James O'Brien: How Tories destroyed Britain

[@felicity2626]

The irony is that if Sunak was a teenager today, there’s no way his parents could’ve afforded to send him to Winchester. Even with a Doctor’s wage and a small local pharmacy business… they just couldn’t afford it.

[@Sam-y5o6j]

This, exactly this.

[@jonathanperry4189]

But... But... No I'm rish! And special 😂

[@felixarbable]

You underestimate how much people sacrifice for their kids, you could easily do it on those wages.

[@Sam-y5o6j]

@@felixarbable Based on the lower bound combined annual salary of a GP and a pharmacist in the UK, which is approximately £94,933, the feasibility of sending three children to Winchester College and covering living expenses is challenging. The total annual fees for sending three children to Winchester College as boarding pupils amount to £147,456. The estimated annual living cost for a family of four in London is around £39,192. This brings the total annual expenses to approximately £186,648. After deducting these expenses from the combined lower bound salary, there would be a deficit of about £91,715. This indicates that with the lower bound salaries and considering high living costs, particularly in London, it would be financially challenging for a GP and a pharmacist to afford the school fees for three children at Winchester College, alongside typical living expenses.

[@felixarbable]

@@Sam-y5o6j diddnt realise he had siblings

[@tonylawlor8833]

It’s not just the Tories, it’s also the media. Even now ITV are giving Farage a platform and a bag full of money, in my opinion his views are so disgusting and lied so much esp during the Brexit debate he should be boycotted. England used to be such a great country, even the poor were people of great character and great compassion. Politicians like Farage, Johnston, Reese Moog, Patel etc have destroyed this character with their selfish money grabbing antics and their disdain for ordinary decent working people and the poor.

[@RogerMoa72]

you love the poor so much you want millions and millions of refugees to come into the country forever, out of your own moral superiority. This will have absolutely zero effect on wages, rent, or job scarcity. And you love the poor so much that you'll remind them firmly and politely that "immigrants are just here to do the jobs you dont wanna fuckin do". Thank you , youre such a man of the people.

[@CarlinConnolly]

"born 3-0 up and think they've scored a hat-trick"... that is the best phrase to sum that mindset up - not evil but very much a product of a bubble you did not want to leave.

[@luminousfractal420]

raised to be different. eugenicists

[@DmGray]

Literally my favouriter MP (Tony Benn) was born to IMMENSE privilege. He saw the inequities and he fought them. It is ABSOLUTELY possible for somebody from privilege to have empathy. As James suggests, it is a choice. They CHOOSE to not develop empathy.

[@johnburrows3385]

Tony Ben was an man of intense integrity.

[@Blinks77]

Shame about his son.

[@mesolithicman164]

Tony Benn was a rarity. Look at his useless son. An empty Labour suit.

[@ConstructiveMinds100]

This form of Capitalism teaches/promotes Egoism hence empathy is something alient to many, even often so called religious people.

[@pastyman001]

Benn got a lot of things badly wrong. He was very opposed to the EEC that became the EU and promoted exchange controls and import controls

[@gulraana679]

Oh wow James you remember the times when Britain valued honour. I am saddened about losing that every day

[@maureennewman905]

I want the “ right honourable “deleted from these Mp’s titles .they are the pits

[@liammalarky3483]

I worked at a private school for many years. The arrogance, entitlement and privilege was apparent even among the junior school. The older kids from a similar background were even worse. They had absolutely nothing in common with "normal" teenagers. They simply couldn't envisage a world outwith the one they were in. In contrast, you could tell the kids who were not from such a background. They were sent there, instead of a comprehensive, by perhaps well-meaning parents. They couldn't wait to leave and went through school with their head down, enduring the environment they were in. It was quite an eye opener.

[@joandolliedoyle775]

That’s interesting. I know some schools give places to disadvantaged kids. However unless there is an inclusive culture, there is a high risk that those kids will feel isolated.

[@liammalarky3483]

@joandolliedoyle775 To be fair, I think the culture was quite inclusive there. Obviously, there'll be those who discriminate. That's life, unfortunately. The kids sent there by well-meaning parents acted like fish out of water. Teenage years can be awkward even within your own social bubble, and despite the school's best efforts, it was probably just too alien to them.

[@fang_xianfu]

​@@joandolliedoyle775 having an inclusive culture would just mean those kids felt like they were in the club anyway, not that the club would stop existing

[@blueskythinking6674]

Middle class people suck, they're also the least enlightened, spiritual, compassionate people I know. They are the main supporters of the state and the status quo. Also the most ignorant. My brother went to private school so I speak from personal experience. I hate my stuck up family!!!

[@blueskythinking6674]

I forgot to mention that I went to a normal state school.

[@benjones3466]

Hearing about that minister who resigned because she didn't think she was very good brought a tear. It's so long since we had anyone of actual principle in power and it's so easy to forget what a difference it makes.

[@jamesmeade9501]

I actually remember the day she resigned - never have I had more respect for someone who basically said "I'm not good enough to do this job and the people who depend on me doing this job well deserve someone better" - it's also important to remember who she was, too. Before going into politics, Morris was a Humanities teacher in an inner-city school, so it's not like she didn't know what she was talking about. She knew the stakes, and said 'I'm not good enough to do this job well.' I don't personally think that's a failing, or anything to be embarrassed about, and I wish more people had the self-awareness to honestly state that.

[@alexharrison2743]

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if, by virtue of recognising the weight of importance that Education Secretary has, she was nevertheless the most suitable person available

[@konradyearwood5845]

I remember her resignation speech. The real tragedy was Estelle was trying her hardest to make a positive difference in Education being a former teacher herself.

[@jamesmeade9501]

@@alexharrison2743 to be fair, we've had some reasonably good Education Secretaries in my lifetime - I'm thinking people like Blunkett and Ruth Kelly, even to an extent, Conservatives like Ken Clarke and Justine Greening. Part of the problem for me (and to an extent it's the same with any cabinet post) is the challenge in determining what policies (good or otherwise) are being pushed by the Secretary and which are being pushed by Downing Street, with the issue of "I hate this, but if I resign and don't carry it out, then they'll get some other person who won't put any of the mitigations I can try to put in place." Morris was helped by the fact that there were competent individuals in the Labour Party in '02 who could take over the reigns. Whereas with this mess, we're past the bottom of the barrel and somewhere deep into planetary crust...

[@SuzanneO707]

Poor lady. Politics is a dirty business. I'm a librarian, and Caroline Lucas's book is very revealing. I wish progress was united more.

[@belikewater3038]

Top chap ol’ James. Thank you for having him on.

[@HENJAM48]

People who cannot imagine the concept of having no money. should never be in power... EVER!

[@DnaMoDZz]

So glad you got James on, he is HIM

[@alexandriah2412]

Fascinating, interesting and illuminating conversation. That flew past. Not very often I am completely engaged in an almost hour long conversation about Politics, especially regarding members of the Tory party but I was absolutely focused for the whole conversation. I have to admit that I think Mr O'Brien was correct in pretty much everything he had to say about what has happened to Britain, especially over the last 13 years. Its good to know I am not mad in thinking things are actually the way I perceive them to be, despite constantly being told by those politicians in power that things are actually different to the observable facts I see every day. Its reassuring to know that I am sane and the government are actually just trying to gaslight me and the rest of society on a daily basis. I look forward to reading the book.

[@daveogfans413]

Dave OG Fans: How James O'Brien destroyed Jeremy Corbyn

[@DodgyJusByName]

Our problems date back to at least 1997, but James won't say that, he will focus only on the Tory problem... he goes dead silent (like a fucking coward) when he's asked about Tony Blair & Gordon browns impact - because then he would have to admit he fell for their bullshit and voted for them... which he did, but he doesn't want the whole truth to come out like that, he might be seen as a "non reliable source of information" and the idea of that makes him shit himself. He's a whole for hindsight knighthoods.

[@JT-si6bl]

Easy listening to a conversation with relatable human beings who are incapable of talking crap, innit. It’s a shame it’s real though.

[@tinynijman9077]

Yes I agree with you I thought I was the only one that takes everything to serious but thank god I am not the only one that feels appalled by what is happening around me 😢

[@paddymeboy]

Let's always remember: we get the govt we deserve. Nobody can destroy the country without a lot of help from us, the public.

[@NeuroDeviant421]

Why on earth are people so studiously ignoring the fact that these people elected? They were VOTED for. Why do they let the voters off the hook?

[@maureennewman905]

Don’t think these horrors were in their manifesto

[@PropagandasaurusRex]

The voters can't help it. Every few years they get to choose between a shit sandwich and a shit sandwich with a pickle*. They system is designed that way. * courtesy of South Park

[@EyebrowsGaming]

@@PropagandasaurusRex The British public got an alternative to a shit sandwich in 2017 and 2019, and in response the shit sandwiches screamed that he was actually an even worse shit sandwich than they'd ever known before. And the voting public believed them. So we got back to the regular schedule of shit sandwich vs shit sandwich.

[@PropagandasaurusRex]

@@EyebrowsGaming I assume you refer to Jeremy Corbyn. Well, the swiftness with which the establishment apparatus convened and got him out as soon as they identified him as a serious threat is telling. Corbyn miraculously dodged the vetting process for a long time. But had he become PM, he would not have been in office for long and perhaps not even be alive today. The deep state is ruthless and has no conscience.

[@GordonReidZA]

I believe that it tracks back to Mr O Brian's notion of "Contempt for the con man, Sympathy for the conned" I do not wholly agree with the philosophy when it comes to the electorate but it is key to the way he approaches this sort of thing and Mr Dugmore seems to take a similar approach quite often.

[@rsfreitas]

When I moved to the UK I was impressed by the standards of ethics and moral values as symbolised by political resignations over "minor things" (coming from a very corrupt country: Brazil). It's incredible how things have changed in 12 years and I can clearly see the degradation of the values as discussed in the interview. Sad times for the UK, but it's a country with strong values and traditions and I truly believe change will happen soon. The world swings.. in politics, in culture, whatever. Takes a little while for the population to catch up, but this is an educated country and that is key to keeping all in the right path.

[@JT-si6bl]

Yes, and we are sold on the idea of a value being something to invest in, yet the ‘champions’ of society evidently destroy the values. The ‘right wing’ seems more wrong than ever.

[@anglewoden]

You can thank Labour for that.

[@techno6637]

​@@anglewodenfor the last 12 years?

[@homogenic73]

​@@anglewodenfor the strong values and traditions?

[@scooby1992]

​@@anglewodengo on. Please explain !

[@neilhawkes880]

I was born in England and moved to NZ twenty five years ago. Viewing things from afar, I am constantly impressed with the damage that the tsunami of entitled mediocrity coming out of public schools have done to my old country. Lions lead by donkeys. James is the exception that proves the rule. Good for him.

[@phil3306]

NZ has just elected the equivalent unfortunately

[@neilhawkes880]

@@phil3306 yup.

[@charlesleroq932]

@@neilhawkes880 The difference is that UK is trapped in an unrepresentative electoral system. The NZ left hasn't collapsed and lurched rightward, just because they lost an election - It's actually very stable and more united than the left in most countries. All the public drama on the right in NZ would occur behind closed doors in UK as 'palace intrigue'. There's still everything to play for in NZ, while the UK is bleak as fuck

[@neilhawkes880]

@@charlesleroq932 my sympathies to you all. I think that the PR system we use for our elections helps. It discourages extremism in the parties in government. I hope Labour in the UK will go for that.

[@michaelburke5910]

UK needs to bring in proportional representation. The first past the post system rigs everything in favour of the old unreliables.

[@jonpritz8358]

Thank you folks, you truly help me stay sane..

[@dylanwolf]

It makes me both angry and sad when I see someone buy the Daily Mail.

[@howwwwwyyyyy]

I once worked in a factory where I saw an idiot buy it everyday, I never talked to the man, but even at age 19 I could see an idiot with self confidence problems a mile off, I live in Merseyside where the sun is never seen in any newsagent even now,35 years after Hillsborough

[@infidelcastro5129]

There are too many people in powerful positions who are not as interested in being remembered for the right reason as they are in simply being remembered.

[@TalesOfWar]

For many of them I don't even think being remembered matters. They just want to make off with the gold without being caught. This shower in power are just a continuation of the heist of the UK over the last 13 years and most of them have gotten away with it scott free, and so lavishly rewarded for it all. Just look at Johnson getting half a million a year from the Mail to write a column, and however much more he's been offered for GEBEEBEES.

[@CarlinConnolly]

not even sure most want to be remembered - just hoover up as much as you can while in office and then coast in cushy corporate jobs miling your contacts book for the rest of your life... those sort of people don't need to be remembered as long as they can coin it in - the less attention from the oicks, the better.

[@Alun49]

The past few years of this utterly appalling government has crushed my faith in there being any integrity left in British Politics. Disgraceful does not even come close to describing the Tories. If canvassers come around next year touting for a vote from me, I think I will have to be physically restrained! They have destroyed at every level this country. They should never have that opportunity again.

[@danieldavidisson9906]

This is history repeating itself, and it is well understood. 23 years ago, our nations launched an illegal preemptive war of aggression in the Middle East. Our reaction to the teeror and mass murder our governments were about to unleash. "We the people set the bar" We decided not only to do nothing, but pretend there was no war, as we enabled the slugs at the balance box, and have the government we deserve

[@mikemahoneygaming5754]

So you don’t remember what happened under labour then? Another child commenting on things they know nothing about

[@Alun49]

@@mikemahoneygaming5754 I am sixty-six. There has never been a Labour Government in my lifetime as fundamentally incompetent, corrupt and dishonest as this bunch of Etonian sharks. That anyone could compare the past few years of Tory misrule with any Labour government beggars belief.

[@gerryball4298]

Agree. But the whole civil service system needs changing, it is bloated and costly.

[@mesolithicman164]

It all needs major surgery. The Whitehall perma-government blocks every new idea unless it comes from the EU or Washington.

[@JeanBodie]

This, everything really stated with Thatcher!

[@cleverpork]

The sad thing is that I like James O’Brian but without a weekly Tory implosion we wouldn’t need him. Very good interview and a very good guest. A lot of the country needs a lesson in critical thinking

[@skyepalmer5719]

@igakoga2481Absolutely 🎉

[@margaretalice6343]

I’m certain he’d be more than happy if Tories had integrity and any sense of morality but they haven’t have they? He’d find other abhorrent injustices. Tories just give it in spades. A journalists dream tbh

[@antoniaf1886]

Yes, him and Nish Kumar actually mentioned how they’d rather have had stable governments than cushty careers in the Pod Save the UK interview.

[@dickiemckay]

lol @ this being liked by the channel! James your days are numbered (to approx 6 billion years give or take)

[@Shyted]

We could a daily mystery hour.

[@johngarratt1764]

I've watched Have I Got News For You for the best part of 30 years. Sometime after the pandemic, when the true extent of the government's lies and corruption became apparent, I started to wonder why we're all still making jokes and laughing. I've realised that it's the whole point; while we continue to point fingers, criticise and joke the same types of people always remain in power. The names change, but the jokes stay the same. In a world where things are getting worse, people really need to be asking themselves what they want out of government, and by that I don't mean the parties, but the entire way 'politics' works, because I'm certainly not laughing anymore.

[@SpencerLao]

Excellent observation! That's why we have The Sun, The news of the world, have I got news for you, and even Russell Brands modus operandi compliments this.... its all about making a joke .... mocking our lack of action and our divided state.

[@True96red]

I've felt for some time now that shows like hignfy help play into the hands of the tories, laughing and joking about it softens the perceived impact of said policies.

[@mikesanders8621]

John Oliver does it right.

[@cosmos237]

It's criminally unfunny which is why I no longer watch. Shitlib lite. Awful viewing.

[@mesolithicman164]

​@@mikesanders8621 John Oliver is an embarrassment. Do you not see how Labour and Tories are virtually the same? They agree on about 90% of policy but make a big ideological deal out of the few percent that divides them. It creates the _illusion_ of democracy and is the main reason why nothing ever improves.

[@olektwbolek9086]

it started with Thatcher selling most of British industries and utilities

[@georgemay3196]

It has a name, Neoliberalism.

[@MysticTaiwan2025]

This interview is gold and I found myself nodding and muttering 'yes that's right' multiple times.

[@DrMontague]

If Labour were so good why did they ever get voted out?! Capitalism demands exploitation, wars and conflicts. Will people like you ever learn?!

[@Dan-nh8nu]

Bit of a mindless sheep then.

[@christophermccullough2280]

I found myself nodding ... like a toy doll?....

[@DrMontague]

@@christophermccullough2280 how the voters gave the tories the power to take them to the fn cleaners!

[@karenkelly8086]

​@@Dan-nh8nureally? Wouldn't a mindless sheep just bleat at someone ? Like you?

[@StarShipGray]

I don’t know if American Republicans rubbed off on the Tories or the other way round, but it utterly sucks either way.

[@sjbechet1111]

Frankie Boyle predicted and explained this perfectly 5 years ago in his essay 'The Future of British Politics'. The 'Oxbridge' (which is a compound term for obnoxious and privilege) elites, now they have no foreign victims to slaughter and plunder are turning on their own population with very predictable results.

[@wokelefty]

Yep, it's the fault of the poor people. A bit like the financial crisis was the fault of single mums, libraries & youth services.

[@sjbechet1111]

@@wokelefty You missed out the foreigners - it's fine for them to siphon £Billions in dividends out of water, electric and rail but it would be sacrilege to let them pick strawberries or clean a hospital.

[@TalesOfWar]

Don't forget Eton, which as Mr Pie so perfectly summed up. It's like Hogwarts for wankers.

[@badgerbane]

Wait I always thought 'oxbridge' was a portmanteau of oxford and cambridge? As in the elite universities.

[@lat1419]

They started with us peasants, had adventures abroad in the colonies, and we are now trapped here with them in post colonial self hate.

[@brendanlea3605]

James makes some great observations. My problem with him is when we had the chance to make real change to the system he showed his true colours and did all he could to stop it from happening. A true Liberal 😢

[@richardbyrnes8398]

Thank God I'm not the only one who sees this. Just another centrist, Starmer supporting sheepdog.

[@mark4lev]

When was that?

[@brendanlea3605]

@@mark4lev 2017/19

[@teddansonLA]

@@brendanlea3605 you'll have to explain what you mean, I'm afraid. All O'Brien did was point out Jeremy Corbyn was a poor Labour candidate - which was true. Maybe the Labour membership should have tried to win the election, instead of settling for a protest role.

[@brendanlea3605]

@teddansonLA I don't know where you have been? Jeremy Corbyn was a very capable Labour leader with very sound policies that would have turned around the fortunes of our country had he not been sabotaged from within the party and by the mainstream media including James in 2017. You must have missed the Forde report and the aljazera files conveniently.

[@lds2484]

Came here after seeing James on a recent Penguin Books video. I'm American, so I'm not very familiar with British politics, or too much else about Britain for that matter, but in some ways a lot of the problems you addressed seem to have a global currency at the moment, and very strong parallels in the US. In any case, this was utterly engrossing.

[@daisyhobbs7500]

We have far more eminent experienced better educated ppl than this. He's a wind up DJ dabbling in politics. He's only worked at one radio station and done little else of any note.

[@Test_Card_Tom]

Ignore the comment from DaisyKnobhead.

[@FTZPLTC]

I do appreciate the acknowledgement that Blair's support was very reliant on the Tories being despised. There's been way too much mythologising of that guy, mostly led by a minority who explicitly support his politics-as-enacted, that we as a nation collectively rose up and said "We want that guy and that stuff that he's saying", rather than just being so sick of the Tories that pretty much anything could have replaced them.

[@bacchic6676]

But curiously, when genuine change was proposed, O'Brien said "not for me"...

[@belindamay8063]

@FTZPLTC. You can only work with the electorate you’ve got. Commentators always make that mistake. Shaping the voters understanding is a long-term project and needs massive resources. The only people who’ve succeeded in that game is the popular Tory press that kicked off in the 1880s. The modern social media hasn’t had the impact we hoped for.

[@DGrayson-ex1kc]

We voted to put people in leadership of the country, we must vote to regulate politicians. The rich and business people should not be part of the government, this is a conflict of interest, James O'Brien is 1000% correct.

[@LuckY-e5l6s]

Yep, but I never voted the torys in, you did and millions of others should have voted for socialist jeremy corbyn instead. Shame on the British public for voting tory scum

[@ianharris9081]

Enjoyed that, great interview..

[@SpuktasticAudio]

That was utterly engaging and informative. Thank you.

[@BoozySuzy2011]

Continental European who lived in the UK for 7 years here. Interesting to hear the discussion about British politicians no longer being aligned with values such as honour. When I lived there, I got the impression that a large number of British people identify certain values as being inherently theirs, in a way that I haven’t experienced anywhere else, (both in terms of other countries thinking that these values are national character traits, or associating them with the UK.) I think one of the reasons why the UK is in the situation it is in now is because they assumed that there was a national character and that these values (honour, integrity, honesty) were foundational to it.

[@agatakawa3586]

Sorry, but England has no integrity, morals and honesty. Lived here for 18 yrs. :(

[@simonerossi6074]

We should thank journalists like him for contributing to the outcome of the last couple of GEs

[@thomaswhitehead5496]

I agree with a lot of what JoB says but his anti-corbyn rhetoric is bewildering considering how bad things have gone since then

[@JohyeahM]

Exactly this. He's so so good on so much...but his "Look at how shit the country is!!" stance, when he literally campaigned against Corbyn every moment he could when Corbyn was Leader of the Opposition... What did he think was going to happen???? Unbelievable.

[@thomaswhitehead5496]

@JohyeahM absolutely! He seems tied to a system that has slowly broken the country. What mythical politician would be able to navigate this media and elitist system, and take us in a new, positive direction?!?

[@Motocicloman]

Agreed. I saw through Job back in the day, a Tory enabler who now complains about them.

[@CK-cz6ml]

​@@delver1857Corbyn was a hopeless muppet

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

*_"his anti-corbyn rhetoric is bewildering"_* But Corbyn's own rhetoric made him unelectable. No one will ever win an election in this country when they say they will never, under any circumstances, use the nuclear deterrent. Look at Michael Foot. No one will ever be elected in this country when they refuse 15 times in a row to condemn _Hamas_ as a terrorist organisation. {:o:O:}

[@JAlex390]

The wide shot of them is like Oli looking at a version of himself from 2043

[@philipnorthfield]

Yes I wondered if anyone else noticed the similarity.

[@ShakirahIbaad]

😂 it really is!

[@mathieuleader8601]

this scares me

[@AndrewOliverHome]

Blair’s legacy doesn’t begin and end with Iraq, PFI has removed a lot of investment from education and the NHS. Blair extended and accelerated the outsourcing (privatisation) within the NHS. Blair went further than the Tories in disenfranchising the unions and by extension the working class.

[@georgemay3196]

You mean Neoliberalism? 🤷

[@lewisgreen2957]

They asked Maggie what her greatest achievement was. “Creating New Labour” was her answer..

[@nicholaskirk1356]

Thanks @andrewoliverhome I was hoping someone else would remember the other elephants in the room Re. Blair. NHS Logistics just one of the major parts of the NHS handed over to the profit driven sector.

[@kvkv7423]

There is not only the question about whether they understand what’s going on, the prevailing question is - in spite of knowing, do they care? They are sociopaths.

[@davidwanstall4670]

The time we all live in right down to the nitty gritty, thank you George and Oli

[@shanechristensen5986]

So engaging and informative. I could listen to you two all day.

[@JohnSmith-rw2yn]

29:00 both my parents came out of a council estate, worked hard, I never wanted like they did, but we did growing up have patches here and there where it was the end of the month and mum says to dad, we've got 17 quid for the weekly shop, for 2 adults and a teenager. Things like CCJs hanging over their heads, we got through it, they live in their council flat still and I have a massive appreciation for those less fortunate, I thankfully still had a bit left over, but this government seem to lack a total empathy and understanding of even have only a little bit left, even the 100 quid you go on to mention, that wouldn't even cross their minds. They cannot relate financially but also lack basic empathy.

[@richardhowlett4097]

Every tory MP should have to share a home in a normal, struggling, poor family, without their salary, savings or a credit card, and live on universal credit for a month. Even if they did, they'd still lie about it. When they stopped paying the extra 20 quid a week to people on universal credit, they should have had 15% of their wages stopped too. There'd have been hell to pay if they had.

[@ewanmatheson4235]

I was thinking while watching this that MPs should be paid whatever they dictate minimum wage should be while they're in office. That'd be an interesting occurrence. Either minimum wage would go up extremely quickly or you'd fundamentally change who would want to be an MP... @@richardhowlett4097

[@DrAshaphim]

James OB on Politics Joe. Match made in heaven 🤩

[@josefinacupido9872]

Great interview, thank you guys. J 🕊️

[@SvenSkottke]

Fair enough to James for sticking it out. I had to leave Britain, just found it too depressing to live there.

[@mossbanksy]

Wonderful interview! Thanks James and Oli!

[@dewihopkins4012]

Mr O’Brian I congratulate you on this interview I am a great fan of your show you are a man of principal and you are in my view a person who doesn’t pick political sides but looks for the truth it doesn’t matter what party is under your scrutiny I bet your Dad would have been so proud of the journalistic skills as of course your Mam and family I hope you continue to be a pain in the side of politicians and when people phone in they better know what they are talking about Best Wishes Mr O’Brian

[@gavinbuck8130]

That was lovely.

[@James333-n2q]

A man of principle, give me strength!

[@AKAtAGG]

I want JoB to be hired by the BBC as political editor of news just to see the absolute meltdown it would cause in the Tory party.

[@Tom-kp8hh]

He was on newsnight but left due to false equivalence he had to give Andrea Jenkins vs the head of the world trade organisation

[@AKAtAGG]

@@Tom-kp8hh I remember it well. Imagine if he was the new BBC news political editor though.

[@ltmund]

​@@AKAtAGGThe BBC has to be impartial, tell facts. Not be opinionated. JOB is neither.

[@MrSatnavatron]

@@ltmund oooof you just dont like being told the truth

[@ltmund]

@@MrSatnavatron The truth, yes. Not yours...

[@dalereynolds7638]

We need more James O'Briens.

[@davewright1832]

Everyone in the country should watch this eventhough only some of us will understand it and sadly even fewer people will wholeheartedly agree with it. I'm very glad to say that I do both. Well done James!

[@sarcasticstartrek7719]

Florida's GDP is only 1.1 trillion dollars. Did the "trade deal" mean we now own Florida?

[@annepoitrineau5650]

it does, for sure.

[@sarcasticstartrek7719]

@@annepoitrineau5650 can, um, can we give it back ??

[@imapersonnotanumber8940]

no. they own us.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

These days, if you say you know Stewart Lee, you'll get arrested.

[@alfsmith4936]

When did this come in?

[@M_Bamboozled]

​@@alfsmith4936 When he let himself go.

[@alfsmith4936]

@@M_Bamboozled Are you...? What, if you say, just if you say you know Stewart Lee you get arrested and thrown in jail, since he let himself go?

[@quantize]

@@M_Bamboozledstill twice as funny as Gervais on his best day

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

​@@quantize These days.

[@ProffyChaos]

The problem the Tories have created for others is that despite the terrible things they do, the failure to deliver on anything, the corruption, they have found a way to always make those that follow the "rules" or convention will lose. For example, changing the law on Rwanda to be declared "safe" will have one of two results - they somehow get the Rwanda flights through the courts they have given their base a victory and sated their belief that this is the policy that will fix things. Or the courts aren't convinced by the new law and so then the Tories can focus on the "enemies of the people" and yet again emphasise that they wanted to solve it and were stopped. It was the same with Brexit - they either got what they wanted but every time they fail to deliver the fiction of the sunlit uplands of Brexit they can claim they are stopped from doing it by the elite. Even though they are in fact the elite as they are more likely to be in the top 0.1% of wealth and income, as well as being from the most elitist institutions in the country.

[@ShakirahIbaad]

This is a perfect summation of my frustration with the scheming Tory party. Labour for example has had no option but to copy Tory policies, because they’ve been backed into a corner so that they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

[@ProffyChaos]

@@ShakirahIbaad you are right. I think that is part of the reason (the rest being prior anti-semitism) that Labour have seemingly been so poor on the Gaza issue because they have let the right wing media direct policy. Again this suits the Tories - Labour back them and the right wing press can turnaround and say, "look, they must be right because even Labour agree". Or as we are seeing with the division in the Labour party they can turn around and say, "look at the chaos."

[@lat1419]

​@@ShakirahIbaadthat's not true Labour ALWAYS have the freedom to develop distinctive policies.

[@lat1419]

​@@ProffyChaos no, Starmer is a zionist, in his own words "zionist without reservation". That's the problem.

[@hotstepper887]

Reading these comments from fellow Brits, is just more evidence of an incredibly uneducated society we're really differing from today. Being completely honest, I have to say, this country, the UK, is finished, and it will never be back. Today we have a society of people, who all watched our own PM, (Johnston, the elitist, paid off Washington puppet), betray all of us, betray our own country, and betray our own grandparents, standing in Ukraine, and just outright lying, (like the most uneducated excuse for a PM, any of us have ever seen, heard, or ever experienced before) -- But, not only that, no, but then lifting Zelenskiy's hand in the air, while shouting out "Slava Ukraini" - The official slogan of Stepan Bandera's OUN (order of Ukraine), that was made up of Ukrainian bourgeois nationalists, Banderites, and Nazi henchmen! So, really, just how treacherous was that? It was 100%, outright treachery, against everything we've all been brought up believing in! Only 25-30 years ago, he'd of been removed for that. Yet unbelievably, we saw people in this country, waving their really embarrassing Ukrainian flags, and agreeing with him, joining in, shouting out "Slava Ukraini"! Seriously, are you kidding me? I don't recognise any of these "excuses for British people" today, they've clearly become just as uneducated as the Americas. How embarrassing is that? Who ever believed we'd ever see the day when the British people, themselves, became traitors and nothing more than our own enemy?! It was members of the OUN, that took the most active part in the mass murder in Ukraine and Poland during October 1942, murdering millions of innocent people. Yet today, these idiots know nothing about any of this history, or any of these facts, let alone understand just how treacherous that really was? Our own, then PM, knowingly, and purposely, betrayed our own grandparents, (many who fought and gave their lives defeating Nazism)! While our own PM, (and only on behalf of the criminal USA), raises a Nazi supporter's hand in the air, while shouting out "Slava Ukraini"? And nobody in this country said a word about it? Kiss this country goodbye. It actually sees me today, wanting to see this country, my own country, completely annihilated. And it has to be said, man, ain't they all making damn sure it happens? Best of luck with that. I'm lucky, I have another home a long way away, and a yacht that I'm planning to sit in, (at a safe distance), beer in hand, watching this Island burn. Wipe this urban jungle of the worst excuses for British people, we've ever seen, or ever experienced before, from the face of this earth, and do the rest of the world a massive favour. And all these people we see supporting Ukraine? Are only traitors (against every one of us, and our own country). And truth be told, it's actually really disturbing that we see anyone in this country, thinking that Russia have acted in any way, other than 100% the right way, 100% the ethical way, and a 100% the moral way, in absolutely everything they've done? Yet we have so many uneducated foos claiming Russia invaded Ukraine, and Russia are wrong? It's nothing but outright, in your face, Idiocy! The actual truth and the facts are, that it's not, and it has never been, a "Russian invasion of Ukraine". Obviously, we do hear that from our own lying government (of paid off Washington puppets), yet they obviously know very well, that it wasn't, and isn't, a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yet barely any of this lot do! Seriously, only an idiot could think it was!. Only many of these people saying that, and claiming that, don't even know what we've all really seen happen in Ukraine, (since the illegal US coup of Ukraine in 2014). Many of them don't even know that it was the USA that caused the coup in Ukraine! And again, many of them have no idea, that the "illegal" Ukrainian government's, army, with their neo-Na*i (NATO trained thugs), have non-stop been trying to murder and wipe out all those innocent Eastern Ukrainians, for the last 9 years! And why? Because those former Eastern Ukrainians, speak Russian, and they didn't agree with the illegal coup committed against their legally elected government. So, the truth, and the undeniable reality is, they're only supporting Ukraine trying to murder all those innocent former eastern Ukrainian people, lovely people, right? And regardless if they think so or not?, that is exactly what they're supporting. We then saw, on 14th May 2014, those Eastern Ukrainians hold a referendum on whether they should claim independence from Ukraine, (who only want to slaughter them all). And they then overwhelmingly voted to claim their own independence from Ukraine, (seeing the creation of both) the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Luhansk People's Republic. Then, in February 2022, both the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Luhansk People's Republic, saw Ukraine building up a military force of over 200,000 troops (with Nazi battalions included) on their borders, (who were well dug in, and heavily armed with modern western weapons targetting them). Ukraine were about to carry out a pre-planned full-frontal military assault against all those innocent people in Eastern Ukraine, to wipe them all out. Then both the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Luhansk People's Republic (REQUESTED) Russian military protection from Ukraine, and (REQUESTED) Russian military assistance against Ukraine's illegal government's army and their Nazi murdering thugs. -- To which Russia (QUITE RIGHTLY) agreed, while also recognising their own independence from Ukraine. And nobody has ever attempted to claim, that an invited, and requested military intervention into a country, to protect innocent people from slaughter, as a military invasion by anyone, NOT EVER! These people, really are this thick! We then saw, during 23-27 September 2022, the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Luhansk People's Republic, hold a referendum whether to join Russia, or to remain part of Ukraine, (who only want to slaughter them all). -- They then, again, overwhelmingly voted to join the Russian Federation, and were elated to finally do so. Yet people here believe the western narrative, who wrongly claim Russia invaded Ukraine? Putin made it very clear what Russia's aim was in Ukraine (before they entered), and honestly, he could not have made it any clearer, than he did. He told us all, very clearly, the aim for Russia was to protect those Eastern Ukrainian people (who have been subjected to bullying, torture, murder, and attempted genocide against them by the Kiev regime for the last eight years) - About time too, is the truth. For Russia to achieve that, they planned to carry out a full "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine, to bring to justice, all war criminals responsible for the bloody war crimes against civilians in Donbass. GOOD is the truth, well done Russia is the correct response! Because no matter where anyone's loyalty may lie?, we, the people, never support wrong, over right, but should always be willing to stand up and fight for right, over wrong! These people supporting Ukraine must unbelievably, think, that Russia protecting all those innocent people (at their own request), is a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the wrong thing for Russia to do? So, they must have expected Russia to just ignore all those innocent eastern Ukrainian people's request for help and protection from Ukraine? And then just watch Ukraine murder them all? Think about it? And that is exactly what they must have expected to see? And that, really is, only a Nazi mindset.

[@scottbarrett4746]

"Like a drunk in a car park wheeling around looking for someone to fight with". Aren't they just!

[@johncranwell3783]

Absolute outstanding interview..... I really wish James O'Brien was wrong but as always these last years he's absolutely on the nail

[@mikemahoneygaming5754]

O’Brexit is wrong about everything pal. Entitled little shit privately educated and only takes on the working classes on his show. Give him someone like Rees Mig to contend with and he falls apart. It’s on KZbin btw

[@grahamsmith17466]

Certainly wasn't right over Covid. Pushed the experimental jabs.

[@RolandPeteur]

I used to ride the anti EU train and then I listened hours of JoB. Man I was wrong. Luckily my country is a mini EU and Brussels is the glue that holds everything together. Stronger together! UK just has to swallow it´s pride and rejoin!

[@R08Tam]

As a gay man I view the way that the EU fails to to do anything to counter its members who enact anti-gay policies with dismay. The EU seems to be more interested in maintaining an appearance of unity than in actually upholding human rights.

[@RolandPeteur]

@@R08Tam my stance is that sexuality should stay in the bedroom. It´s nobody´s business and it´s not a political issue.

[@AlecBrady]

​@@RolandPeteurAre you seriously suggesting we should abolish the institution of marriage?

[@oliverleonard7730]

I agree the EU is far from perfect but that doesn't mean we should have left it.

[@RolandPeteur]

@@AlecBrady I don´t know what the government has to do with who you sleep? Marriage and especially divorce have become a lucrative business. Imo feelings of love and/or lust are personal and private...

[@JohnBlythe-u1q]

Great interview. Now can we have this broadcast just before the next Election on Terrestrial TV. :) Thanks.

[@LukeTG1_TTV]

I work 37 hours a week. I pay for rent and bills, a car, a weekend acting class to keep myself sane. I feel lucky to have a financial buffer of £500. But if MOT goes to hell, the buffer will disappear.

[@beasmith1]

I flippin love this bloke. I rarely ever miss James O'brien show. I tend to switch off when he does the Gaza thing these days because he's covered it numerous times before, so it's a bit groundhog day. But apart from that, I listen daily. I would find it weird if he suddenly stopped his shows now.

[@robertcooper4935]

Quite an enjoyable Interview. Thank you

[@reverendbarker650]

I left the UK permanently in 81 due to Thatcher, reluctantly in some ways, but after all the crap thats gone down since then of the mutation of the Tories into "The crazed immoral party from hell" , (whose members make Madge look like a member of the Socialist Workers party), I don't regret it . Although I miss people and places, I'm bloody glad I wasn't around to see my fellow brits vote in these clowns over and over again.

[@Gerry-Hat-trick]

As a daily listener of JO'B, who he'd say hears more than enough of him for 15 hours a week, it was good to see and hear him get an almost uninterrupted hour, to explain the points behind his book. I'd like to think, with such evidence based information, even those on the right would secretly agree with him, but I'm not THAT naive. That does however prove, the premise the Britain is broken really is true 😕

[@mikemahoneygaming5754]

Fml he gets an uninterrupted hour every day no one can get a ducking word in

[@scamwatchdog]

Brilliant and so sad at the same time - how do we get out of this nightmare?

[@vjab1108]

Blair should be in Prison.

[@sleepwalkingcapsules]

Fantastic interview. Well done chaps.

[@2coinaphrase121]

Never a truer word spoken 👏

[@hastingsboy0413]

I think James is great and listen to him everyday. However I still struggle to understand why he went after Corbyn when the alternative was Johnson. Corbyn has lots of faults but he genuinely cares about people.

[@richardbyrnes8398]

It's not too difficult to understand. The role of the Labour Party, in or out of Government, is to stand slightly left of wherever the Tory Party stands on any given topic except foreign affairs, where it aligns perfectly. JO'B's role is to appear to support Labour, whilst the above remains the case, to give LBC "political balance". Corbyn was moving Labour away from this position, hence "balance" went straight out of the the studio window.

[@imapersonnotanumber8940]

theres has never been allowed, a true socialist in yew k. historically this has never ever been socialist. its extremist f now always has been.....

[@Cyclone718]

The Overton window has moved further and further to the right (just like the USA) anyone who is an old fashioned left wing politician is now seen as a "communist", a "security risk" or "an antisemite" with no proof whatsoever but the MSM or more accurately the right wing media will accept that as fact but why let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[@James4791zx]

@@richardbyrnes8398 👏👏👏

[@theslimbin]

I will never understand why James won’t give Corbin credit for his policies and goals. He seems to only talk about him negatively

[@dl66662]

Because he is a liberal, and liberals hate socialists more than fascists

[@chetmanley1885]

Because he didn't want to pay more tax.

[@EdwardLindon]

Because Corbyn is a political incompetent and a moral disgrace.

[@teddansonLA]

Because Corbyn was not a credible PM, and wouldn't step aside having lost a General election to Theresa May.

[@zebraforceone]

Because he was a disaster for the labour party electorally speaking

[@clippo111]

I often find myself on the cusp of agreement with James albeit more to the right than the left, but hell I do enjoy his pieces, his knowledge his ability to argue points is a magnificent... Great interview, thank you. 👏👍🏼

[@phillpotts9047]

I must admit I’m not a fan of James O’Brien, but this was a very interesting open conversation. Thanks for sharing I did enjoy it. It was a lovely insight. Great interview 👍👍👍

[@johnledington6242]

People like James and Olly give me hope of a better future and the more people who can hear their views the better

[@Dave-kg9bb]

Saw JOB in Birmingham. Think the bloke has kept me semi sane over the last few years to convince me I haven't gone completely mad. Enjoy the premise there is still some rational sense in The UK

[@imapersonnotanumber8940]

its banned apart from elitists like job

[@jorgecalero6325]

A memorándum with Florida? WHAT THE ACTUAL F is that? "a promise to have a chat" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HarryFlowerrs]

James O'Brien,what a voice of sanity in a world of crumbling values!

[@georgeryan3310]

I am totally convinced that Sunak never entered the political arena with a benevolent thought for those worse off in his head,he is their at the behest of his father in law and his super rich friends,Sunak and his sort view the ordinary working guy as the cannon fodder of life to be disposed of when no longer viable.

[@williamfowles2940]

Sometimes you wonder how so many people don't seem to see what is blatantly going on and, after years of watching it, it leads to despair. These two give me hope that I'm not alone

[@MrRailjunkie]

I could listen to James talk like this for hours. A great interview between two great people.

[@gavinbuck8130]

It's amazing the power of the right-wing press to make those that will be affected the most vote against their best interests

[@internalizedhappyness9774]

Reminds me of my favorite phrase for times like these! “Just because you’re louder than me, just because you shout over me, it does not make you correct”

[@barrieroberts75]

Go and look up the famous quote by Malcom X about the masses and the MSM

[@davidpryle3935]

Blaming the media is a lazy old trope. People buy newspapers that they already agree with, newspapers that reflect their opinions. Otherwise, why aren’t more people buying the Guardian.

[@TalesOfWar]

​@@davidpryle3935 The media in this country has a very right leaning bias and always has. It's hard to buy a newspaper here and it not be right wing, because most are owned by the same few people who's views they pollute the population with. There's an old saying "The problem with the left is they're cursed with a memory" or something to that effect. Basically those who can recall the past worry about the future and get stuck in a loop of hopelessness. While the right are constantly being lead from one angry thing to the next and never get time to reflect on things because it's all just a hate frenzy. They're always being told what they need to be outraged about today and never get to think why they were told to be outraged about something else yesterday. Just look at whatever headline the Mail has every day and you'll see this in action. Also, hardly anybody buys a newspaper any more, but the same media empires that run those things also run much of the online and broadcast media too or otherwise steer the narrative. This is always amplified when the Tories are in office because they repeat their points, and many of them have columns in theses newspapers. Boris gets paid half a million quid a year at the Mail to write about Barbie and Peppa Pig. This is also why you won't see the Mail mention him when "reporting" on things like the Covid Enquiry. Assuming they even bother reporting on it at all.

[@jimboakimbo54]

@@davidpryle3935brain dead take

[@scottishbanjo]

You made me spit out my pizza at the “ drunk wheeling around in the car park “ comment 😂

[@gavinbuck8130]

Yeah James does have some great similies, as does Andy Zaltzman, he's the simile king. "Melted like a dead zebra's ice cream"

[@shedlife1783]

Agree with most, however would labour be better? Modern MPs across the board are woeful.

[@TomMarvan]

Great discussion, thank you.

[@paulcrombie9623]

I like James, I listen to his morning shows where I can, a true professional, no crap, straight to the point, unlike a Tory! But whoever called an MP a Professional? Anyone could be an MP, as long as you have dosh in an overseas bank!

[@SashaGrace94]

Have bought the book for myself for Christmas, am looking forward to reading it. Fab interview.

[@therichieboy]

My dad's reading it now. Says it's brilliant.

[@andrewneil6027]

A book is for life, not just Christmas 🤭

[@hansgruber3064]

It’s a really good book.

[@dazzonway]

Love it...born 3 nil up....and convinced you've scored an hattrick

[@KMS2K]

Yet in 2019, Corbyn's Labour was the worst option of the two for James...

[@SkywalkerFTP]

Yep. And the interviewer ain't got the stone to bring it up, how James himself played a part in swaying people in the direction of Boris. This is the problem with these softy left "alt" news channels, not actually interested in holding these people accountable.

[@jakehyams8659]

​@@SkywalkerFTPcorban was a joke

[@SkywalkerFTP]

@@jakehyams8659 cool mate, carry on.

[@James4791zx]

@@SkywalkerFTP 👏👏👏

[@chunglu]

so because you disagree on one thing, everything he says is wrong? what a blinkered way to go through life.

[@deeyablo]

A fantastic interview. Love from the states!

[@suharvey5786]

Great, interesting discussion from BOTH of you ...

[@daviddevoy2197]

Marvelous interview. Sounds like despite his very privelaged background James actually understands what it means to have no money.

[@frankshailes3205]

Like Tony Benn.

[@IndaloMan]

PoliticsJOE is the only channel where I watch every Podcast/PUBcast/interview to the end, irrespective of what combination of Ava/Ed/Ollie is presenting. Maybe it is because I live in Spain.... 🤔

[@InkyBizzo]

I like James O’Brien and his criticism of the Tories is spot on. However, I feel he could also offer more criticism of the Labour Party leadership, especially this incarnation. He makes no mention of Keir Starmer’s own dishonesty including the tendency to flip flop on key issues including manifesto pledges. He doesn’t hold him to task, in this interview at least, on his purge of the Labour Party left and glosses over the despicable handling or messaging on the current crisis in Palestine. I feel he also minimises Tony Blair’s government’s decision to go to war in Iraq. These are pretty big failures to which he doesn’t appear to attach the level of importance or gravity that they merit.

[@effyleven]

Brilliant interview.. Congratulations both.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

'Well they haven't got 50p' Thank you!! It does my head in when people say 'It's only Xp', what's their point??? Buy it for them if 'it's only Xp', then they'll become the "scroungers" to blame. Two birds one stone😊👍

[@elaineb7065]

And that's assuming you live in a place where you can GET to a Poundland. Where I stay you're stuck with a few small shops & a Co-op unless you take a bus or have a car (bus ticket/ petrol). Thank heavens I live in Scotland, where we do what we can to make life easier with free menstrual products, free baby products, & free bus travel for the young, old, & disabled. I keep hearing about people who can't afford formula for their babies & I'm like holy heck!!!

[@calumroche2851]

At 17:20, the idea that anyone knows what Starmer stands for is a wild one. Not the pledges that got him elected as labour leader.

[@TonyAaronII]

Fantastic. Great job, everyone.

[@chriskiniva3280]

For someone so similar to Boris, someone who also voted for him as mayor and happily lied about Labour in the last election to help him to that 80 seat majority he sure is angry about getting exactly what he wanted

[@jonpritz8358]

Priceless interview...

[@tiger_3723]

Someone's proud of working with Florida? Florida. America's punchline. Florida

[@onenote6619]

If there is a place where Farage feels comfortable, it is a place where ordinary humans should be looking around and thinking something is wrong.

[@TalesOfWar]

I think he'd have been comfortable in a certain beer hall in Munich in the 20's.

[@anthonysmith8800]

When Farage feels comfortable, it's a warning sign that he's looking for the next controversy to get him back in the headlines.

[@johnlewis9158]

@@TalesOfWar So your saying Farage is lefty then. Its either that or more likely you know sod all about 20's Germany. Anyway don't worry because i do and i'm always willing to educate those who want to learn

[@tombranch2261]

The nazis were far right, their socialism was always a lie.@@johnlewis9158

[@jamiebee1231]

@@johnlewis9158I think there are parallels between 20s Germany and the UK today. Inflation and the economy are fucked, and working class people are turning towards right wing populist nutters who are telling them it’s immigrants fault they are poor

[@rhirhigrace270]

I will never forget Cameron saying a family of 4 could survive on £90 total. I was around 15 at the time (I’m 28 now) and even then thinking “What are you talking about?” My families food shop each week was £100 then. It just showed to me he had no idea what normal people go through and he’s worse now I imagine!

[@Greenturkeyman]

Yeah, despite having millions, he used to drive a tired looking MPV to suggest he was a man of the people... Oh man.

[@StraitKnopfler]

I can't find anything online to indicate that he ever said that. Seems like something that would have hit the news and be endlessly quoted since.

[@mark4lev]

@@StraitKnopflerhe didn’t know the price of milk. And when asked about the price of a loaf of bread he said he owned a bread making machine.

[@truxton1000]

He meant in food bill, yes if you constantly eat takeways you would need more than £90 back then, if you know how to cook from scratch you would be ok with £90. I see my neighbours order takeways several times a week, in in the middle of the night I see it getting delivered, the poorest people seem to be the biggest customers... When i was a student I used to survive on less than 50P a day, I managed well and did not lose any weight. People are lazy.

[@frankshailes3205]

​@@truxton1000no, the cost of running a cooker many hours per week with exorbitant energy costs is more than mass batch cooking meals in a canteen.

[@alwhyte6533]

I don't always agree on stuff with James, but I like listening to him explain his views and the way he deconstructs the arguments of people who will try to argue for or defend the indefensible.

[@angelaburrow8114]

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Yes, the subject matter was appallingly deppressing but I'd forgotten how interviews about politics can be: 2 intelligent, well spoken, considerate people discussing things in a rational manner. They expressed their opinions clearly but backed them up with evidence of why such an opinion should be held. It wasn't simply a rant of buzzwords to catch the attention of the masses, but a reasoned discussion of the sort that used to be common in the UK, & the US too, but are now extinct. Or so I thought. I hope it's not too late for us to have a reset & revert to the country we used to be. I'm not talking about going back to the days of colonialism but rather back to when our democracy was well regarded world-wide, when our schools were among the best in the world, & our government was a shining example of how to run a country with intergrity. Days of quiet competence & politicians who put country first instead of using it to generate personal wealth at the expense of the British people. It feels like ancent history, as James O'Brien said, but I want to go back to it.

[@anglewoden]

Perhaps you would like to go back to the Blair and Brown days? Open door migration, yes it started with them. Illegal wars, 45 minutes eh? Spending out of control? Plus you mentioned an intelligent interview? With O'Brien? I want some of what you are taking.

[@thebones]

Clearly you're too far down the shit hole to think clearly. Enjoy your tax cuts, that come at the expense of those that created the revenue for them - while you still can.

[@markwelch3564]

​​@@anglewodenour politicians in every party need to be honest - we need immigration Without immigration, at best we get to be Japan, where people under 40 are almost all overworked and overstressed. At worse we get to be the North Korea of Europe Are you happy to welcome Japanese overwork culture? Are you confident we won't end up as North Korea?

[@Kkaooswolf]

completely agree! It's astonishing how political debate has become worthless because people don't discuss things anymore.

[@scooby1992]

@@anglewoden I will give you Iraq and increased immigration , although they defeated a dictator who had used WMDs on his own people , but yeah , I would go back to Blair and Brown for all the children taken out of poverty , sure start , crumbling schools replaced , Child Tax Credits , the highest satisfaction ratings for the NHS , lower waiting lists , most patients seen within 4 hours at A and E ( a target that hasnt been hit for years and has been abolished ) , no patients waiting for hours on the back of ambulances outside A and E because there is no room inside the hospital . Were they perfect Governments ? No , did they have their own faults ? Yes . But I was better off then and would gladly go back to those times when there was also less division and hatred in our politics .

[@briansoden4623]

Super book. Have it on Audible as I travel a lot. Excellent interview, fascinating insight throughout.