Peter Hitchens on Labour, Corbyn, Blair and British Democracy (Full Interview)

Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens speaks to journalist Sam Sholli about the Labour Party following its most recent general election defeat as well as different aspects of the British democratic system. The interview includes references to the leadership stints of both Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair, in addition to other topics.
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter - / samsholli
Blog - samsholli.blog
Facebook - / samsholli

[@robertswitzer990]

You are by far, the most prepared, most well-read, unique question presenter and class interviewer I have seen interact with Peter Hitchens by far. I can tell he actually enjoyed this interview because you didn't go the typical route with the expected questions, you knew a lot of pieces written by Hitchens and could quote parts of his work and ideas. Keep up the good work, best Hitchens interview and interviewer by a country mile.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you so much, Robert. Reading a comment like this goes a long way towards making all the preparation I do for interviews worthwhile. I really hope you stay subscribed to my channel so that you may see what I have in store for the future.

[@robertswitzer990]

Sam Sholli Absolutely mate, cheers.

[@nnour2617]

Strongly agreed!

[@HektorBandimar]

I also felt the Peter Hitchens had time for Sam Sholli, because he doesn't suffer fools gladly.

[@VincentRE79]

@@SamSholli Sam , good interview have you done anymore recently?

[@nnour2617]

High quality interview Sam. Thank you for interviewing Peter Hitchens, a brilliant mind of modern time, in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed this interview.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you very much!

[@huwthomas6644]

@@SamSholli is the Head of the team for the next couple of weeks and is there any chance of having the interview with you tomorrow evening in

[@huwthomas6644]

@@SamSholli

[@SamSholli]

@@huwthomas6644 Could you please send me an email? My email address is [e-mail].

[@gwoodwa1]

This interview is very well conducted and sets a very high standard. Much better than the typical interviews seen on mainstream TV (see the abrasive and confrontational approach taken by Good Morning Britain interviewing Peter). Peter is allowed the time to answer the questions fully without interruption and the questioning is thoughtful.

[@beetlegin]

For a 'talking head', Peter Hitchens is completely unique. You can never tell exactly what his opinion on anything will be or why - a true independent thinker. Makes you realise how predictable and partisan other political/social coverage is.

[@chuggermagic]

Richard Dawkins said the same about his late brother Christopher. Truly a talented family, and they disagree on almost everything but hate many of the same things!

[@callithowiseeit5806]

I can tell what he 'won't' say, he 'won't' say there's a demographic replacement taking place

[@michaelbrent6099]

@@callithowiseeit5806 he'd say it if he thought it. Peter is not one to hold his tongue.

[@deepzepp4176]

@@michaelbrent6099 He would hold his tongue on that one. No doubt about it.

[@richards9407]

Make that 'mumbling head' I wish he'd open his mouth properly. Most times I can't catch his last sentence.

[@Szaam]

I'm not often sure how much I agree with what Peter Hitchens says, but I've got an awful lot of time for him. A uniquely insightful man.

[@andybell7452]

I have watched a number of Peter Hitchens interviews recently, which is presumably why KZbin recommended this one to me. I have to say it was among the better ones. Subscribed.

[@mikep7847]

Watch his attitudes! In my opinion he is a bit slippery

[@michaelmccomb2594]

@@mikep7847how so?

[@devincarter7434]

Good interview. A lot of these Peter Hitchens interviews just go over the same points that we've heard from him before many times, but this covered new ground. Also, you can actually hear him, unlike on some others

[@unabashed26]

‘If (Labour) did have a bad hand it was a bad hand it dealt itself’. Spot on.

[@forthfarean]

I was a “Bobby on the beat” in the late 1970s and early 1980s. That was the last period of patrolling police constables. I served 27 years in total.

[@forthfarean]

Raphael Miller when I was Constable I wore the traditional blue uniform and helmet . For the winter I had a long top coat ,leather gloves and a torch for night time and I still had the whistle. My only weapon was a 15 inch truncheon which had to be concealed in a special pocket ,only the leather loop was permitted to show. Handcuffs were issued on request due to a special need. Not a high vis Jacket in site! . We were not allowed to go into “shirt sleeve order” until it was permitted in general orders and we had to roll the sleeves up to a certain height. No sunglasses were allowed unless driving. No tattoos were allowed to be on show. Senior officers above sergeants had to be saluted on the street. We were not allowed to “idle and gossip” with other Constables on the street. The sergeant would come on patrol to see that a Constable was on his area. It was a disciplined system. If given a “job” we had to attend and give a result which was written in the occurrence book before we went off Duty. If the result was not in the book a senior Constable would phone to ask you what had happened . There was no excuse for not attending to the call. Every report of crime was attended as soon as possible after the report. All road traffic accidents were attended and investigated and a report submitted . Yet all this vanished within ten years, especially in the Metropolitan police. The city police were more like the constabularies. By the time I left , the police were run by political correctness and was inefficient, undisciplined and unrecognizable. It is true that some police forces were sloppier than others but by and large they were much the same and training was intense in law input at the training centres .

[@forthfarean]

Raphael Miller I think you will find that most of them love it. It suits their self image. This mode of dress has affected the way the Constable views himself and his interaction with the public.

[@garydansie1392]

@Raphael Miller They've been attracting the'wrong sort' for a while now!

[@forthfarean]

The police are now selected by how P.C the candidate is. If a candidate is female, Black or Muslim or homosexual he is almost guaranteed acceptance ; he would have to be extremely bad not to be accepted . On the other hand white recruits are rationed and any hint of non P. C attitudes and it’s goodbye. Soon most senior Constables will be female or of ethnic minority origin. The forces are already showing the results of feminization. They are over cautious ,often irrational, prone to an emotional response and cowardly when faced with opposition. They are now dangerously political, leftwards, and actively censorious of traditional opinions and customs which ,awkwardly , the vast majority of the public adhere to. In short the police are not trusted or even liked very much and are regarded as biased, lazy and inefficient.

[@BigBoom92]

As someone who is irish and is looking in from the outside. I always find Peter has his finger on the pulse of british life and culture. Unfortunately people cannot handle the truth. Great interview. A interviewer who is able to ask a short but meaningful question and allows the person time to give a deep and meaningful answer. Wonderful. Bravo.

[@nnour2617]

Well said Kevin!

[@SamSholli]

That's very kind of you to say, Kevin. Thank you! Please do subscribe to this channel if you've not done so already because I'd love for you to see my future interviews as well.

[@kelman727]

Kevin Fleming Are we talking about the same pillock who sends long, ranting emails to Amazon reviewers...?

[@patrickselden5747]

What an excellent interview, Sam! Peter Hitchens is a fascinating thinker and your conversation with him brought that out. Thank you.

[@SamSholli]

That's an incredibly kind thing to say, Patrick. Comments such as this one make doing interviews like this all the more rewarding for me.

[@patrickselden5747]

@@SamSholli You're welcome. 😊

[@gommechops]

@@SamSholli I have to agree, you did an excellent job. All too often interviewers with Peter get in the way of themselves and him, your lines of questioning were honest and sometimes showed genuine curiosity. Its refreshing to see well done.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you ever so much. That's very nice of you to say. I really hope you subscribe to my channel if you haven't done so already because I'd love for you to watch my future interviews as well.

[@gommechops]

@@SamSholli I subscribed as soon as I saw how enjoyable the interview was dont worry!

[@nbrown_]

Great interview. Great questions. Great guy. I really appreciate Peter's reflections, even when I don't wholeheartedly agree with them.

[@RogueWJL]

Mr Hitchin is always fascinating to listen to. An incredibly well read and intelligent man. His options give you much to consider . Excellent

[@Chris-kz7us]

Very good seeing more Peter of late

[@crawford1083]

If only he was "late!" instead of his brother.

[@MosesDeLaRoses]

@@crawford1083 That's original. Why don't you stick to Owen Jones and Greta Thunberg videos

[@crawford1083]

@@MosesDeLaRoses No thanks, Unlucky Alf (after the Fast Show).

[@crawford1083]

@@MosesDeLaRoses If ever there was proof that there is no God, it is the fact that Christoper Hitchens is no more whereas Peter still continues to thieve oxygen.

[@TessaTickle]

Notice how much political history we've forgotten and how few people still around today can talk to us about politics further back than 20 years. How many people here heard several eye-opening revelations?

[@unabashed26]

As a man of the left, I have a great deal of respect for Peter Hitchens. Great thinker and great analyst of history.

[@ScotisticDad]

Same here.

[@_-.-_-.-_]

Fantastic interview Sam. Great questions and you had clearly done your research. You really brought the best out of him!

[@SamSholli]

Thank you very much, Connor. That's very nice of you to say. I have a lot more planned for this channel so please do subscribe if you haven't already. I'd love for you to see my future content as well.

[@TheSpoovy]

Not a particularly easy man to interview but a good job done.

[@seanmoran6510]

He has high standards, no bad thing I’d say

[@artur9712]

I don't quite agree with this, I think Hitchens is much easier to interview than most figures. He responds in good faith, doesn't play any tricks, isn't slippery or sidesteps anything. And he respects anyone who listens to what he says and doesn't interrupt. The PoliticsJoe guy I think did a good interview with him as well (in marked contrast to master interrupter Owen Jones)

[@XakoWako]

I do always love listening to Peter Hitchens, it's always an odd and interesting experience for me. On the one hand, where I agree with him I strongly agree with him. On the other hand, where I disagree with him I strongly disagree with him. Always entertaining and stimulating.

[@Jide-bq9yf]

S J I share your perspective, on the man .

[@maxcowell3920]

Peter Hitchens is an inspiration, and I speak as someone from the Left of politics. God Bless him.......

[@isabellalee7094]

Peter Hitchens is my teacher , I just love this man .

[@denniscopp2032]

fantastic interview been awaiting your return eagerly.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you very much, Dennis. That's incredibly nice of you to say. I'm planning to upload a lot more content this year, for sure!

[@oliversmith4130]

Labour are on the wrong side of a culture war... they need to stop talking about gender neutral toilets and start explaining why working people can’t afford much...

[@kingflixmovies837]

absolutely

[@jamesearlcash500]

"Family was a defence against the state" the more in think about this the more concerned I am about the direction of this culture. Very important point

[@Jeremy-dz8mj]

Problem is it's bollocks. I agree that family is a positive institution, at least it can be. Capitalism is what has destroyed it.

[@insanityrulestheday]

@@Jeremy-dz8mj Capitalism did not destroy the Family. GREED DID. After all, it's all of those who chose to live off of FREE welfare state benefit handouts, rather than go out and work and pay for their family living costs which resulted in the breakdown of the Family unit. As someone told my Mother recently, the Fatherly advice from his ex-jailbird Father was, You don't need to go out and work, just get a single parent Pregnant. And as someone who works on the children's panel told me, A mother came in with her daughter of 16 and stated she's got a bun in the oven and she'll need a cooker. It's all of those who chose to become single parents straight from school and live off of welfare benefits rather than work, when they haven't even tried to obtain a job first and obtain a place to live with their partner before starting a Family who have destroyed what was a decent Family lifestyle.

[@michaelbrent6099]

Im not a conservative, i massively disagree with some of peter's positions....but... i also love him. He's like the anti-piers morgan.

[@bb-sf9hw]

That's a pretty accurate description!

[@walkingonsunshine1568]

Even more so now after what happened on GMB

[@manusha1349]

Great interview! Peter Hitchens is brilliant and articulate but he can be abrasive. Well done to the interviewer for keeping focused, calm and collected 👏🏽 excellent conversation

[@adeusbandeiras]

Actually I had never noticed the red in the Leave signs

[@unabashed26]

Leave came from the Labour heartlands. Labour betrayed their leader and they betrayed their heartlands.

[@MB-wv6sg]

We need more people like Peter Hitchens.

[@casperme6552]

This is so much better than the recent 'Sun' interview, and the one that I saw before that, who's name escapes me. Well done👍

[@SamSholli]

Thank you very much. That is high praise!

[@casperme6552]

@@SamSholli You wouldn't say that if you'd seen the 'Sun' interview!🤣 Either way, this is one of the most enjoyable PH interviews I've seen. 👍

[@Begbiebiswas]

Great interview

[@SamSholli]

Thank you!

[@Begbiebiswas]

You did a great job steering the conversation without getting in the way. No one joins the dots like Mr Hitchens. It’s an art form

[@Jide-bq9yf]

Don’t care where you self identify on the political spectrum , you’ve just got to love this clear headed guy .

[@Esmee861]

By far one of the best interviews I’ve seen with PH. Sam seems interested in what PH has to say and actually asks follow-up questions for further explanation. Many other interviewers just seem to rattle off questions with an “Okay, moving on” attitude without engaging with PH’s answers.

[@agr7879]

Often wonder how many brains are lurking underneath this guys skull. Always fascinating listening to Hitchins

[@drvs2262]

Brilliant interview with a very honest guest.

[@mikep7847]

Honest. Honest? He's totally dishonest.

[@drvs2262]

Mike P really? Please enlighten me on why you believe that.

[@mikep7847]

@@drvs2262 see all my other comments.

[@drvs2262]

Mike P haven’t got that sort of free time but thanks for your input.

[@archiedyer3747]

Great interview and how refreshing is it to here someone so coherently express opinions that they've accquired through living and extensive research rather thsn parroting opinions from others that they like the sound of

[@TerryStewart32]

His older brother Christopher Hitchens was far more intellectually superior, witty, charismatic. He's like a poor man's version of his brother Christopher

[@sjewitt22]

Love how he talks about the media being so biased against Corbyn, There are plenty of studies to back this up. But somehow a lot of people won't accept this.

[@spex357]

A big chunk of the population went off Corbyn in the 70's and it was noticed on the recent travels of MP's as they knocked on doors. For those people no admiration was possible, and they didn't need any help from the media.

[@tyqwdybijo]

sjewitt22 nevertheless Corbyn is a commie and hates the UK. Not patriotic at all and contemptuous of British sovereignty. Those are real concerns that even traditional labor supporters didn’t like about him. For the examples i listed It wasn’t the media that turned people against him. It was clearly stated positions that he ran the election on.

[@genghissmith4949]

James Espinosa Smh, you must be a Faux News addict....NONE of the mainstream news outlets was pro Corbin. I didn’t like his hard left stance but he is the only politician with integrity in recent times, and clearly wants better for the UK. ‘Hates the UK’?!? Mate, you’re pathetic. Do better.

[@sjewitt22]

@@genghissmith4949 There was studies done on media bias, one by Loughbourgh uni and one by LSE that show the media bias in the election.

[@sjewitt22]

@Mark Smith Than I can respect this a lot, we may not agree politically but atleast you act in good faith.

[@vulkanofnocturne]

Good to see you again

[@SamSholli]

It's good to be back! I hope you enjoy this one!

[@callithowiseeit5806]

What about demographic replacement Peter?.... crickets...

[@vaclavmiller8032]

Maybe he's not actually a racist...?

[@alex-sv8ru]

@@vaclavmiller8032 how is that racist?

[@podjun80]

@@vaclavmiller8032 how is that racist??? Come on, answer!!

[@HAZIDEAD]

Brilliant brain and no less intelligent and intellectual than his brother Christopher.

[@tarakb7606]

Several cuts above his brother IMO.

[@BreakingUFC]

I think it's widely known that Christopher was more intelligent. After all he was more well read and surrounded himself with a more diverse crowd than Peter and travelled all over the world while he did. Peter has some very strange views on religion, particularly Christianity and Christopher had some very strange views on socialism but they're my only gripes STS lol. Love both these guys

[@CRD250]

Peter is better imo also. Just as bright but with a warmer personality. More wholesome.

[@paulies5407]

Perpetual pessimist who no matter what side of the spectrum he falls on, will always be disappointed that society won’t bend to his ideaology. Great thinker regardless.

[@commodoresixfour1323]

He isn't disappointed in the least. He has no ideology & doesn't expect society to bend to his expectations of it. Pessimism rarely breeds disappointment. It is the optimist that suffers time and time with disappointment because he or she is always hopeful that things will be ok. Expect things to be doom and gloom & if anything goes your way it's always a pleasant surprise. If it doesn't it's just par for the course, no worries. He doesn't believe in ideologies - there is no utopia according to Peter. He said "Utopia is something people try to reach across a sea of blood and you never get there". As he said he ceased to bring about change long ago and he sees himself more as an obiturist, recording the death of Britain.

[@icdgyixify]

I can see why the far left BBC prefer these Guardianistas. This man is far too honest for them.

[@MosesDeLaRoses]

Agreed. Of course the BBC are so in love with themselves that they don't realise that most people actually agree with Peter. That's why he decimates his opponents every time he goes on Question Time

[@tomdavies6368]

The bbc are a right wing Tory mouthpiece, not far left.

[@icdgyixify]

@@tomdavies6368 What you are saying is that the far left BBC are not as far left as you.

[@tomdavies6368]

icdgyixify nope.

[@kevintwine2315]

The BBC are a mouthpiece for the establishment and definitely not left wing

[@igypop.]

More of Hitchens!!

[@JAMAICADOCK]

Hitchens made some sense but then talked absolute tosh on Tony Blair. There was nothing Marxist about Blair, his policies were privatization, free trade, pro America. His policies on immigration also fell in line with Neo Liberal philosophy.

[@MosesDeLaRoses]

Incorrect. Blair peddled Euro style Marxism. Massive taxation, incredible hostility towards the family and traditional British life and insane immigration. Lefties who try and disassociate themselves from Blair are disingenuous to say the least

[@JAMAICADOCK]

@@MosesDeLaRoses There was nothing remotely Marxist about the Blair government. The only person being disingenuous here is Hitchens. About time you frequented yourself with the distinctions between Marxism, Social Democracy, Liberalism and Neo Liberalism. There are crossovers between all ideologies. Liberalism and Marxism have their similarities in that they're both progressive, however, Liberalism very much relies on redistribution within a capitalist system, opposed to public ownership of the means of production. The Labour party has never been Marxist, it may have had Marxists within it, but the general thrust of policy lent toward social democracy. But it's arguable that Blair wasn't even a social democrat, more of a Liberal. And taxes are not Marxist. There are no taxes under Marxism, given the government owns everything, so why would it levy taxes on itself? Something like the government taxing the NHS, the BBC or the Navy, I mean what's the point?

[@cheekyboy5000]

@WhyOWhy Look past economics? Marxism is an economic philosophy. That's the whole point of it. Otherwise it's just a word you're throwing around for stuff you don't like.

[@tgasc2365]

trev moffatt your looking at it from an economic aspect. What peter argues is that the left instead peruses social moral and constitutional goals and abondons in large part it’s economic ones. On that basis blair is a radical.

[@si4632]

www.bitchute.com/video/5k6NIu3DtqtU/

[@unabashed26]

Interesting point: Is Israel held to a higher standard because the west sees the state as an extension of Europe?

[@hunterelliott4772]

Thomas Harris The West puts sanctions on these other countries though Israel never gets sanctions placed on it

[@miamimo70]

Isreal is not held to any standard, it kills Palestinians with impunity with the blessings of the west

[@delhi93]

Israel sells itself as a western democracy based on the principles of the enlightenment. It was founded as a socialist state by eastern European jews who were socialists or communists. Compare the collective farms of the USSR to the kibbutz of Israel. As a socialist state, it embraced the progressive values and policies; some even before the west did. It has received and continues to receive plenty of aid (US 3.8 million per year) because it styles itself as a western based country. It is a member of practically any organisation you can come up with, even as just a guest member. It propagates to have a highly educated and intelligent populous. It is not a western country (you will not notice this when you visit or holiday, they have an excellent PR), though it has all the outward trimmings. Live their for a longer period of time and you will find out. And they are bold as hell. They know how to play the game very well and turn just about everything to their advantage. Israel should be held to the high standard, the allies held Germany to.

[@monkeyun]

@@alfredwinterbottom1588 Did you even watch the video? Your comment is pathetically dishonest, he says nothing of the sort.

[@colainc90]

he understands what left and right wing actually mean.

[@blairrobert3438]

Yeah and he stands on the side of heavy industry and no healthcare. He essentially wants a return to the dark ages so people return to God and Peters depression/seriousness can be satisfied. As any great mind he is magnetic to listen to. None of you however listened to what he said. He made a point about being able to think for himself. Which he is utterly able to unlike you two lapdogs. You are the very definition of the brainwashed mouthbreathers he has disdain for. You froth at the mouth over anything left wing, drop your drawers at the hint of a Union Jack, think the Express, Daily Mail and Fox are impartial whilst whining about the biased fake media CNN and the beeb. All media is biased. Again you miss his point. Keep bootlicking chaps.

[@colainc90]

@@blairrobert3438 wait, are you talking to me?

[@blairrobert3438]

@@colainc90 No the other guy.

[@colainc90]

@WhyOWhy what the fuck does that mean buddy? Sounds like you are parroting some junk you heard. If you wan't to engage with the guy engage with him, otherwise give it up.

[@mikep7847]

He is firmly a man of the left. The Trotsky variety. He doesn't much like Marx or Lenin or Stalin. He idolised Trotsky like a god, and wishes that he had been the one to take the revolution forward.

[@Womberto]

We were never asked!

[@geraldp.5260]

mr hitchens is absolutely right on marriage

[@michaelbrent6099]

They're pre occupied with Israel because Israel is seen as an extension of the U.S. I would've thought Peter would've seen that one.

[@hondablack1]

Er, maybe the US, an extension of Israel? We are , after all looking at a very filtered viewpoint here.

[@briankelley1093]

Peter's more animated than usual.

[@appiusclaudias3500]

BRIAN KELLEY Brexit Boost

[@chrisbirch6513]

It may be black-pilling to watch a Peter Hitchens interview. At least the history of British politics has been truthfully told by someone so there is no answerless eternal gloom of 'where did it all go wrong?'

[@ianhenson724]

In other words bring back corporal Punishment, I totally agree. People have no standards and haven't for a long long time. And yes we do Indulge CRIMINALS, we are a Laughing stock when i comes to this. And yes we are a Magnet for other Peoples wars, defend is correct always. I love a true explanation of the facts and i agree.

[@kelman727]

Wow. It actually smiled.

[@nnour2617]

It?

[@sjewitt22]

I wish everyone on the right was like Him and Oborne, I don't agree with hardly anything they say but they are honest. But we agree on our hate for Blairites.

[@sichambers9011]

Been watching an online American news show fronted by an honest leftie and rightie - it's very refreshing.

[@infrasleep]

I wouldn't classify him as "Right" or "Left" wing (though in his student days he was a Marxist agitator) I think he has a healthy contempt of politicians and doesn't buy into any of their drivel. It amazes me how people will foam at the mouth when one politician does a crime yet say nothing when a politician of the party they support does the same. Private Eye highlights the lot and Union leaders are every bit as corrupt and thuggish to their members as any right wing MP ,and with Labours Tower Hamlets doing the same as Tory councils in flogging social housing for redevelopment or selling land cheap to firms they "Completely by chance" have a stake in, you know that the real political illiterates are those sheep who buy up all the lies their party spouts.

[@sjewitt22]

@@sichambers9011 What's it called?

[@sjewitt22]

@@infrasleep It's disgusting how many Blairites have got into Labour and their councils and don't act left wing in the slightest. I think PH main focus is social issues.

[@sichambers9011]

@@sjewitt22 the hill, rising. You swear the guy was a leftie but he isn't. It's a really interesting dynamic. They agree that the centrists, neoliberal stuff is bullshit and failed.

[@maxcowell3920]

Thank you Sam.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you for watching, Max! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@kpax420]

Insightful fella

[@Ty-nm6qb]

Capital interview! Well done, sir. You should do a follow up and drill down into his views on universal suffrage and the alternative; the criminal system, looking at the distinction between the continental system and Britain's; the western system/culture and whether a revival in terms of history and ideas is possible; a look more at the decline of traditional media; talk about the changing attitudes within the polity and whether a new political make up will result (like the rise of Labour after the decline of the Liberal party). Well done again.

[@adambritain5774]

A man apart. He is simply peerless. Though it is somewhat irritating that he has to make the same points repeatedly. Any interviewer doing just one evenings homework on PH before hand would be aware of all of these points. Always glad to hear as much of him as possible though, so shouldn't complain.

[@sjewitt22]

It might be first time listening for a lot of people.

[@adambritain5774]

Well once I typed that, I wondered if the interviewer was intelligent enough to assume this, for any 'new listeners' benefit. But I think a lot of PH's opinions were as new to Sam Sholli as they are to Joe Bloggs. He also shows his immaturity (not in attitude, just knowledge) with some of his comments. Particularly the FPP, and the 'elected' House of Lords. There are others.

[@A-Man79]

I've only just found this thanks to a link on Peter's blog. You now have a new subscriber, Sam.

[@SamSholli]

Great stuff! Thank you for deciding to stick around! Who would you like me to interview next?

[@A-Man79]

@@SamSholli How about Rod Liddle??

[@SamSholli]

I'll see what I can do! It's worth adding that I really want to interview people from across the political spectrum.

[@grahamread397]

Very interesting interview. Have not heard of you before Sam but you deserve a bigger audience.

[@SamSholli]

Thank you! I hope you stick around for what I have in store!

[@ballball6832]

Good video. Please interview Brendan O'Neill if you can

[@SamSholli]

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll see what I can do.

[@garywood97]

What happened to your other channel? It seemed to disappear from my recommendations at some point.

[@mattpotter8725]

I found it very bizarre that Hitchens commented that under First Past the Post coalitions are formed before elections as opposed to Proportional Representation where the election takes place and then there's months of horse trading where coalitions are formed. I just don't see this as the case. The two big parties aren't really coalitions, they are people who have to back certain policies before an election. They can still oppose what the party stood for in certain areas after, just as they could under PR, but that misses the huge point. That is, and it goes back to him saying that he lives in such a safe seat that he doesn't even know an election is going on apart from a few signs in windows, that parties would have to appeal to every part of every region as every vote would count. This couldn't happen under PR, one similar to the Irish system. Yes, you can say it might form weaker governments, but that's mainly because at the moment the government doesn't have a mandate from the majority of the people of the country and thus it shouldn't be able to get everything through parliament easily. Smaller parties of course wouldn't be able to get many of their policies through, but they would prioritise their most important ones and if they were seen to be good policies they might get more votes in the next election. This is in contrast to our current system where many people vote for the party they least dislike, so to stop the one they really don't like and don't want in government as opposed to the party they actually agree with, and so the smaller parties have nowhere to go, unless there is huge dissatisfaction with both the two big parties, and even then that doesn't get you many MPs in parliament. It is elitist, which even though he has left wing credentials and thinking, he also has many right wing tendencies, and I feel that he doesn't think representation is important, he seems to think rule of law is all that matters. He seems to fail to see that laws are made by the politicians and therefore the way they are elected to represent the people in the country, and make these laws, is very important too. He doesn't seem to care about democracy, which I found very odd. I think Hitchens is an intellectual who is in his own bubble, where he doesn't think any real change needs to happen, a very social conservative view. In fact he talks a good game, just like the likes of Boris, but you come away after listening to a lot of what he said without actually knowing where he stands on anything. He declined to answer the question on what he would do, even when pressed for a few policies, he would like to see implemented if he were in government, which I think says a lot about him.

[@saltservice4024]

The issue I find with interviews like these is that it simply places the narrative of politics into one person's perspective. A significant number of people will be merely looking to wet their fingers into a subject about politics, look for what lines sound sensible and agreeable and then those very people will return to their echo chambers and recite the interpretation that was given to them. It's easier to watch an hour of information from some body within the field and think that is a expertly crafted, condensed view. I say, get some heavily prepared academics to debate British democracy, then that might be interesting.

[@mattpotter8725]

@@saltservice4024 Maybe I'm an exception to the rule, but I quite like hearing what the other side have to say, and debating with them why they think what they do, and I listened to Hitchens here for the entire interview, he is a very interesting character, and a very intelligent man, but that doesn't mean he's right on every single topic. And I see many other comments comparing his views here to views he might have given 10, 20, 30, maybe even longer ago to those he has now. People change their views as they go through life, often due to the company they keep, their social class, their job, where they live. If he had kids going through the English school system I'd have more sympathy for what he says on education, especially if he child was one that had failed to get into the grammar school (unlikely as that would be). I think people like him are good when talking about topics that don't require specificity, unless they are an expert working in that field, but when they stray into actual areas of firm policy, which he actually declined to answer earlier in the interview, they often show their biases.

[@wilverbal]

I love Hitchens, but frequently he speaks so softly that I strain to hear him, even with the volume way up. Am I the only one? (Serious question.)

[@theobstinategentleman4094]

No you're not. That's why whoever is interviewing Peter has to have good audio equipment or I'm out

[@Vrayanderson6018]

Great opening question, he was gutted lol

[@nicolaperren9493]

Please Peter come to Cornwall, help us get away from London, foisting such house building on us, I'm sure your descendants would be appalled at what is going on here!! We need to drop off the end!!

[@seanmoran6510]

One of the things I admire about Peter Hitchens is that he states what his Bias is and defends his stance with logic and fact ! And that he has the courage to do so. Unlike the vast majority of those in the public arena! Certainly not one for the slogan/sound bite age

[@kelman727]

Sean Moran Logic and facts...?

[@seanmoran6510]

kelman727 Logic and Facts to back his Case/Bias You may disagree with him but will you state your Bias ? One big example is our Education system copied from America and not the one Attlee or Bevin supported ! Peter Hitchens is spot on about the Comprehensive System and the erosion of education as a whole ! If you answer state your bias or are you going to be like Alister Campbell or Boris and be silent? I’m with Traditional Blue Labour and Traditional Red Tory I’m a Capitalist but loathe this model I liken our current society to a over stretched elastic band ! And when it goes it won’t be pretty You may want that ? You may not ? I’d rather we work together as a nation and engage with what we can do and what we can’t So if you bother to answer Plainly State Your Bias

[@AlexAgha89]

Hi please please please see if you can interview John Mearsheimer (University of Chicago Professor of International Relations). He's famous for his talks about China but I'd love to hear what he has to say about Brexit and the EU. Also on whether it's worth having nuclear submarines in a world where the US, Russia and China are persuing Ballistic Missile Defences. He wrote a book called Conventional Deterrence (about NATO) back in the 80s so it'd be interesting to hear his perspective on that too.

[@fortnitefellaz1535]

Great interview well carried out

[@mmtucker]

dominic frisby would be a great interview!

[@nathaniel4334]

excellent interview. More please

[@talleyrand3551]

My daily black pill, thanks Peter.

[@ProjectOverseer]

Yet a few days ago he said we're doomed because of our present Government 😂😪

[@andrewmorton3344]

The increasingly grumpy Peter Hitchens is more relevant now than ever. I just wish we could see him occasionally when he's able to let his hair down, maybe belting out a karaoke number or something just to dispel that aura of grumpiness.

[@hondablack1]

c 33.19 Peter " Telling the truth for it's own sake "?? Who's version of the truth Peter? Are we talking absolute truth. Who knows that, Sir? Holier than thou, eh?

[@jackschubert1045]

It's possible to get to the "absolute truth" about a lot of different things

[@arthurdonachy]

A considerable amount of nostalgia for the past ,or how he remembers it.Religion and education figure at every turn, family life extolled as preferable to whats now on offer. I am a little older,far less educated,working class baby boomer and have no such memory of that period. Religion forced into lives, despot husbands ruling the home, coppers breaking heads, perhaps it was different in Peters upper middle class home, I suppose boarding school would have been shit but at least The Archers and Listen with Mother would not have been on the tiny menu.A great interview though,well done

[@insanityrulestheday]

Religion is not needed to create a Family Home. My Father worked and provided for his Family and the only religion he came in contact with was the alcohol spirit. It comes down to what kind of human being you are, if you are decent you will work and provide for your partner and children in Need. Only Scum bring children into this world and then absolve themselves of the responsibility for providing for their partner and children's welfare. It's Humanitarian to look after one's own and has nothing to do with Religion.

[@arthurdonachy]

@@insanityrulestheday if this is a reply to my post I'm not sure of what to make of it; what's your point?

[@insanityrulestheday]

@@arthurdonachy That you can live as a whole Family unit under the one roof without the doctrine of religion. All those who have broken up the Family unit over the past 40 years, choosing to live in the two house system with the father in one house and his partner with his children living in another house and living off of welfare state benefits is what has destroyed the Family in Britain. You don't need to be religious to know that if you have brought children into this world, you should be living in the same house as them and working and providing for their welfare. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "It's Elementary, to look after one's own Family" rather than expect a welfare state to be created which is funded by taxing hard working Peter to pay for Freeloading Paul and provides the money to give Free benefit handouts and take on the responsibility of raising the children of those who won't work and pay taxes.

[@arthurdonachy]

@@insanityrulestheday This is a way off topic as to my post which was meant as a suggestion that Peter wearied for the days of yore when the family was held up as the ideal and following the social mores of that time was superior to what we have now. Post war UK's unemployment rate was less than 3 % ,wages were not high but the population persevered , the NHS became established housing for the working class became healthier and cheaper, pensions were improved, however by the 70,s unemployment rose and continued to rise, with an estimated 14 % rate 20% in NI breaking the social contract between state and citizen.A home where the erstwhile breadwinner is emasculated and his previous position as head of the house is diminished is not a happy one; tensions arise ,familys split, the offspring try to find their own way, some succeed some fail again and again. The lucky ones prosper the unlucky get by as best they can, some turn to working the system. It's fucking them so fuck it. To now blame this generation ,calling them scum, idlers freeloaders after decades of neglect by a system that rewards the filthy rich with titles and acclaim for fucking the system legally, is the height of hypocrisy.

[@insanityrulestheday]

@@arthurdonachy All those who have never worked and paid taxes, choosing instead to live in the 2 house system, where he's in one house and she's in another house with his children in need and had their living costs subsidised by the heavy taxation of women like myself who were working straight from school a 40 hours week for a minimum wage of £1.66 an hour and then being robbed of my frugal earnings in illegal Poll and Council taxes since the age of 21 for the past 30 years to pay for the EU Collective Freeloaders Manage, paying £55.00 every month, then increasing to £65.00 every month annually and then £90.00 a month annually so that I could no longer afford to live and get my right to a Family life of my own because of all the Freeloaders who wouldn't go out and work and pay taxes to provide for their partner and children in Need. Only a SCUM society takes money off of a woman who worked and paid taxes and got done out of her right to have a family life and children of her own, because I never lived as a single parent Freeloader who got a social worker to get me a house and FREE welfare benefits for not working and who have never paid a penny in taxes for all of their social services. Only Parasitical SCUM live off of the Taxation of others.

[@karlinguk]

Throwback to the Roman Senate and the one who would dare to piss Caesar off

[@mikep7847]

Stalin agreed with capital punishment. He sent plenty to the Gulags. This is not necessarily a RIGHT WING policy!

[@iamreg1965]

You think Stalin was left wing?

[@FreekinEkin2]

Stalin was a descendent of the right wing faction that killed off the Marxists very shortly after the revolution. They were understood to be aggressive right wingers. They mocked and derided the left.

[@Chizzy941]

No it isn't - but in today's Britain it is a view held by more right leaning people than left leaning people

[@mikep7847]

@@Deadlus-p3m don't read the Mail. I take the Telegraph.

[@vaclavmiller8032]

Peter Hitchens is perhaps the only one of the small c conservative talking heads I can actually tolerate and respect.

[@markwinspear5903]

Night WIND?

[@vaclavmiller8032]

@@markwinspear5903 Yup - well recognised. Rarely do I encounter a fellow Medtnerite.

[@markwinspear5903]

@@vaclavmiller8032 love Medtner 's works and play several.

[@vaclavmiller8032]

​@@markwinspear5903 Same! I'm working my way through the G minor sonata and Primavera (as an encore piece) at the moment.

[@MetePurphy]

great stuff.

[@richardbrown6163]

Wow he smiled

[@54spatula]

From his side profile, Peter looks like a Spitting Image character 😅

[@mariannedonne7494]

Interview Mr David Icke and Dr vernon coleman and prof Deloras cahill

[@philipmadden7013]

Liberty > Freedom

[@jasonngldn]

Great interview. Agree and disagree with him in equal amounts. In particular I take exception to his views on 'Blue Labour' and 'social conservatism'. It's not the 1940s anymore and the world has moved on from racism and homophobia. We shouldn't be pining for the "good old days" when some people had more rights than others.

[@Saddamuel]

That's not at all what he meant. And if you are speaking of some people having more rights than others, that is precisely what we have been slowly constructing over the last few decades.

[@grayssportsalmanac85]

Sorry Peter but if the Murdoch press wanted to find out if Blair was a Trotsky in his younger days they would have smeared him with it Weekly in their rags. And to say Blair was more left wing than Corbyn is laughable 😂

[@sarahdlp524]

No, it isn't. NL changed UK society for good and it is astonishing how people could not see it happening at the time

[@willembakker23]

Peter is becoming V from V for Vendetta 🤣

[@AlexeiRamotar]

Hitchens wants a Puritan labor? A Reactionary statement if there ever was one.

[@seanmoran6510]

How not to manage Imperial Decline Will the core state survive and not tear itself apart Only time will tell !

[@MER1617]

Hope ur channel is going great!

[@SamSholli]

Thank you! I hope it does well too!

[@progpuss]

I lost all respect when he said Johnson was intelligent 🤣

[@shspurs1342]

Peter is correct. It is well none now. That Cameron and other top Conservatives. Were reading Blair’s book like it was a manifesto. For how they should run British politics. Basically it’s well none that Cameron and Osbourne’s number 1 political hero is Tony Blair.

[@Aspartame69]

Hitchens is the kind of person who is proven wrong endless times, but will never accept it. He just keeps talking until youve forgotten what he got wrong.

[@matthiaswalker38]

In what way, exactly, is this country finished? Such an indefinable, abstract and nonsensical comment from such a master of language. Are we all just going to drop dead one day, will sea levels rise and wash us all away or something? I've heard him say that in other interviews and it doesn't actually mean anything. And he accuses others of empty sound bites

[@ronamartel1286]

Do you seriously believe that Britain can be saved? There is literally no political current advocating necessary actions for even a chance of recovery. In fact, individuals are imprisoned for speaking against pc dogma. Christ, your establishment tolerates gang child rapes at the hands of foreign men and you believe the country can be saved?

[@matthiaswalker38]

@@ronamartel1286 we've had a lot worse in our history, all a storm in a tea cup by comparison. I think Hitchens is becoming a professional pessimist

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

Politicians (2:30) becoming terrified of going off message, etc. … resulting from "low-grade universal suffrage democracy … in a poorly educated society". There's a lot in that, but it is, of course from Hitchens, a rather right-wing angle. This phenomenon has also a great deal to do with the utter unacceptability of unemployment in today's "conformist" society -- especially as promoted by our populist political class, so they all stay "on message" principally in order to avoid damaging their "careers". The increasingly popular idea of Basic Income is a very important part of solving this, allowing freedom of thought and action -- and a considerably healthier political discourse. But of course you won't hear that from sources such as this -- only an utter cynicism about the whole democratic process.

[@mikep7847]

By the way. I live in Boston!

[@SamSholli]

I'll be in Boston next Saturday to talk to locals about politics. I shall post the resulting video on this channel.

[@mikep7847]

@@SamSholli Boston has changed beyond all recognition. You never hear anyone speaking English....... Including my girlfriend! Who's Polish.

[@masonj910]

@@mikep7847 they speak German or Irish?

[@mikep7847]

@@masonj910 fuck off

[@pcka12]

Peter confirms that we are in a new age of Puritanism!

[@niallmartin9063]

I hope he’s wrong, I fear he’s correct. Always riveting. Would that we had as scathing and forensic a conservative here in Ireland,

[@yooochoob]

I don’t know. Speaking as a conservative I used to respect Peter Hitchens as a good thinker however I’m beginning to see his leftist Trotskyist past bubble to the surface and cloud his judgement, which is a shame.

[@AtilaTheNoob]

More Peter Hitchens kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5OZcniOrct5pMU

[@andyphillips7435]

If you are going to spend a lot of your time and effort in interviewing and uploading to You Tube. Please get someone over 50 to review the audio.