Has the Left Stopped Thinking? Part 8: Debate

To mark the announcement of the 2008 Shortlists, the Orwell Prize hosted a debate (sponsored by Reuters) entitled 'Has the Left Stopped Thinking?'. The panellists were Matthew Parris (former Conservative MP, Times columnist and former Orwell Prize winner), Jean Seaton (Chair of the Orwell Prize, professor of media history at the University of Westminster), Greg Clark MP (Conservative, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister), Dr Denis MacShane MP (Labour, former Europe Minister), Peter Hitchens (columnist, The Mail on Sunday) and Will Hutton (chief executive of the Work Foundation, and Observer columnist and former editor). The debate was chaired by Sean Maguire (Editor -- Political and General News, Reuters). Filmed by Jack Lancaster, edited by Jack Lancaster and Amy Downes. Further editing by Gavin Freeguard.

[@relarerfhjk]

TheOrwellPrize thanks for putting this video up, but could you pleasepost the rest of this debate please? The video cuts out just as it is getting interesting, and Peter Hitchens and Denis MacShane are getting into a debate on crime.

[@4comment0nly76]

The video goes silent right when Mr. Hitchens begins to say why the prison population is so large. He says, "the reason why the prison po....."

[@99tubalcain]

Asking a person of the Right "What is the Right's ideas for reducing inequality"? is akin to asking a Leftist "What is the Left's answer to an increasingly secular society"? We don't believe in human equality, therefore inequality in society is not pathological. Great to see Dennis McShane talking about crime in the most blithe and patronizing manner, I wonder how many of his constituents were being groomed while he spoke?

[@MrRedcarpet02]

LyovMyshkin PH himself is in favour of increasing the minimum wage, what ARE you on about?

[@99tubalcain]

MrRedcarpet02 Is he? He shouldn't be, with the coming automation of many low skilled jobs the raising of the minimum wage would only increase the incentive for corporations to accelerate the process. That's what I'm on about, you cretin. Perhaps you could link where he argues for the increasing of the minimum wage so I can lambaste him in the comment section.

[@relarerfhjk]

Thanks for trying, let me know if you find anywhere I could get a transcript or audio. Thankyou.

[@TheOrwellPrize]

Hi relarerfhjk, Unfortunately we don't have any more of the debate on film; we'll make sure we get everything in future. TheOrwellPrize

[@relarerfhjk]

ah that's a shame, do you know any other way I could get a recording or at least a transcript, of the whole debate?

[@TheOrwellPrize]

Not this time, sadly. I'll double check with Reuters and our cameraman, but I think that's all we've got - sorry! TheOrwellPrize

[@crazyfighter5]

UPLOAD FULL VIDEOS

[@crazyfighter5]

YOURE KILLING ALL ENGAGEMENT SPLITTING THEM UP LIKE THIS. YOU COULD MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OFF THESE