This Aussie blonde...THIS AUSSIE BLONDE??? What is going on here?
Natalie Bennett's nightmare LBC interview brought such levels of delight to our newspapers today that some almost forgot that one of the most respected Conservative politicians of the last 40 years had resigned in embarrassment, if not shame.
Time for "full disclosure", as Greenslade would say. I worked closely with Bennett at The Times for several years. And by closely, I mean we were two of half a dozen people who toiled through until 3am nightly.
She was argumentative, she was unconventional, she made enemies - often simply because of that Queensland voice that could cut through prison bars (it has really softened in the past couple of years). She was also professional, determined and thoughtful. I am proud to have worked with her and hugely proud of what she has achieved. To emerge from the trogladyte world of subbing to play cricket for the Times and lead a political party is no mean feat. Especially if you are a woman.
Any political leader who makes such a spectacular hash of a radio interview at any time - let alone a couple of months before a general election - is bound to come in for harsh scrutiny. Bennett knew and accepted as much.
But "Aussie blonde"? What have either got to do with housing policy or mastery of a brief?
Ah yes, this is the paper whose target audience is women. This is the most read news organisation in the country - if not the world. This is the newspaper that described the Danish Prime Minister as a "flirty blonde".
God help us.
Natalie Bennett's nightmare LBC interview brought such levels of delight to our newspapers today that some almost forgot that one of the most respected Conservative politicians of the last 40 years had resigned in embarrassment, if not shame.
Time for "full disclosure", as Greenslade would say. I worked closely with Bennett at The Times for several years. And by closely, I mean we were two of half a dozen people who toiled through until 3am nightly.
She was argumentative, she was unconventional, she made enemies - often simply because of that Queensland voice that could cut through prison bars (it has really softened in the past couple of years). She was also professional, determined and thoughtful. I am proud to have worked with her and hugely proud of what she has achieved. To emerge from the trogladyte world of subbing to play cricket for the Times and lead a political party is no mean feat. Especially if you are a woman.
Any political leader who makes such a spectacular hash of a radio interview at any time - let alone a couple of months before a general election - is bound to come in for harsh scrutiny. Bennett knew and accepted as much.
But "Aussie blonde"? What have either got to do with housing policy or mastery of a brief?
Ah yes, this is the paper whose target audience is women. This is the most read news organisation in the country - if not the world. This is the newspaper that described the Danish Prime Minister as a "flirty blonde".
God help us.
...and what's going on with the BBC?
Several columnists have taken the view that the "brain fade" interview will do Bennett no harm as listeners feel sympathy for her. That was also the impression given by today's Feedback programme on Radio 4. Listeners wrote in to ask why it was necessary for BBC news broadcasts to keep replaying the interview. Well, there is probably a political justification.
Or maybe it has footage on a loop? I watched the BBC's six o'clock news for the first time in yonks last night - and could hardly believe what I was seeing. One of the main items, after the disclosure of the identity of the Isis butcher newspapers persist in calling "Jihadi John", was Madonna's fall down three steps during the Brit awards on Tuesday. We saw the fall, then we saw it again. Then we had some people talking about it. Then we saw the fall. Then we saw it again with some people talking over it. And then, for good measure, we saw it again as the reporter handed back to Fiona Bruce. Sadly, the bulletin comes down from iPlayer at lunchtime, so I can't be sure of the total number of times it was shown - but I'd be surprised if it were fewer than six. Why?
Or maybe it has footage on a loop? I watched the BBC's six o'clock news for the first time in yonks last night - and could hardly believe what I was seeing. One of the main items, after the disclosure of the identity of the Isis butcher newspapers persist in calling "Jihadi John", was Madonna's fall down three steps during the Brit awards on Tuesday. We saw the fall, then we saw it again. Then we had some people talking about it. Then we saw the fall. Then we saw it again with some people talking over it. And then, for good measure, we saw it again as the reporter handed back to Fiona Bruce. Sadly, the bulletin comes down from iPlayer at lunchtime, so I can't be sure of the total number of times it was shown - but I'd be surprised if it were fewer than six. Why?
RSS Feed
