Sir John Major talks to Jon Snow about Margaret Thatcher

[@heartssmiles9032]

JM never lied. Always upheld integrity and Nolan Principles. A good representative of democracy. On the other hand, Boris Johnson...ouch.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Really? What about selling arms to Iraq and the supergun affair and the Scott inquiry?

[@jjbone1000]

My left ear loved this.

[@alfronzocragimo-spicerini3828]

Yeah wtf

[@themasteryourdaddy.6307]

Hahahha, i know, recorded badly.

[@thelightisahead]

If you’ve turned your phone landscape to watch and get this issue, try rotating it 180 degrees - I get the ‘left ear’ thing one way but it changes when I flip it.

[@Allyphant2909]

I'm a Labour leftwinger through to my very core but I have a great deal of respect for Sir John Major. An honest and decent man, just one with whom I thoroughly disagree on issues of policy.

[@johnfernleigh1352]

My view exactly. Also, someone born into relative poverty who made good but didn't forget where he came from.

[@MS-19]

Great comments, reflecting what politics should be all about. I too am not a Conservative and disagree with many of the policies that Thatcher and Major enacted - and it's hard to ignore the Currie skeleton in Major's closet - but I've always found them respectable. It is such a sad state of affairs that their kind are nowhere to be found on the front benches today.

[@sporkfindus4777]

@@johnfernleigh1352 Yes, and from a family of circus trapeze and music hall performers, incredibly. And he was proud enough of this background to write a book about his father Tom Major-Ball and music hall.

[@keifer7813]

He was part of her cabinet. Says it all. You are your company. F him

[@fshoaps]

Who cares if he's a 'honest and decent' man? That doesn't matter at all.

[@Thesaeed23]

I never rated John Major! But if you actively listen to his very skilled articulate fair and balanced arguments and the points he makes, his actually a very clever man!

[@leegibbs1727]

Not bad for a guy who failed at school and didnt go to university

[@rufanuf1]

Hes a career politcian. Shitty little man.

[@rufanuf1]

@Richard L Like i say just another career politician, see's politcis as a personal gravy train, not about serving the public, only about serving the commercial interests of business. And NO those two things are not the same.

[@rufanuf1]

@Richard L Like i say, just another career politician

[@rufanuf1]

@Richard L Maybe

[@deathofasalestactic]

the real john major died in 1999 when he swapped his glasses for smaller and less bulky frames

[@martm216]

Lol!

[@nudisco300]

😂😂😂

[@thomasbuxton2648]

🤣🤣

[@thegasman7161]

This comment is exceptional. Bravo.

[@matthewking5612]

A solid observation.

[@BernardCastle]

The best Major interview that i've seen so far.

[@romainreuter9604]

Margaret Thatcher liked obviously people who had an opinion of their own and defended it, even when it was not hers.

[@MS-wb5mf]

I'm an American Republican and I've always been very impressed with him.

[@deputyvanhalen6386]

The Clark Kent of politics.

[@geraldbutler5484]

Do you support the New York conman.

[@robbryant52]

He spoke well I enjoyed the interview

[@jasonkingshott2971]

Me too, just when it ended!

[@martm216]

I'm not a Conservative supporter, but John Major always struck me as a decent man.

[@growinsane9123]

Small must be the deeds of a man who has no enemies.

[@dewok2706]

@@growinsane9123 Small must be the brain of a eurosceptic.

[@MagicNash89]

@@growinsane9123 He had plenty of people opposing him, lol, still has. Just look at the Blairs politically famous "weak, weak, weak" speech in parliament.

[@curtisdelor5097]

I am a Labour supporter, but I heard George Galloway say in a speech at the Oxford Union in 2013 that John Major was actually a better person than Tony Blair, and at the 1997 general election; there really was little to no real difference between the Conservative and New Labour policies. Major said in a party political broadcast days prior to the 1997 GE that he was opposed to devolution in Scotland as it would lead to a "Disunited Kingdom" AND HE WAS RIGHT! Fastforward seventeen years to 2014, and the referendum on independence. We Scots rejected independence in favour of retaining the centuries-old union, but the SNP kept pushing for seperation despite the fact they lost the referendum. I tell you, living and growing up at that time was horrible: friends fell out with each other over the question of independence, banners stood in people's gardens bearing the word "Yes" , some people put stickers on their car bumpers or windows and the whole of Scotland was effectively split into two. Labour were nearly obliterated at the 2015 GE retaining just one seat due to the SNP's divisive rhetoric and were pushed into third place in 2016 when the Conservatives overtook Labour as official opposition. The reason for the rise of the Scottish Conservatives was due to their unionist agenda and oratory skills of Ruth Davidson. Sturgeon and Salmond kept pushing for another referendum on independence for Scotland and continue to ignore the wishes of the electorate, then Boom! 2017, snap general election: Alex Salmond loses his seat to a Tory, along with SNP Commons leader Angus Robertson in a major blow to the SNP, and the best result for the Conservatives in Scotland since 1983.

@Mr Spoon True, Massive waste on welfare and a million people we didnt want

[@alexodonnell6191]

A VERY underrated pm/politician, I always thought , always found him rather likeable....and from a Scot; that is saying something...😀

[@MrThorfan64]

I'm quite Left-Wing and would like Labour in power... but I have some respect for John Major. Maybe not the best PM but not a bad man and he did plenty of good things. In some ways more honourable then Tony Blairs hypocrisy. Probably the best Post-Thatcher Conservative Leader, one of those dull but dependable fellows where you don't really see their merits till years after they're out, a bit like Brown.

[@jasonkingshott2971]

How very tribal, it's 2020.

[@Myndir]

A good man with a bad party behind him. A Conservative party made up of John Major clones (like... Chris Patten) wouldn't have been bad at all in the 1990s.

[@nad211268]

Sir John is a man of great intergrity! Can Boris hold a candle to him?

[@graemeyetts3465]

What integrity? Ask his Mrs.😂

[@richardsimms251]

Smart man. Honest. RS. Canada

[@growinsane9123]

To be fair I think Margaret Thatcher was ALSO right on the poll tax AND the EU. Perhaps she never lost her instinct, rather her would be successors simply lost patience waiting for their 'turn'. Mr Heseltine springs to mind.

[@nautilusshell4969]

Does 'to be fair' actually mean 'in my opinion'?

[@rorz999]

On what planet was poll tax a good idea?

[@growinsane9123]

@@rorz999 Tell me why it was a bad one.... I think it perfectly reasonable to tax a household based on the number of occupants as their burden on the local resources is far more reflective than bricks and mortar. That an elderly widow or widower might pay a huge fee to fund local services just for living out their last days alone in a big house is ridiculous, if this is their situation they already stand to hand over a huge lump of inheritance tax. Thatcher was trying to address the situation of large numbers of occupants, often squatters living in houses paying only one council tax fee levied on the property. Perfectly reasonable I think. By all means tell us what you know about the tax and why it wasn't appropriate. If your answer basically boils down to just wishing to tax people with more by a huge proportion more despite consuming far less services, come out and say it, at least we will know what we disagree on.

[@polaris7122]

@@rorz999 EARTH!

[@josephthomasjr.6551]

The way John was treated by Maggie post November of 1990 was--let me be charitable--unjust. For all of her considerable gifts, Thatcher could be surpassingly petty. C'est la vie.

[@rorz999]

When all is said and done, she is still a woman

[@gustavmaia]

And I thought it would be Jon Snow from GOT.

[@Martynde]

I did too 😂

[@rorz999]

Yanks out

[@cBearTV-]

his voice is much more pleasing to me these days..... ;)

[@jasonkingshott2971]

More pleasing would be him never opening it.

[@carolthomas8528]

Probably because you’re comparing it to modern politicians.

[@HistoryonYouTube]

John is being very positive towards Maggie and given the way she more or less stabbed him in the front later, this is very positive!

[@thatcheritescot]

at least she stabbed him in the front... unlike him stabbing her in the back when he was hiding at home with "toothache" when she needed him most. and why did she turn on him? it was because she backed him for the leadership on the understanding that he would not take us further into europe.... when he did that is when she turned on him.... he could have predicted that.

[@HistoryonYouTube]

***** I have often wondered why she did not see through the toothache ruse. Maybe now that John is out of politics, he will enlighten us on this one day.

[@199019852007]

alanheath3 he probably having a curry with Edwina than a toothache

[@garethj9757]

She wrecked this country we are still feeling the aftershocks to this day

[@leegibbs1727]

alanheath3 for all his criticisms, most of them unfair, i think he was a very decent man and I challenge anyone to try and catch him out in a debate. Very knowledgeable man

[@johnfkennedy261]

John Major vs Margaret Thatcher Today's version Rishi Sunak vs Liz Truss That's what I call progression 😂

[@GutterJon]

The peas are rounder than usual

[@christopherwaring8285]

PEAS ARE NICE THIS EVENING DEAR

[@ezzony]

Even if Major didn't mean it, but what a compliment to Thatcher to say that she was combative. Isn't the the whole point of being in politics.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Nice words on a formidable Prime Minister.

[@lucifelmartell]

Privatisation and cracking down on trade unions was her incredible 2 achievements. So basically she took the only power the labourers and common folk had and gave it to thw oligarchs.. Basically the new world order while having too much tea with Rupert Murdoch.

[@seanmcmanus2777]

Do you remember the winter of discontent and the power of the trade unions+

[@SanFran51]

"If Nationalized industries are successful why were they making massive losses?" - Thatcher.

[@SalemGhassanHanna]

I've lived through every PM since and including Maggie. This is the guy I always think of when I imagine a Prime Minister putting country before party and most importantly before himself. Also, he ran Britain for seven years - the majority of the 1990s - not bad considering the Tories were already stale after 11 years when he took over.

[@Guardian__Angel]

Major gave perhaps the most balanced assessment of Thatcher.

[@sporkfindus4777]

I really should read John Major's autobiographical books. His father and grandfather were apparently circus and music hall performers, and he grew up on a council estate. To become a Conservative PM tells me that he made decisions for himself and followed his beliefs. To "conserve".

[@benzflynn]

Thanks for the threshold of hearing volume, lads.

[@chrispalmer7893]

That was pretty gracious of Major given the way Thatcher behaved whilst he was in office.

[@carolinecollett956]

For some years the Conservative Party had been deeply divided on the issue of the European Union and there had been much speculation each year that Major would be challenged for the leadership during the annual re-election of the leader each November. Many both within and outside the party believed that the constant speculation was highly damaging and so Major took the dramatic step to force an early contest. He announced his decision in a speech in the garden of 10 Downing Street, challenging his party opponents to "put up or shut up". It was a Democratic vote that wanted us out of Europe and it was the best referendum we the people had !

[@peterchristie1096]

Sir John was a welcome relief and was a man of impeccable values. Britain today could well be better off with him at the helm. No PM since him can hold a candle to him.

[@graemeyetts3465]

How did he have impeccable values when he cheated on his wife, please??

[@JRAV03DJE]

Modest gentlemen and a far, far better Prime Minister than Blair and Brown put together. Problem was he lacked Blair's energy, passion and leadership skills. I have much respect for the man just I wish he did better against Blair in 1997 and then this country would not have got so badly damaged for 13 horrible years.

[@helterskelter792]

What nonsense. You just admire him more as a man (and rightly)but in no way was he a better leader (see ERM crisis for a start).

[@constantine6490]

But people voted Blair, people wanted Blair and thats the weird thing in the story...

[@Iazzaboyce]

In a democracy the electorate should decide who 'the bastards' are; and it has.

[@funguyfarage3615]

he's an establishment wanker , where was our vote on the maastricht treaty

[@curtisdelor5097]

Blair retained many Conservative policies and they even kept Tory tax rates the same for his first two years in office.

[@cBearTV-]

Dear channel 4, Please could you invest in new recording & audio equipment. I'm deaf in my left ear!! 🙄🤣

[@85percentnation]

It would be good if they fixed their equipment, but for now you may want to put the headphones on backwards!

[@robbryant52]

Good interview and john spoke well not sure if Jon was in a tunnel speaking

[@keithbillington8747]

I live in scandinavia, unions as part of EU work with companies and Councils that all generally works for the Common good I do come from Liverpool, what i read about her ideas about my city still leaves a bitter taste. Talking to my dad about the crazy times in the 70`s seems not that much different to whats happening now ( minus unions and security that goes with it) shame that ability to defend self financially removed via 25-30 year House. loans and rental sector, neoliberalism a form of chemical neutering in a democracy

[@psyskeptic9979]

Left ear is well informed. Right ear bored.

[@MicroGiantSESSwordofVictory]

Oh dear, I think one of us has dropped a pea under the table......

[@MrThorfan64]

Oh dear!

[@jasonkingshott2971]

...and says "while you're down there dear...."

[@kotasbyubilieau8365]

Even though I can see he is a smart man, he makes me sleepy.

[@marie3333uk]

Why is this comment so funny. You made me lol! 😂

[@jasonkingshott2971]

Smart? he was one of the worst Prime Minsters in history and one of the most ridiculed. He was and still is a clown.

[@bluewardog]

There's a reson spitting image painted him gray

[@MrThorfan64]

@@jasonkingshott2971 Compared to the last decade he comes across very well.

[@MrThorfan64]

@@jasonkingshott2971 You're mixing him up with his father.

[@pipobrien9244]

Well done on getting rid of the Socialists.

[@kevindare3113]

All the backstabbers won’t be getting a state funeral that’s for sure

[@alanna4858]

“She was wrong over the poll tax” Labour 2024: We’re introducing a new way of calculating council tax …

[@robertewing3114]

John Major, the Prime Minister who advised the public that Chamberlain had a better idea of Hitler than people think, was that public service or Conservative counter-stroke to Labour propaganda against NC? Surely it was true, and JM knew it was true, but WHY say it publicly, simple decency or as another piece of Conservative bias? I think JM must be considered a very reasonable man for talking that little piece of sense, but I would like to hear his response, was he not concerned to leave the delusion where it was, the public where they were, or he was thinking of the newspapers and their pandering to whatever delusion generates sales, a piece of advice, no UK PM would seriously think NC a mug to anyone, least not AH.

[@themasteryourdaddy.6307]

Most people voted against her then for her, she didnt think women were for fit high office. I disagree, except in her own case.

[@neilsailing]

Er.....oh yes.........no...oh...yes. It must have scared the pants of you that Edwina could have finished you with one call to Murdoch....now thats power....scarey!

[@HistoryonYouTube]

I was rather shocked that he had had this relationship - as were others I spoke to about it.

[@MrThorfan64]

@@HistoryonKZbin Yes, he seemed too boring to ever do something as exciting as an affair.

[@pradyot7]

So Jon Snow does know something...

[@nurlatifahmohdnor8939]

2006 506, 000 Dublin Page 46

[@nurlatifahmohdnor8939]

Baile Atha Cliath (Settlement at the reed hurdle ford) after a 10th century settlement of King Mael Sechnaill II.

[@johnmasters504]

Great guy.....

[@Caskchap]

This odious man who was stupid enough to take us into the ERM and duplicitous and dishonest enough to conduct an affair behind his wife’s back should be stripped of his knighthood. He has neither judgement nor honour what good is such a man as a knight of the realm?

[@SiVlog1989]

There's a school of thought that Labour lost in 1992 rather than him winning, possibly evident in the events that lead to "Black Wednesday"

[@Yatukih_001]

Christopher Reeve aint fooling me...Sir Christopher Reeve talks to Jon Snow about Margaret Tatcher. This explains why he sucked as prime minister...

[@leegibbs1727]

Before the 60s we had free movement of people from the colonies. No one seems to moan about that

[@leegibbs1727]

@MrAeronuk1 I mean people now don't moan about it. People talk about the magical British Empire and ruling the waves and all that and I'm pretty sure those in the colonies were able to move as British subjects

[@bnkundwa]

It is a personal choice to be famous and popular.

[@Witnessmoo]

Thatcher was a titan. This man was just meh.

[@pockynicky9294]

ฟังรายงานข่าวเอง. ไม่มีใคร ออกความเห็น. สถานทุต เมกัน สถานทุต. ในประเทศอื่นๆ ตามที่ตามทาง

[@PlayMoreGolf-RipOff]

you need a primeminister to be combative and to argue fiercely and robustly challenge cabinet ministers on the detail of policy

[@jodyburrows977]

He abolished the minimum wage for millions of people, (wage councils)

[@MrDanielfff777]

Source?

[@andybray9791]

He made a major mistake in 1992 giving our country away

[@nautilusshell4969]

How did he 'give our country away'?

[@jacksugden8190]

See he’s got rid of those very large rimmed glasses of the 1990’s. As for Thatcher, she talked and never listened unstoppable heard of Buffalo was not inflammable had two long as PM, liked this interview from Major’s point of view.

[@pockynicky9294]

not in our potential in according through not to throughout in our jedgment

[@user-vh6ts9uf6c]

More peas dear

[@frze5645]

Thatcher’s biggest political mistake was picking Europhile Major as her successor - BIG mistake.

[@jasonkingshott2971]

Major the snake.

[@TT_1221]

I believe she said she regretted signing the Anglo Irish Agreement so I don't know why he holds that up as one of her crowning achievements . . . as I understand it she added the words "The Americans made me do it" That would have been US house speaker Tipp O'Neill and his Irish American lobby who put the squeeze on Reagan to pressure her. She should have stood over it, it was a positive agreement but then she always was more an English Nationalist rather then a UK Unionist anyway.

[@wonjubhoy]

Look at the context. Margaret Thatcher was the prime minister during the IRA hunger strikes of 1981. 10 paramilitaries died before she gave them political status. This resulted in Sinn Fein effectively entering the political arena in Northern Ireland. The fear then was Sinn Fein was about to replace the non violent SDLP as the dominant force within northern nationalism. The Anglo-Irish Agreement was intended to boost the SDLP at Sinn Fein's expense. It did have that effect at least in the short term. The close relationship the Agreement later created between John Major and the Irish taoiseach Albert Reynolds led to the 1994 ceasefires and paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement.

[@RobertK1993]

John was a superior Prime Minister.

[@SanFran51]

And was a terrible terrible leader.

[@RobertK1993]

@@SanFran51 She was worse less caring at least he was caring like Tony Blair.

[@watchfan6180]

Terrible audio, sort the microphone’s out guv.

[@pockynicky9294]

ใครไม่รุ ทุบเสาบ้าน ๆที่อยู่แบบ ให้ มีรอย แตก. ในบ้าน. เรา งง เรา ไม่เข้าใจ เล่นแบบ. ความหมาย แฝง ซื้อ. ๆไม้ ตรงบ้านที่ ย้ายออกมา ครั้งสุดท้าย. ไม้แผ่น ๆ ๆ โซฟาพัง. ถ้าซื้อ. เป็น การ โจมตี ฯลฯ. เช่นอะไร

[@paulssounds7129]

Why is the interviewer in the bog

[@jopink7674]

John, grow a moustache , it will suit you 🤐

[@KnowYoutheDukeofArgyll1841]

Jo Pink It looks like he has been trying to grow one for years. It keeps trying, but he won't let it out. C'mon Johnny boy...set those whiskers free!!!

[@mbukukanyau]

back stabber

[@johnhague5155]

She destroyed the industry ip here in the North. The one thing was the rebate after crashing out of the exchange rate mechanism. The women was a monster.

[@pockynicky9294]

เธอข้าม มา ถึง ลาดพร้าว ในห้างเซ้นทรัลๆ คนอื่นไม่ทราบ แต่ ผิด

[@schlongersaurus]

I love so much

[@timothynoble8206]

Just another sad person wev'e had to put up with.....even the accent is FALSE.....This is the man who would not support the blood poisoning scandal....all those people who's life's was ruined by this terrible happening and he refuse to help those souls in their hour of need.

[@aperson22222]

So where's Jon Snow?

[@mort421]

In the bathroom

[@bampitony6108]

What that smell of Curry John.. 😂😂

[@polaris7122]

Very good skater!!

[@dean8282]

Looking back in AUGUST 2022and privatisation and weakening unions both a terrible idea.

[@thelegend5243]

Ding Dong the witch is dead!

[@azerhatespedophiles7406]

Nice mustache space looks like a airport

[@eliwhaley4804]

You're right. He would have an amazing stache

[@swarthyjake4433]

I notice he doesn't mention his "friendship" with Ronnie and Reggie !

[@trustedscrub3]

What friendship?

[@Dan4x2282]

Why would he ? I grew up in Bermondsey I don't tell people in México too much about that because it is and was a massive sh*t hole full of wannabe hard men.

[@swarthyjake4433]

@@Dan4x2282 oh dear , put your panties on the wrong way round did we !

[@christopherwaring8285]

NICE PEAS DEAR!

[@aaseelanp3851]

Jon snow ? I thought it was jhon from game of thrones.

[@camron.w1841]

Who's that boring man with the glasses?

[@brendadrumm9708]

Must have been some affair with Edwina but there again still waters run deep

[@BenBlazing99]

Oh dear

[@jasonkingshott2971]

Now that is an understatement.

[@b.aguiar90]

the interviewer sounds terrible. How come

[@richardbrown6163]

A lot taller tree than him. A disastrous choice as her successor

[@LabRat6619]

John Major signed the Maastricht Treaty. This treaty allows free movement of people within EU bloc. HE IS RESPONSIBLE for Brexit.

[@twoods5903]

Human mogadon

[@pockynicky9294]

willigkeit จิตวิญญาณ

[@sliperysid]

Everything wrong with the conservative party is displayed in this "human".

[@Adamkww]

Jon snow doesn't know much

[@branflakes12341]

One of the biggest cowards in politics

[@thelegend5243]

Another Tory spouting nonsense

[@lenrat117]

He is such a boring man.

[@Harvester236]

lenrat117 "More peas, dear?"

[@thechosenonenumber]

+JJ H I think you dropped one under the table

[@jeremysmith54565]

Most likely all because of the EU, throw all your toys out of pram why don't you, you thick dumb ass.

[@jackielana9993]

“More peas dear?”

[@appanpappan]

he should hang for his policy on the genocide in Bosnia!

[@desmondk7962]

Jonas Paulsson what was his policy? I know you posted long ago but I’m interested.

[@richardlaversuch2901]

The poll tax was a really good idea. A dustman paying the same as a Duke is equality.

[@tennis5011]

So i suppose people living ten to a house paying the same as living two to a house is common sense to, is it Richard?? Ok if you are an Eastern European immigrant, i guess!!

[@jackielana9993]

Not if the price range is fixed on the average folk because then the poor get fucked

[@paulrimmer391]

Major was a useless no mark.

[@pockynicky9294]

diskret

[@aspergianheteroclite3014]

Interesting interview, even though I disagreed with the entirety of the points made.

[@pockynicky9294]

nobody know the infact how to b combined

[@davidfreeman2119]

He is a snake

[@GoldMario5500]

He has sold us and being paid by George Soros he's no better than Ted Heath

[@richardlaversuch2901]

The poll tax was a really good idea. A dustman paying the same as a Duke is equality.

[@GabrielNicho]

Being a duke isn't a job, it doesn't provide a pay. I believe the Duke of Leinster is a gardener.

[@jeremysmith54565]

No it's not you're quite right, really it's just a title and that is all, it's like saying the former Earl of Lichfield (Patrick Anson) wasn't a photographer, but some of these delusional rightists won't ever understand that basic logic.

[@GabrielNicho]

You mean leftists? I understood it as the guy I responded to coming from a left point of view. Since he is being critical towards the poll tax.

[@seanmcmanus2777]

@@GabrielNicho There still is a Duke of Leinster? It must be only titular.

[@GabrielNicho]

@@seanmcmanus2777 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peerage_of_Ireland