Eric Pickles Twitterviewing

Earlier this week we twitterviewed (interview via Twitter) Eric Pickles, the Chairman of the Conservative Party and the MP for Brentwood & Ongar.

The rules of the twitterview are simple; we ask a question in a single tweet and replies must also be in a single tweet.  For anyone who doesn’t use Twitter, a tweet is limited to 140 characters.

A transcript of the twitterview follows (questions are in bold):

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Why have the Tories chosen Sweden as their education policy template when it’s OECD PISA scores are lower than Finland’s?
We’ve looked at models in the USA and all over the world so it is not exclusively Swedish.

Was the Chancellor right to at least try to limit the pay of bankers?
We are not opposing the plans; the banks have brought this on themselves.

Do you still believe that you need a second home to be on time for meetings?
I don’t claim second home allowance.  Individual MP’s have to be accountable to voters for their own decisions.

What are the Conservatives going to do about the Barnett Formula?
The government promised a review by last summer and we’ve heard nothing since, any changes would need to be gradual.

This past year your voting record is 53%, well below average, how do you justify this?
I’m Party Chairman, I spend a lot of time around the UK talking & listening to real people, unlike Gordon Brown, stuck in the bunker.

Will the Conservative Party repeal Ed Balls’ Vetting and Barring Scheme?
We welcome Balls’ U turn but we still want to see the detail.

If elected, what will a Tory Government do address the imbalance in the UK-US extradition arrangements?
We are going to review the imbalance of the treaty. We have opposed McKinnon’s extradition.

What will be our mission in Afghanistan under a Conservative Government?
Clarity, leadership and proper support of our troops.

With respect, that is not a mission or justification for being there. What justification do the Tories give?
Combating terrorism and bringing stability to the Afghan people.

Are you in favour of mandating open primaries for all parliamentary seats?
After 100 open Primaries & two all postal ballots, they are a big success and are the future, local choice, not mandatory.

How many seats will the Conservative Party win at the next election?
Where’s my crystal ball? It’s not in the bag yet, no complacency from us.

Come on, behind closed doors what are your expectations?
Nice try, but my last answer is my final answer!

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Thank you to Eric Pickles MP for his participation.  You can follow Eric on Twitter via @EricPickles.  Thank you also to everyone who submitted questions.

Eric Pickles MP

We will be twitterviewing (interview via Twitter) Eric Pickles MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party, on 14th December 2009 at 5.30pm.

If you have any questions for Mr Pickles you can email them to us at info@thinkpolitics.co.uk (remember that you must limit your questions to 140 characters or less) or send them via Twitter direct message @ThinkPolitics.

We have an exciting line up of Twitterviews over the next couple of months including an interview with the Education Secretary the Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP and others.  This is an exciting format that encourages directness and we look forward to your participation.

Kerry McCarthy MP

Yesterday evening we twitterviewed (interview via Twitter) Kerry McCarthy MP (@KerryMP).  Kerry is the Labour Party member for Bristol East and a Junior Whip.

The rules of the twitterview are simple; we ask a question in a single tweet and replies must be in a single tweet too.  For anyone who doesn’t use Twitter; a tweet is limited to 140 characters which will explain why some of the questions and answers are worded strangely!

A transcript of the twitterview follows (questions are in bold):

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What actions have your taken in your capacity as Labour’s new media campaigns spokesperson since your appointment?
Meeting with Labour bloggers, lots of interviews, speaking at conferences, planning strategy with Labour HQ and urging MPs to tweet.

Why is partisan politics a good thing?
Politics is about choices.  By the way, policies/views, inevitably involves being partisan if you’re passionate about what you believe in.

You sat on the Treasury Select Committee from 2005. Why did it fail to regulate banks effectively or foresee the crisis?
Because that wasn’t its remit as such, credit due though to Andy Love MP who was asking about sub-prime mortgages before any of us.

The Treasury Select Committee ’s job is to examine policy of the Bank of England and the FSA. RBS ran up liabilities bigger than UK GDP while you sat. Why?
Remit is to scrutinise not manage, we asked right questions but given reassurances. Tories were calling for less regulation!

Has there been any difference between Old Labour & New Labour since Brown took over?
It’s been an artificial distinction for a long time, I think ‘New Labour’ has outlived its usefulness, we’re Labour!

What are the 3 top priorities for a re-elected Labour government?
Economy, housing, environment. Don’t necessarily need legislation, but further action.

Would UK international aid be better spent tackling poverty at home, or, given the huge budget deficit, not spent at all?
No, it’s not just a moral issue, but in UK interests too, to reduce poverty and increase security in developing countries.

But, even if it in Britain’s interests to increase security in the developing world, would the money be BETTER spent at home or saved?
Would be immoral and unwise to renege on commitment to 0.7% of GDP on aid by 2013. We are very wealthy by comparison with many.

In the event of a hung parliament would you personally be against governing with the Liberal Democrats?
I don’t relish the prospect!

The number of recorded crimes in 1961 was 807,000; in 2001 it was 5.2 million. Why has crime increased in this way?
Recorded crime stats are not the same as actual crimes, rape stats being a good example.

Regardless, crime has increased during that period… why?
Social change, economic change (e.g. more opportunities for acquisitive crime), not much point to compare with 1961, look at Labour’s record.

Social media is helping change media agenda at a national level.  It needs to go local too.  How can you help to stimulate this?
Think it’s already happening in Bristol, we have online news sites, active blogs, people on Twitter, local Facebook campaigns.

What two policies do you think could boost popular support for the Government before the election?
I don’t think you can narrow it down like that, but definitely should be focus on jobs and protecting people on modest incomes.


Thank you to Kerry McCarthy for participating in yesterday evening’s twitterview.  You can visit Kerry’s Blog at http://kerry-mccarthy.blogspot.com.

Thanks to all those who submitted questions, especially Sara Bailey, Ian Ackman, Richard Gogh, George Rathmann, @Peterpanohno, @DannyAElliot, @Mulberrybush @theday2day for their questions which were used in the yesterday evening’s twitterview.

In December we will be twitterviewing the Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.  If you have any questions for Mr Balls you can send them to us by direct message on Twitter @ThinkPolitics or via email info@thinkpolitics.co.uk.