The UK's place in Europe? Paxman, Boris and Eddie Izzard (1997) - Newsnight archives

[@ernestobes6840]

Italian here. When Johnson said that French cuisine is execrable was the first time I ever agreed with him lmao

[@ant1georgiou]

Good old days when people didn’t clap at fucking EVERYTHING.

[@susannamarker2582]

Too much yank TV nowadays.

[@johndawhale3197]

"They try and ban our chocolate...they try and ban our chocolate." - Boris Johnson, 1997

[@susannamarker2582]

Well said, Boris.

[@mattaylortango]

Tony Blair being described as a socialist. Ha!!

[@janmaciejewski6129]

@Dorset Deb no that would make sense to claim him as an internationalist and a globalist. he abandoned the socialist clause in the labour partys constituting

[@nathanlloyd9421]

He is an ethical socialist, the same as every other Labour PM.

[@nathanlloyd9421]

@@janmaciejewski6129 Nonsense. Most social democratic parties abandoned the commitment to nationalisation in their constitution decades before!

[@egertonmark]

@@nathanlloyd9421 satire?

[@MrDanielfff777]

@@nathanlloyd9421 no he isn't

[@nickbarton3191]

The French lads have understood British mentality very well.

[@TheFormerkgbchief]

Boris has aged like a fine milk.

[@alonsoschneider8109]

like every english person

[@pauldunn108]

@@alonsoschneider8109 is generalising from the particular a thing with you Alonso? Does being born in the US, as Boris was, have any significance?

[@alonsoschneider8109]

@@pauldunn108 omg what a snowflake. It is a well-known joke about English people

[@pauldunn108]

@@alonsoschneider8109 not well-known to me Alonso, & not much of a joke. Don't give up your day job for stand-up Is it "well-known" to you that BJ's heritage is Turkish & Swiss through his father, & Lithuanian Jewish & American via his mother? Or are you as ignorant as you are unfunny?

[@pauldunn108]

@@alonsoschneider8109 ....& where does my alleged snowflakery come in?! Wouldn't I have to be somehow threatened or hurt or offended by you rather than simply amused by *you* rather than any joke you *think* you might be making Wouldn't I have to be a supporter of Boris Johnson, or English, for that? .....rather than someone who simply doesn't like bigots who speak of "every" German/Swiss/Arab/whatever & seem.able only to express themselves iwith other people's cliches (omg, snowflake)

[@DD-jq8my]

Look how pleasant, polite and sensible Labour sounded in 1997 🙊

[@letmeouttamycage]

Its 1997 but they all seem to have 80s haircuts

[@daviedovey]

the 90s was more 80s than you'd think

[@pierzing.glint1sh76]

I mean yeah but they're all products of the 80s where they had their breakthrough 🤣

[@katakisLives]

Hairstyles were far more extravagant than these in the 80's but general style trends aren't going to vanish overnight

[@soviet9366]

Boris was a vacuous waste of space then and he remains the same today

[@davidlittle715]

It’s interesting that when Boris cites French timidity the second time, he cites the French ruling class’ timidity in the face of the fierce French working class, revealing that the latter are irrelevant to him. As a supposed historian, he should know that the French ruling class might well be timid because of the ferocious potential of the French in general. The English have had plenty of time to note that, to this spoiled brat, most of them are irrelevant.

[@John_Steuart]

Can the bbc go back to these fine broadcasts

[@thenomadicscot7515]

Absolutely fascinating... A young Boris, lively discussion, well cropped news clips, to think how much has changed politically in 21 years and britain has left the EU it just shows where those early roots of eurosceptism transmorphed into

[@jamesmcclean8793]

This was fantastic, I loved how the lady didn't let Johnson waffle over her, it's difficult to understand what he's waffling but the lady spoke so clearly and I agreed with her 100%.

[@marcallan9069]

this is actually really fascinating. Io see Eddie come in as this New European figure talking to the man who took the UK out of the EU.

[@fabioq6916]

HOHO! 3.30 Boris touting the single market as the greatest Tory achievement!

[@mogznwaz]

Nothing wrong with the single market in principle, it’s the political EU Brexiteers have an issue with

[@markmoran916]

@@mogznwazdoubtful considering they don’t understand 😂

[@geraldashton8589]

Funny how things turned out when viewed in May 2021

[@Aquascutum-gn2oe]

God its weird that those 6th formers are almost 40 now

[@martynbarrett64]

Tell me about it!!!!

[@chavandposh]

Boris is hardly old he was same even in 1997

[@Gozzillacia]

This is very much an English thing -- we Scots love the French and everything French.

[@yington]

Why do you ?

[@Gozzillacia]

​@@yington Well because the French do (maybe only did these days) everything so much better, and with so much more style, sexiness and elan than the English. Britain is, you realize, when you travel, a miserable place. A squalid place. Maybe it's because of our caste (class) system? What is provided for the people is not of the best. But what, might be called, "good enough." While the French seem to have imbibed the Medici philosophy of public splendor - they, the British ruling classes seem to have settled for the merely private - and go by the maxim - "let them eat shit," as far as the plebs are concerned. Britain is a country full of ugly places, poor food, and bad service. Of course, if you stray into a picture postcard village, south of london, populated by hedge fund managers and High Court judges - you might not think so - but generally, Britain (as much as I love her) is a dung hill. And the France is not (as yet).

[@yington]

@@Gozzillacia I’m not sure I disagree with any of that tbh. I often spend time on the continent wondering why things are so different over there, and what it would take for UK to be anything like them. And also why we are so different in the first place. I suppose you touch on it - it has to be something to do with that which our powerful forefathers left for us. Do you see anything difference between England and Scotland , English and Scottish, though? Or what applies to England here, applies to Scotland ?

[@colinstephenson5386]

@@yington you say ‘ why do you “ as though there’s reasons to love or not love a person born in france ? , can’t we just see someone as a fellow human being ? My old fella said to me ‘It’s not from where a person comes it’s who that person is “

[@DaveParkerNZ66]

Yes, it worked it well with bonny prince Charlie

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

The weird thing is, my views on Eddie Izzard and the BBC both started to harden almost (at different speeds) concurrently with my views and estimation of 'Brussels/Europe' going South. Over a VERY PROTRACTED PERIOD, which is strange as I'm totally disinterested on both their views on the subject. It is doubly strange that Izzard - back then, complete with comic timing - sounds like he's about to do a stand up routine but all he does is reveal his wooly naivety. That stuff he comes out with at the start...(sigh).

[@rawfreddy]

No need to over-analyse, it's just your age. People of average intellect tend to get more conservative as the years go by, regardless of the context in which it occurs. It's why so many younger people vote left and so many older people vote right. It has always been that way, always will be. You just keep on engaging at surface level only, and rest easy knowing that it's normal, and you're normal, just like everyone else. Leave the thinking to people better suited to it - less stressful for you that way.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@rawfreddy Not sure whether to take that as a compliment or insult, but quite entertaining either way.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@rawfreddy I would also say - though presume rightly you are NOT speaking from personal experience - IF YOU ARE that IS A VERY REVEALING AND BRAVE ADMISSION: Yes, the c/Conservatism and age calculus IS INDEED a nice social / behavioural myth spread around to make 'Progressives' feel better about themselves and hunt out ever increaingly younger vote(r)s(!); if however you were wishing to take into account the likes of Eric Blair / George Orwell, Thomas Sowell (large 'C') or maybe even the likes of Nelson Mandela and brand them as being merely of "average intelligence", that would appear to be an outrageously insurmountably iconoclastic hillock to wish to climb publicly - let alone die upon?😮😄

[@avtar1699]

A broken europe is not in the UKs best interest. Brexiteers like yourself, like to believe that we have some sort of empire that we can rely on. The contrary has occured, we are weaker, we are smaller and have to settle to crap trade deals. Even with its negatives, the EU was the best mechanism available to protect our interests, especially with the rise of china and india.

[@felixmarsh6026]

Love Eddie Izzard

[@Rb1_2_3]

British chef awarded a Michelin Star...who happens to be French.

[@bringiton5282]

Whatever Boris. I side with the honorouble Lady, I'm French and I have a tremendous admiration for the England, and I also adore my country :)

[@Red_Lion2000]

Im English, I've been to france several times, great country/people and I have nothing but respect for them. Americans on the other hand...

[@robinhood7874]

GREAT UPLOAD! THANKS MAN

[@MrDanielfff777]

Fr

[@hinson92]

Guests: 2 pro EU 1 Eurosceptic Izzard reckons that people growing up will identify as European, it’s the future etc etc As history now shows, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

[@ceirwan]

Well I he was largely right. It was the old vote that swung Brexit to yes, not the young.

[@josephclarke7604]

Well, he was right, just not in Britain

[@GerLeahy]

He's right, though. A majority of young people are currently pro-European. So in the future a majority of Brits will be also.

[@alfsmith4936]

@@GerLeahy England will be begging to rejoin in a generation or two. I would say the U.K but it looks very much like that's breaking up so Ireland and Scotland can rejoin, without the hassle the English will have, given the rhetoric seen from old people and far right idiots online (That will probably be there for centuries unless the platforms do a deep cleanse or shut down) and in tabloids.

[@GerLeahy]

@@alfsmith4936 Agreed, except that Ireland never left the EU, as it is an independent country and very pre-EU.

[@blue24563]

This is so unwoke and politically incorrect, most of the comments on this would be deemed hate crimes today. Wish I could go back in time.

[@sayno2lolzisback]

Well, it some ways we have gotten better as all this stuff about the French is utter rubbish and poor journalism

[@dave8323]

I wish you could fuck off too

[@LuisCarruthers]

That's absolutely true. The window of acceptance opinion has been narrowed very severely over the last two decades.

[@ameliemelo92]

I was barely born at the time of this video but it is crazy to see how things have not change a bit in almost 20 years. I am French and I live in the uk and hearing the pro brexit talking I kinda want the uk to leave. If you think you are way better than European and you be better on your own then leave, so as we can move on. And French are the one arrogant! Really?

[@revol148]

It's not only the UK who is sick of the EU - trust me.A recent survey in your home country suggested that in the even of a referendum over 50% of French people would vote out if given the opportunity.Europe is dying - make the most of the EU while it lasts.

[@stevechristie2569]

Amelie are you single?

[@colinmartin2921]

So why does Eddy Izzard feel that he is more important than a plumber?

[@BlyatimirPootin]

Straws, clutching at

[@fabioq6916]

Maybe because hundreds of thousands of people don't pay to hear a plumber speak? That is, even if we accept the premise of your misguided question.

[@TomBartram-b1c]

Because he can speak French. He only mentions it every 2 minutes.

[@fabioq6916]

@@TomBartram-b1c is that something to be ashamed of?

[@billybigbone]

@@fabioq6916 so he IS more important?

[@jazy3091]

It's so sad to watch it now in 2018

[@patriciahiggins5273]

Heartbreaking 💔💔💔

[@LuScDays]

19:20

[@mili3212]

LMAO the guy at @7:51... trying so hard to be polite when we all know how he really feels

[@henryviii6341]

those shoulder pads wow. Labour fashion😂

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

She later on joined Change UK and tried to come back as an MEP. 😂

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

I bet Carole Tongue and Eddie Izzard are really happy now that we are out of the EU! LOL! ;-)

[@meandmymouth]

Eddie never looked lovelier :-)

[@whateversunpopular1338]

He (Boris) sounded more like a politician back then.

[@laxeystu8096]

I hope that guy with the blonde hair hasn't got aspirations above guesting on TV panel shows.

[@thejoin4687]

Nah, he'll probably just settle for the prime ministership.

[@highgreen6452]

Lol we can see France but France might as well be a different planet last but one time I was there I asked fir a cup of tea they asked me what flavour strawberry? banana? lime? I said just tea flavoured they looked at me like a martian

[@colinstephenson5386]

High green are you aware ‘ tea “ is not a product from Britain ? Britain doesn’t have a monopoly on tea , i know what you’re on about , countries that learnt about tea at a later period don’t ‘ do it the same “ as the British, I doubt a frenchman has ever seen a martian , maybe they thought they were looking at someone with a limited imagination ? Talking of imagination how your brexit going ?

[@colinstephenson5386]

By the way high green how’s brexit going for you ?

[@highgreen6452]

@@colinstephenson5386 touchy touchy.. brexits going fine kid people are getting things like vaccinations here whilst the red tape and the regulations on which colour biro to sign off the regulations in Europe is slightly holding them back 🤣🤣🤣

[@colinstephenson5386]

Let’s not forget Mr Johnson whilst representing his employers the British taxpayers as foreign secretary he said on camera ‘ french turds “ class or what ?

[@pavanbhatia389]

Boris still speaking his bull shit back then.... and Eddie was still awesome back then too. And the women is very good and smart.

[@madforit2]

Izzard is and always was an insufferable twat

[@captainthormericaman735]

Boris has only aged the last year

[@curlisdave]

The 1990s was a carefree time.

[@mogznwaz]

I grew up in the 70s and I will never vote for socialism having seen it up close

[@MrDanielfff777]

Cool!

[@nigelbenn4642]

He was a prat back then, he was a prat in office and he'll be a prat after he's dead.

[@derekbentley196]

Back before Eddie completely lost the plot🤣 Edit: It's not racist if its about the French🤣

[@neddystark3351]

What exactly is Eddie Izzard's qualification for being on this panel??

[@billpugh58]

What is Johnsons? He is a failed journalist and and serial liar!

[@The482075]

He's a comedian. Oh you're asking about Eddy Izzard. He's a comedian too.

[@neddystark3351]

@@The482075 "He's a comedian" ...he's never made me laugh.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Wow. Thank goodness we're out of the EU!

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

Ah, the food in the UK is bad, Eddie - tell that to Gordon Ramsay!

[@alfsmith4936]

Gordon Ramsey isn't a good chef lol. He's a standard issue hotel chef who got lucky shouting at his staff and swearing on T.V.

[@carwynj.thomas5057]

The only thing which has aged well in this video is Fiona Bruce

[@declan1962]

Paxman describes Blair as a `Socialist' .

[@harmlessdrudge]

I love Boris 😂

[@patriciahiggins5273]

I can't abide him

[@MattMajcan]

is there some reason this man cant comb his hair?

[@tonyc9460]

Pantomime for the plebs.

[@susannamarker2582]

Eddie Izzard ? Oh, he's some comedian.

[@BlyatimirPootin]

Bojo still talking bollocks

[@disct1597]

French chef 😂😂😂😂

[@dpf2122]

Thoroughly bizarre piece of television, but very enjoyable to watch. And France still hasn't produced a great novel.

[@susannamarker2582]

Yes, they did. 'A Very Long Engagement.'

[@dpf2122]

@@susannamarker2582 Lol that's an airport bookshop novel

[@sayno2lolzisback]

Read The Plague by Albert Camus

[@dpf2122]

@@sayno2lolzisback That wasn't published since 1997 lmao

[@sayno2lolzisback]

@@dpf2122 Your comment makes no sense. Do you mean hasn't been published since 1997?

[@thenodfather]

Boris talking about Comedians and he was the most comedic there. It hasn't changed much England is still very bigoted against the French.

[@alfsmith4936]

Comedians tell jokes. Boris Johnson is a joke.

[@Alto53]

I've never met anyone who hates the French. This thing is a myth.

[@BlyatimirPootin]

Generally just bigoted I think.

[@AriZBlade]

It's banter. We don't hate the French.

[@yington]

That blonde chap will be PM one day

[@BlyatimirPootin]

The bloviating ball bag?

[@daviddack1595]

Oh Theresa May, Just before you go would you please Revoke Article 50.

[@timcomley3241]

snobby woman

[@jennifermaharaj3551]

My boy Boris.