Yes Andrew I Do

[Zooropa]

Bless her, Diane Abbott was struggling to find the right answer on the Andrew Marr show this morning.


Do you regret supporting the IRA? - Andrew, i used to have an afro i no longer do, ive moved on.

Yes ok, but do you regret supporting the IRA? - Andrew it was 34 years ago ive moved on.

Yes ok, but do you regret supporting them? - Ive moved on.


Let me advise her on what she should have said, not out of decency but in pure political terms given that this is a general election campaign.


"Yes Andrew i deeply regret those comments made 34 years ago, ive changed my view radically since then and no longer support the actions of any terrorist organisation. I realise that as some one pushing themselves forward as a Home secretary a position which involves national security and keeping citizens safe that i need to make this clear in order to retain any credibility whatsoever, i deeply regret these views i once held"


You couldnt make it up.

[newcastle]

Yes......but, as you know, politicians are genetically programmed NOT to give a direct answer to ANY question, however phrased, however simple, even if (as in this case) a straightforward answer (along the line you suggest) would have given her an immense boost in credibility.

As the scorpion said to the frog : "It's in my nature"

Substitute "politician for scorpion and "interviewer" for frog.

[Stevepj]

Not the first time she's given a car crash of an interview, I remember her talking about the "positives" of the reign of Mao on China but what can you expect from a Cambridge graduate

[newcastle]

Not the first time she's given a car crash of an interview, I remember her talking about the "positives" of the reign of Mao on China but what can you expect from a Cambridge graduate

Ouch!