Mandy Watch No.3
Sophie Raworth sitting in on the Andrew Marr show today (thank God) gave Mandy a hard time; whereas he would have got a softer ride from his fellow traveller. In particular she asked his Lordship about whether his receiving hospitality from a Russian billionaire (I see in the Sunday Times he also accepted it from hedge funding Rothschild too) showed a lack of judgement. The Lord responded by likening her to the Tory press before finally saying that it was important for him to meet people like that in his capacity as European trade commissioner.
About the only thing that the excellent Sophie missed was to point out it wasn't necessary to take your partner for a free holiday on a billionaire's yacht in order to have a meeting.
8 comments:
Hi Richard, I watched this while pounding away on some treadmill at the gym and I thought Mandelson had the upper hand. I felt so sorry for Sophie as Mandelson gave monosyllabic answers and he seemed to put her down every time. His whole attitude was non-communicative, I don't think anyone could have done it better. I find Andrew Marr too soft too. Only Paxman would be able to stand up to him.
I think she rattled him Ellee; so did Mrs. H. I think he's smug and so sanctimonious that you have to keep plugging away at him to get past the stock answers. I was impressed with Sophie, I didn't think she'd be so good.
That interview reminded me what an odious man he is: He refused to acknowledge the question on his judgement and instead tried to kill it by answering a totally question about his probity - which Sophie had not asked and had not implied anything negative. Unexpectedly she did a great job in pushing that spin out of the way and I agree, Mandelson was rattled. The answers to the last two questions were just plain rude.
A nasty man!
Good to see the pressure maintained on this corrupt man.
I agree he's odious. I'd still like to see Paxman have his turn.
Overnight the Prince of Darkness becomes the Dark Lord.
I'm sure Paxman is pawing the ground in anticipation.
"...saying that it was important for him to meet people like that in his capacity as European trade commissioner.
...and I would have thought it was the other way round!
Unfortunately, I'm too busy with the image of Sophie Raworth sitting on Andrew Marr to make a sensible comment.
Post a Comment