

[@PhilBaird1]

Michael has matured into a person well worth listening to and he just gets better with age. I couldn't stand him in the '80s but now I'm a real fan of everything he does and says. I think we've both changed for the better.

[@MrDaiseymay]

@@PhilBaird1 Because you matured as he did.

[@maria-agneswarenits1649]

@@rodjones117 0

[@adrianhough5059]

What a thoughtful and interesting interview…..thank you for sharing on KZbin

[@cambridgeunionsoc1815]

Thanks for listening

[@michaeld.5699]

This is a great program very informative for people who travel 👏

[@MatthijsRColenbrander]

Possibly the best I like about Portillo is his highly colourful wardrobe ... bordering on the "daring" just as I like it too ... 🤩

[@mrbigolnuts3041]

Michael has the most fabulous fashion sense, total marval

[@unlokia]

You should see him on “Great continental railway journeys” - he’s amazing

[@alanpreston292]

Eaxcellent! Very enlightening and thought provoking.

[@offaofmercia3329]

Could listen to choo choo all evening. Still think This Week was a winner of a show too. Long may he train.

[@MrDaiseymay]

I met Michael last year at a book signing, before he went on stage to tell his life story, I asked him if he'd ever consider going into Politics again, and he loudly exclaimed NO, NEVER !

[@philiprice6961]

What a great dresser. Just exudes confidence!

[@jodalinkus5538]

Years of politics and involvement in public life has allowed M. Portillo to gestate an impressive osmosis. To expound the state of current affairs with a remarkable historicity.

[@richardcoleman3425]

Wow! Michael Portillo had a poster of Harold Wilson on his bedroom wall, when he was a kid!! I had Galen from the Planet of the Apes TV show... (wish I'd had a poster of Keir Bradwell though...)

[@j.wwilson4866]

Michael is my second uncle he’s a very wise and generous man. Also a relation to Paul o Grady so it’s a sad time for my family at this moment.

[@Dude0000]

Wow, what he said about the MP’s needing Boris is amazing. He hates the guy…or used to.

[@khanduraj]

I congratulate the Cambridge Union on getting to interview Michael Portillo. This is in contrast to the Oxford Union decision to invite Christopher Steele. Indeed a poor advertisement for a disreputable institution. I had the opportunity to serve in the Conservative Party's 2001 general election campaign launch by Michael Portillo. I advised him to fight the election on the single issue of saving the pound. Portillo did indeed do that. There was probably no saving the Conservative Party from defeat in the election. The stand saved the country which indeed made it possible for the UK to extract itself from the EU. Portillo was more significant to British politics than he even realises. The question of power is relative to the concern of the politician in question. It is often sufficient for insignificant politicians to achieve the pinacle of office with little interest in any program of government. They would enjoy the trappings of office as power. A politician with definite objects of government would be aware of many limitations on his capacity to perform. A great leader is one who despite such limitations achieves great objectives despite difficulties and challenges. That person would have exercised power in the real sense of the word. Constitutionally, a British leader is hobbled by the limitations on the Prime Minister and of his office. Government and responsibility is devolved to the great offices and departments. We saw the Prime Minister hobbled when the country was poorly prepared for Covid by the mismanagement of the NHSS leadershp. Many of the challenges today facing the UK arise similarly. Wastage of public funds in the billions over which the Treasury has oversight. The Energy crises arises from lack of oversight and failure of policies. Ministers come and go. The departments they oversee do not always rise to the challenge when a Minister fail. The list is endless. It would be better for the country to have the legitimate power of a directly elected President, a role the monarchy once performed. The Hindus had the concept of an elected monarch, one who had proved himself with prowess and conquests. This is what the British monarch approximated to in history. As the Quuen Elizabeth era draws to a close, Prince Charles was not entirely wrong to want to be a more hands on monarch. As he has mellowed, he has stated that it is no longer his objectives. Prince Charles falls into the category of people defined by Plato as someone who has had to grow and undergo tests to establish his credentials as leader. If it seems that the country has a dearth of the leaders needed to take it through present day challenges, should the country be non-challent that it has allowed its one potential leader is forced or allowed to fall by the wayside? Plato's test has determined that one sort of leader he should not be: someone who panders to interests that are inimacle to the interests of the UK and the Commonwealth.

[@spennie3607]

Hated the Tories during the 80's (soldiers dressed up as police to beat the shit out of miners - a cousin in the Royal Scots included) and when he lost his seat to Twigg I laughed like many. Years later he turned up on a C4 programme where MP's lived with a family on benefits for a week. Turned out he seemed to have a heart. I remember he hit it off with a little girl (around 6 or 7) helping her with her homework. I often wondered if it was all just for the camera, but years later on one of his train docs he had arranged to meet her as she was studying at Liverpool Uni. He had kept in touch. He is a decent guy and a good listen.

[@michaelpeacock6360]

A top bloke

[@grahamcooper6476]

Good. Very good !

[@janenoble6889]

Very enjoyable listening to MP. I will have to vote for Boris again as his is the only party that knows what a woman is.

[@moneywithian2852]

Portillo is very articulate

[@stmatthewsisland5134]

In July 1935 Clem Attlee was challenged to a duel by Captain Finelli an Italian Fascist, he had taken exception to some disparaging remarks Attlee had made about Italy in the House of Commons in the course of a debate on the Abyssinian crisis.The Times reported ‘that Attlee, deputy leader of the Labour party at the time, declined the challenge as a barbarous and obsolette way of settling quarrels. He laid stress in his reply of the continued freedom of speech in England’ How times have changed…….

[@stmatthewsisland5134]

@PrestonSartorius As Michael Malice says 'conservatism is progressivism driving the speed limit'

[@revbenf6870]

"Ireland was not factored into the British consideration of Brexit". As someone with a NI background, having lived in England for over 40 years, I consider myself as British first, I did factor it in, along with concerns about the impact on the Union generally, especially Scotland, and other places like Gibraltar, and voted to remain. I was surrounded by friends who all voted to leave, who took an entirely English position.

[@wormsnake1]

Could have been prime minister. Seems a fair minded chap, great stories and mellowed with age.x

[@svendbosanvovski4241]

Should have been PM.

[@duckbizniz663]

I love hearing Michael Portillo speak. I think Michael is an intelligent man. I really enjoy watching his travel programs. I am disappointed that Michael blamed the EU for causing the financial crisis in Greece. It is unfair and false. The British government refused to adopt the Euro as their currency because the British government did not want to have the responsibility for helping out an EU member who had irresponsible monetary and fiscal policies. In the EU the big three, namely Germany, France, and Britain, would have to lead Europe and enforce responsible monetary and fiscal practices among EU member states. The big three are the big three because they are more developed and know how to govern a modern, open, and industrialized state. This would insure a stable single European market and a stable Europe. The British government did not want to share this responsibility with Germany and France, and opted out of the Euro. When the Hellenic government was spending more money than it was taking in Germany and France had to impose austerity measures on Greece. If Greece refuse to make the necessary changes then the EU would not bail Greece out of their financial troubles. Of course, the Hellenic people complained but if Greece wants free money from the other EU members then Greece must start running its finances responsibly. It was the EU who helped Greece. The EU did not cause the financial crisis in Greece. When the British refuse to adopt the Euro the UK showed they did not want to be a responsible guiding light in Europe. The UK wanted the benefits of the European single market but it did not any responsibility to guide the less developed countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

[@johnnycomelately6341]

I do know of one boarding school where the students picked the bed up with student ensconced and placed on footy field, such was the depth of sleep

[@jamesburke2094]

also worth bearing in mind regarding the EU, that Portugal were denied the government which successfully won the election, due to their lack of favour chez the EU

[@philippankhurst6680]

What a loss to everything the ending of This Week has been...

[@tubularbill]

Would have a made a terrific Prime Minister

[@andrewcooney2387]

Yes the UK would have left the EU much quicker under portillo, Scotland would have grown a pair and become an independent nation in the EU, the North would be back in the EU and Ireland doing even better than Ireland perhaps, and England would be a much smaller place with zero standing globally. And Wales.............. God only knows.

[@Paul-dv4dr]

The interviewer at the end! : D

[@kingpartridge3373]

one clever cookie whatever you think of his politics..great listening

[@nikc888]

I thought he was very average when he was an MP, and he was really, but compared to the clown world of today he would have been a giant. So sad what became of Britain.

[@russellmiles2861]

I feel Michael Portillo is a wonderful tour guide.

[@pearl1606]

If there is no border in Ireland then there is no Brexit. How can there be? Brexit is about Britian.

[@petergoose8164]

His comments on free speech are apposite. He might have added truth speech. I watch his travelogues not only because of a shared fascination with trains but because he speaks truthfully about the harm done by colonialism.

[@petergoose8164]

@@JupiterThunder Very droll. Built to plunder a country which had done the Brits no ill.

[@petergoose8164]

@@JupiterThunder Colonialism was thinly disguised philanthropy? Of course you learned that at school so it must be right. In 1700 India was the worlds richest country. Confirming that is easy. By the time the Brits left they had taken $45 trillion and ruined the economy with superficial pursuits such as tea and opium growing.

[@petergoose8164]

@@JupiterThunder The points I made are easy to confirm using Wikipedia and many other sources. Your knowledge of world and India's economic history may be expanded.

[@ravarga4631]

For bad or good Boris has the ability and habit of winning elections .

[@philippankhurst6680]

What a loss to politics this man is/has been...

[@kevemu]

he is interesting

[@jookingstudio5292]

He's an expert on the letter b. He was one of John Major's "bastards"

[@unlokia]

All the intellect and brains in that place, and yet they appear clueless about how to setup a decent camera.

[@chonnerone2964]

I love Portillo but it's a shame he doesn't care much for the Great Reset or mention the World Economic Forum. As a fellow Brexiteer, Mr Portillo ought to understand the WEF and their Great Reset agenda. The questioner might have wanted to point out that Biden, Trudeau, Jacinder etc. all parroting the WEF terms.

[@johnnycomelately6341]

Would it hurt to put in the year, normally it is an important part of the date, being cambridge and all. And if you do I will spell it with a capital C

[@rjohn4143]

Most interesting - the "This Week" incident MP refers to at the end can be seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWbPk6mEqcqUZsU

[@johnthompson354]

Ditto

[@frankbrennan1619]

Is there ever a time when Mr Michael Portillo is not worth listening to?

[@andrewcooney2387]

Yes yes yes yes

[@johnmulvey5121]

Interesting the difference in speech between the older people (Portillo and one of the questioners ) and the younger . The former speak words individually, with varying intonation. The younger are more monotone, flatter and meaner with the words, less pleasant to listen to.

[@sandracreighton9049]

Dear micheal , i was reading you could see no reason for beleiving in God the Lord , i was a christian from birth but married a atheist , after troubling years , i lay in bed looking towards the bedroom closed curtains and wondered if there was something there i couldnt see , i prayed to God a while ,and recieved a vision, in the middle of the day , i saw the Lord in outline in bright shining white /silver light , this is the word of the LORD(( I AM COMEING) ,THE WORD OF TRUTH )WAS WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD , by THE LORDS POWER, AND WHEN ST Paul writes HE IS WRITTING THE LORDS COMMAND,

[@Tridhos]

I wonder what his opinion would now be about Boris having seen him in the top job and making a complete b***s up of it.

[@JohnnyNorfolk]

Johnson will be remembered for puting us all under house arrest.

[@shalinitrivedi4166]

Like your sofa but it must be white colour

[@kevingrant7098]

I used to enjoy watching Michael Portillo’s train journeys on BBC Two. He was on GB news the other day talking about Brexit he is a supporter he was talking absolute rubbish I will not be watching him on BBC Two train journeys again

[@russellmiles2861]

Oh the train show is great. I went to the Duro Valley because I saw it on his show. But he was a political prat. His own mob turfed him and he lost his own seat. He ought to have been a travel guide. He is good at that way.

[@chonnerone2964]

So you're admitting that you write a person off because they voted to leave the European Union. What a bigot! I would never write someone off because they voted Remain.

[@sandracreighton9049]

I know there is a heaven and a hell ,I WOULD BE SO SAD TO SEE SOMEONE GO TO THAT HORRIBLE PLACE, THIS IS a CHANCE FOR ALL THAT READ ABOUT THE VISION THE LORD GAVE ME , TO SAY THE SINNERS PRAYER or any prayer FOR GODS HELP ,AND TURN ROUND QUICKLY AND COME TO CHRIST AS I BELEIVE THAT DAY IS NEAR WHEN CHRIST WILL COME FOR HIS CHILDREN , MAN CANNOT COME TO CHRIST BY REASONING , THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT MANS REASONING IS FALLEN , GODS WISDOM IS WHAT WE NEED AND SHOULD PRAY TO RECEIVE ,

[@gregalexander8189]

Fact is stranger than fiction. On Talos Four the natives are allergic to violence. In reality the aliens died from the truth bug.

[@rosenjohn7026]

What makes Portillo wear a blazer that’s not in sync with the colour of his trousers?

[@craigdgriffiths6206]

It’s called personality, individuality and style.

[@rosenjohn7026]

@@craigdgriffiths6206 while you maybe theoretically correct, there’s such a thing as being appropriately dressed especially when one is a public personality. Some aspects aren’t mutually exclusive.

[@charleswade-smith7263]

@@rosenjohn7026 ... skies of blue upon fields of gold... perhaps ?!

[@brianaustin5467]

The colours of the Ukranian flag. Rather apt considering the time of recording.

[@freebornjohn2687]

He's probably colour blind.

[@TT_1221]

He has done some very interesting documentaries. I'm very surprised he appears to be against the Northern Ireland Protocol, post Brexit. Given that the Belfast Agreement signed in '98 is an International Treaty and central to it is no tangible border in Ireland and given that Brexit is itself an International Treaty (The Withdrawal Agreement) then I don't understand how he could justify breaking an existing International Treaty in the process of implementing Brexit - another International Treaty. His reasoning that a traffic light system for the movement of goods neither respects the UK or EU border. And there's no question of the Irish Republic having to "absorb a million UK unionists who don't want to be a part of it" as Irish unity needs to have the support of a majority North and South. He is more than a little disingenuous. He wasn't questioned to explain these inconsistencies.

[@benphilips9918]

Read or listen to Lord Frost on the subject of the NIP. The scales will surely fall from your eyes when you understand the nature of the NIP. It is a treaty like no other, signed under duress and one that both sides have explicitly stated from the outset is temporary.

[@TT_1221]

@@benphilips9918 Johnson signed it under duress? You can't be serious. :) He understood it and sold it as an oven ready deal to get elected. He got elected so now in the world of grown ups international law holds him to account.

[@yorkiebuck]

Yes he speaks very well as always but does speak from a privileged position. 1/ He and those who did not like the Covid lockdowns were not at the front line when the emergency wards were practically full. The lockdowns and the awful rules were essential in 2020 and early 2021 to contain and buy time for the medical advances to ensure that the 1% mortality rate was never met. 2/ I regret that we left the EU but do accept that as an organisation it was flawed in trying to push through an integration when it should have been allowed to evolve. As a race we are going to have to learn how to do this, and quickly, as the distinctly unfunny unravelling of the planetary mechanisms occur, in order to survive.

[@chonnerone2964]

Bullshit.

[@smellslikethinice1107]

Just like Hollywood, a group of extremely privileged people congratulating themselves on a job well done. It would be laughable, if it wasn't so sad.

[@mikewalsh6168]

Good to see the rows of empty seats for this irelevance

[@Dude0000]

Ah, an incurious fascist, I see.