What a great interview. I had the pleasure to meet Douglas Alexander as a constituent when I lived in Paisley in 2006-2008. I was an Army HR officer at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow. My issue was immensely frustrating and he fully understood my concerns and issues and promised me he would peruse the issue and get back to me, which he did within a few weeks. I have nothing but respect for him and he came across as a caring and very honest guy. I’m so pleased he’s back in the mix at government even if it is a government that promised very little at all in their manifesto. He will be in the cabinet in the future I’m sure and they will make better decisions due to his experience and fortitude. He really is a class act and I’m not a labour voter. Great insightful interview guys, thank you so much.
Something that's said a lot, particularly by Starmer/Blair-ites, as well as tories and again there with DA, is that Corbynism was a disaster. However, there's never been a deep-dive or analysis beyond a personal dislike for JC or whatever he stands for. On your next Q&A or even next podcast or Leading interview is this something that you guys could go into? Loved the show as always
@@JK192837 It is yes. But why then did Labour go on to receive even fewer votes four and a half years later. I think all fair minded people believe that the CPS should have presented the evidence including names and messages etc regarding the anti-Semitic allegations. These were never forthcoming, which gives credence to the argument that it was personal dislike. After all, there have been anti-Semitic marches each Saturday in London for the past year, and nobody seems to care. The inconsistency is another point in Corbyn's corner.
I’m no Corbynite, never was. But he was probably more of a true Socialist than the present leaders, and he was certainly experienced in the ways of government. But he was naive and, not the best person to lead the party. But it’s easy to exaggerate the negative effect he had on Labour. The schism started long before he became leader.
@@buzzukfiftythree How was he experienced in the ways of government? He never held a government position. Indeed, he had never even held a commitee chair position before. Corbyn was always on the sidelines which I think is where he preferred to be IMO
@@JK192837 A disaster brought about largely by the single issue of Brexit, internal anti-Corbyn wrangling within the Labour Party - and decided wider efforts to get rid of him. Even considering 2019 a disaster - Labour only achieved 0.8% more of the vote this time around, and 11% less of the vote than 2017. It was anti-tory hate that got Starmer in this time - nothing to do with his 'changed party' narrative - which continues to ignore the chronic islamophobia, and even treatment of Jewish members within the Labour party who don't conform to a certain view. Corbyn's downfall was the disaster - and from 2016 it was constantly attempted by elites within the Labour party who were horrified at the notion of a truly left-wing leader accountable to members directly.
How revealing. You can really see how these people have bigger loyalties to each other than they ever could to the people they're supposed to represent.
I know someone who was a civil servant (now retired) who would sometimes be in the same room as Gordon Brown and like Brown, is partially sighted. Partially sighted people sometimes accidentally blank people purely because they're on their blind side. One thing he did say was that Brown fizzled with intelligence and was the most decent politician he'd ever encountered whether Labour or Tory. He said some politicians treat civil servants like dirt (I won't name names but MPs on both side of the spectrum) . A lot of politicians hide their disabilities. FDR for instance. Voters can be put off by disability. In general there's fear around disability, maybe fear of saying the wrong thing, sometimes just bigotry.
Great conversation and i agree with them about BREXIT but i am genuinely shocked by the naivety of Alistair and Rory in relation to the challenges ahead in forging ahead in repairing the European relationship, Especially with their experiences in government. It will be a long and slow process to repair the damage that has been caused!
I totally agree. I am as strong a Remainer as the next. However, Starmer does not want a divisive re-run of the past 8 years. We have to work with the hand we're given, as ridiculous as Brexit was, and build a better UK/EU relationship. It can be done with the will.
I don’t think it’s as bad as it seems on the surface. The EU is facing a lot of internal issues and relationship struggles; the direct relations between the UK and Germany/France/Italy are still strong. If we were rejoin the single market and a form of free movement, it would be very beneficial to both sides and there’s no reason why that can’t happen. We don’t necessarily need total integration to see the economic benefits of EU membership
Mr Alexander appears to be honest, respectful, principled and a really good public servant…I admire him greatly and politics is better for his involvement IMO…
@@TimComley He argues coherently, inoffensively and with courtesy, whether you or I agree with his politics, well that is another matter. However, his oratory skills and sharp mind place him way ahead of a great many of our current crop of politicians who can't even ask the prime minister a question without needing to read it from a crumpled piece of paper!
@@johnnierainey01 It appeared to me that he was avoiding telling the truth for much of the interview. For instance, he didn't give a real answer when asked by Rory about Labour's dismissal of the EU's offer for young workers. The timing mght have been wrong, but to not accept the proposal now seems childish. Where my father lives there are many pubs and some shops who do not open on Mondays and Tuesdays simply because they cannot get staff to cover those shifts. Extra manpower in those areas would benefit that local economy.
Mr. Alexander seems like a lovely, thoughtful fellow. I am not the least bit religious and never got to hear MLK speak - I was too young. But I too had a tear in my eye when Obama was elected. I didn't think I would live to see that here in the US.
I like Rory, but i do find that when he does a interview he keeps asking a question, wanting it to be answered in a certain way and he keeps asking it till he gets it answered the way he wants, and then gets almost annoyed when it doesnt happen that way.
A great interview but very disappointed in his comment re Corbanism. Jeremy got 40% in 2017. He was defeated by one of British politics most infamous charlatans. The claim that Corban was anti Semitic and that the party was riddled with that sentiment has been shown to be totally scurrilous. I listened to a recent podcast which made the point that 1% of the British population owns 50% of the land and wealth. Unless wealth is restributed fairly embedded social issues will persist.
@@davidparish2343 You're quoting a Novara Media podcast; I listened to the same one, it's drivel. 'Most land is owned by 1% of the population' is just another way of saying 'most people don't own a farm anymore, given it's the 21st century'. It has literally nothing to do with inequality
If nothing else Mhairi Black ensured Douglas Alexander is guaranteed to be remembered in the history books - Even as a Unionist I was saddened by her decision to stand down after 9 years representing Paisley, because She'd grown from a young ned who resembled a student union politician; to a very effective orator, who would likely have been snp party leader within a decade - I suspect she could've beaten Swinney easily, and probably stood a good chance against Humza Yousaff & kate forbes
@@thescotlandfan3977why is this community so vehemently anti independence and SNP? It feels like a genuinely unfair and disingenuous bias compared to the otherwise healthy mix of opinions and views I see here
@@thescotlandfan3977 in that case sorry. It’s something Iv noticed a lot from Rory and Alastair outside of maybe 1 or 2 SNP politicians, and the comments are always a bit of an echo chamber with no real conversation when it comes to both issues. Your’s just happened to be the comment that I finally responded to
Great interview! It would be great to see you guys cover how UK foreign policy strategy towards the Global South has shifted overtime in light of the rise of South-South cooperation symbolised best by groups such as Brics and Arab league. For example if you think about the influence UK has in Africa in 1997 when New Labour came into power versus now, UK seems to be second tier power rivalled by China, the US, the EU (mainly Germany, France and the Netherlands)and even countries such as UAE.
As a Texan American. I truly appreciate the candor, insight. & humility that this man offers- even as Rory pokes at him incessantly! Wonderful guest, TRIP crew!
Something that Douglas Alexander forgets is that Labour won the election with less votes than Jeremy Corbin got. And that a great number of people voted tactically - me included. But the disappointment of Starmer's "not in my lifetime" rhetoric re the common market and customs union has alienated me already, and I can't see me voting Labour again. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.
The Labour Party has now occupied the middle right since the tories vacated it for right wing animal it has become. Labour are now nothing more than pound shop tories. They don't call them the red tories for nothing in certain quarters.... And there are more than a few reasons as to why it has stuck. Look at this guy and tell me you don't see a age out over grown tory boy.. With all his talk of the free market, not withstanding
Brown was anti car, this was because he had to give up driving after his eye injury. That's why Labour were so stubbornly anti car during their first 4 years in government.
Enjoyed listening to this interview, a very sensible and reasonable politician (and lawyer). As a “natural” conservative I am heartened that there are grown ups back in the cabinet.
Just remember that Alexander also voted to go to war with Iraq without the UN mandate. He's as Blairite as they come hence the reason why he was given a safe seat to contest in the recent election.
@@DavidWatson-w7x By voting with the government he enabled Blair and Alastair Campbell to engage in an illegal war with disastrous consequences. He had the chance to do the right thing, and chose not to. I hope he loses his seat at the next election.
@@roydini1 Robin Cook was the only cabinet minister who resigned over it. Everyone else in the cabinet voted for it, including Gordon Brown (and other prominent people like David Cameron)
America has boomed because it has talked a good game of free markets for everyone else meanwhile it has backed its IT sector to the hilt. Private money has followed gov investment not led it. We need to learn that lesson.
Also, since it is the UNGA this week, any thoughts on role the UN in Global peace and security and how a renewed push for greater representation of the Global South in the UNSC is being pushed. What are thoughts on agenda to reform global governance system?
I disagree with Douglas when he says they have a credible plan for the next 5 years. There is no path to growth or a plan without a closer trading relationship with EU, none.
Eurozone in 2007 included the UK and now it doesn't. Also fun fact Douglas Alexander nearly landed on my bonnet (his fault) when he was crossing a filter lane in Manchester city centre during a Labour party conference.
I like Rorys line of questioning in general but it's nice to hear an upbringing question that isn't him raising his hands behind his head and saying 'let's take things back', rolls his hands around 'what was it like growing up x y z'
@FireflyOnTheMoon he words it almost identically every time and it just sounds a bit odd. All his other questions are great but that one always seems weird whereas the way Alistair asked the same kinda thing in this episode was better
@@boringjonny I think that as one does these interviews more and more, one establishes a pattern of questions and terms. It's normal. I've much respect for him, but I think the bigger issue is that he consistently reveals his political antenna to be off whenever he starts engaging in a conversation about strategy. He's just not a political animal.
Another good interview - Alexander was very interesting on the historical questions, not so good on the live issues of Europe and the bind they've got themselves into by promising not to raise taxes. His dodge of Rory's question on tax was actually quite unkind.
I’m privileged to have seen Douglas profess at NYUAD during our J-Term. Glad to see a man of his intellectual caliber back in the commons. You should have seen the looks on my colleague’s faces when they tried the Tunnocks Teacakes he gave us for the first time. It was a combination of confusion and delight.
Good luck winning the Red Wall back if you intend to ban smoking in pub gardens and public pavements. If that policy is introduced and goes through, you will lose those voters for life, never mind a generation. Currently, the only advantage of Labour is that they are not the Tories. That is it.
I like him and I dont always agree with Rory's questions but actually the tax and custom union questions were perfectly fair points and he did the annoying political thing of answering the question he wanted to answer. My guess is that its cos they plan to make moves on those two points but dont want to announce it. But who knows.
In the long term, membership of the CPTPP will benefit the UK economy by 0.08% according the Chatham House (CH) and the OBR. Compare that to the 4% (OBR) lost from Brexit and that the UK is a net loser from the trade deals negotiated so far (CH) surely it's a no brainer that if you want to enhance more rapidly the UK economy rejoining the single market (M) and custom's union (CU) has to be a top priority. Labour's belief that it can somehow succeed where the Tories failed in somehow melting the barrier that is the SM & CU is surely naïve at best and arrogant at worse especially as, according to .GOV & CH the overriding aim of the CPTPP membership is not economic growth but for the UK to globally influence international trade especially in the growing and emerging markets laughable surely by the big 3.
@@Bobisalive Why turning off the phone or to making unfair comments? A&R both constantly look at their phones while recording and are clearly not listening to each other or following the conversation. It should be no blasted hardship to turn off or put away their phones for an hour. I think it's uncharitable to someone trying to speak honestly and straight forwardly to call them "earnest". It's one of those words, like "worthy" that says more about the speaker than the target.
All I remember of Douglas Alexander is that years ago he always spoke like the very worst kind of boring machine politician. I found him unbearable to listen to. He never seemed to speak from himself. Maybe time out from politics has changed him (as a politician) for the better, I have no idea.
An opinion £700K inheritance: It’s enough to buy a home and pay off the £100,000 university debt, on the great scheme of things, it’s not a lot of money compared to £10 million, £70 million or more high value homes in London owned through tax havens. Should set inheritance tax threshold at £5 million like USA not the 1980s nonsense £350K and that way small farms and SME’s would not always vote Tory Or untaxed posh boys who didn’t remortgage for next 30+ years Mayfair and the 100,000+ acres land and quarries etc Paid virtually ni inheritance tax on £9 billion to £13 billion parked under Grosvenor Estates, ‘not my Bentley, I’m just borrowing from the trust, Grosvenor Estates. Rachel looked after her mates and he tories’ mates in her budget while hitting low hanging fruit. £2.7 trillion estimates parked in off shore tax haven offices vis legal instruments, nominee name companies, shell companies, trusts… see tax lawyers and tax accountants offices in British Virgin Islands, Belize, caymans, Isle of Man et al… holding that £70 million boltons mansion home in Kensington & Chelsea Don’t worry most peasants in UK outside of London won’t notice and don’t know anything eh? www.theguardian.com/money/2016/aug/11/inheritance-tax-why-the-new-duke-of-westminster-will-not-pay-billions
If he loses heart we really need this sort of energy, passion and intellect in Canada. Mark Carney needs help. This interview fills me with vicarious Scots hubris.
To be honest, I am rapidly becoming sick to death with politics and politicians (especially the male variety and, before you ask, I am male). Self-important, self-opinionated, arrogant, narcissistic, over-confident and, all too frequently downright dishonest). Douglas Alexander seems to be the exception. I’ve supported Labour all my life and could never vote Tory. But I am feeling frustrated at the moment with the present government and the mixed messages we’re getting from them. I hope I’m proved wrong; the thought of more upheaval in the country (or even worse another Tory government) is just about more than I can bear. However, they have been in power less than 4 months - it is far too early to make judgements on the effectiveness of the Labour government as some are doing.
It seems Rory and Alastair do not respect the British people's decision on Brexit. Economically, it may have been the greatest single act of self-harm since WW2. Still, it was a decision made by a nation whose population was in thrall to a jingoistic idea of a historical Britain led by bulldog Churchilian figures who lead the world from the standpoint of glorious isolation. The nation needs time to come to reality, to find, by a series of hard knocks, its place in the world. Brexit, from that point of view, is a period of introspection for our country, we can no longer blame everything on the EU, we have to own our country's failings and slowly come 'round from the hangover of 300 years of empire, exceptionalism and entitlement. It's a process that will span many years, perhaps decades, rushing back to embrace the customs union or the single market, as Rory and Alastair are gagging to do, seems disrespectful, it doesn't give the country the time it needs to separate from the fantasies of the past.
Sorry to say I could only stomach three or four minutes of this interview. I found Alexander a sanctimonious, self congratulatory little creep, telling us what a principled, caring individual he is. I'm a self confessed cynic which means I can't take what people say at face value. Saville, Princess Diana, Blair, Branson, Anita Roddick....these are/were people that always told us how caring they are/were. And yet their actions speak/spoke differently. Alexander voted for taking Britain into the Iraq war and voted against investigations into the Iraq war. He truly is a Blairite/Cambpellite.....if such a word exists!
Less people vote in a landslide election, it's not rocket science. If it's basically guaranteed who will win, most people won't go out and vote. It's not really proving much.
And John Major got more votes in 1991 than Blair in 1997, Thatcher in 1987, Attlee in 1945 etc etc. Raw vote tallies are a stupid way of juding a leaders competence.
Enormously.presumptive.for RS to assume a loss of faith as the going in position. Why might one assume so? A more neutral question would be a better interviewing technique.
What a great interview. I had the pleasure to meet Douglas Alexander as a constituent when I lived in Paisley in 2006-2008. I was an Army HR officer at the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow.
My issue was immensely frustrating and he fully understood my concerns and issues and promised me he would peruse the issue and get back to me, which he did within a few weeks.
I have nothing but respect for him and he came across as a caring and very honest guy. I’m so pleased he’s back in the mix at government even if it is a government that promised very little at all in their manifesto.
He will be in the cabinet in the future I’m sure and they will make better decisions due to his experience and fortitude. He really is a class act and I’m not a labour voter.
Great insightful interview guys, thank you so much.
Great respect for Douglas - huge strategic mind. Really like him.
Its a joy to listen to educated, pleasant intelligent people
Can you share a link?
@@donrayjaythat cracked me up
Shame whenever alastair opens his mouth
Something that's said a lot, particularly by Starmer/Blair-ites, as well as tories and again there with DA, is that Corbynism was a disaster. However, there's never been a deep-dive or analysis beyond a personal dislike for JC or whatever he stands for. On your next Q&A or even next podcast or Leading interview is this something that you guys could go into? Loved the show as always
Is the worst Labour defeat in nearly 100 years not a disaster? (For a Labour leader at least)
@@JK192837 It is yes. But why then did Labour go on to receive even fewer votes four and a half years later.
I think all fair minded people believe that the CPS should have presented the evidence including names and messages etc regarding the anti-Semitic allegations. These were never forthcoming, which gives credence to the argument that it was personal dislike.
After all, there have been anti-Semitic marches each Saturday in London for the past year, and nobody seems to care. The inconsistency is another point in Corbyn's corner.
I’m no Corbynite, never was. But he was probably more of a true Socialist than the present leaders, and he was certainly experienced in the ways of government. But he was naive and, not the best person to lead the party. But it’s easy to exaggerate the negative effect he had on Labour. The schism started long before he became leader.
@@buzzukfiftythree How was he experienced in the ways of government? He never held a government position. Indeed, he had never even held a commitee chair position before. Corbyn was always on the sidelines which I think is where he preferred to be IMO
@@JK192837 A disaster brought about largely by the single issue of Brexit, internal anti-Corbyn wrangling within the Labour Party - and decided wider efforts to get rid of him. Even considering 2019 a disaster - Labour only achieved 0.8% more of the vote this time around, and 11% less of the vote than 2017. It was anti-tory hate that got Starmer in this time - nothing to do with his 'changed party' narrative - which continues to ignore the chronic islamophobia, and even treatment of Jewish members within the Labour party who don't conform to a certain view. Corbyn's downfall was the disaster - and from 2016 it was constantly attempted by elites within the Labour party who were horrified at the notion of a truly left-wing leader accountable to members directly.
How revealing. You can really see how these people have bigger loyalties to each other than they ever could to the people they're supposed to represent.
Is that not entirely natural?
What an eloquent man Douglas Alexander is. Thoroughly enjoyed the interview. Many thanks.
I know someone who was a civil servant (now retired) who would sometimes be in the same room as Gordon Brown and like Brown, is partially sighted. Partially sighted people sometimes accidentally blank people purely because they're on their blind side. One thing he did say was that Brown fizzled with intelligence and was the most decent politician he'd ever encountered whether Labour or Tory. He said some politicians treat civil servants like dirt (I won't name names but MPs on both side of the spectrum) . A lot of politicians hide their disabilities. FDR for instance. Voters can be put off by disability. In general there's fear around disability, maybe fear of saying the wrong thing, sometimes just bigotry.
Well done boys, great interview. You do make me smile Rory, cheers.
Really enjoyed the show. Top stuff, chaps. Keep fighting the greater fight.
Great conversation and i agree with them about BREXIT but i am genuinely shocked by the naivety of Alistair and Rory in relation to the challenges ahead in forging ahead in repairing the European relationship, Especially with their experiences in government. It will be a long and slow process to repair the damage that has been caused!
I totally agree. I am as strong a Remainer as the next. However, Starmer does not want a divisive re-run of the past 8 years. We have to work with the hand we're given, as ridiculous as Brexit was, and build a better UK/EU relationship. It can be done with the will.
I don’t think it’s as bad as it seems on the surface. The EU is facing a lot of internal issues and relationship struggles; the direct relations between the UK and Germany/France/Italy are still strong. If we were rejoin the single market and a form of free movement, it would be very beneficial to both sides and there’s no reason why that can’t happen. We don’t necessarily need total integration to see the economic benefits of EU membership
And I don’t think it’s necessary for us to concede on regulation/legislation for economic gain. Join the single market and bosh
Mr Alexander appears to be honest, respectful, principled and a really good public servant…I admire him greatly and politics is better for his involvement IMO…
Oh how British politics has missed Douglas Alexander's intellect. Whatever your political leaning, he still has much to offer.
🤣🤣🤣
@@Alan59-n9d Glad you agree!
Not to me he doesn’t
@@TimComley He argues coherently, inoffensively and with courtesy, whether you or I agree with his politics, well that is another matter. However, his oratory skills and sharp mind place him way ahead of a great many of our current crop of politicians who can't even ask the prime minister a question without needing to read it from a crumpled piece of paper!
@@johnnierainey01 It appeared to me that he was avoiding telling the truth for much of the interview. For instance, he didn't give a real answer when asked by Rory about Labour's dismissal of the EU's offer for young workers. The timing mght have been wrong, but to not accept the proposal now seems childish. Where my father lives there are many pubs and some shops who do not open on Mondays and Tuesdays simply because they cannot get staff to cover those shifts. Extra manpower in those areas would benefit that local economy.
Mr. Alexander seems like a lovely, thoughtful fellow. I am not the least bit religious and never got to hear MLK speak - I was too young. But I too had a tear in my eye when Obama was elected. I didn't think I would live to see that here in the US.
Dougie is on cracking form..we've missed you..
I like Rory, but i do find that when he does a interview he keeps asking a question, wanting it to be answered in a certain way and he keeps asking it till he gets it answered the way he wants, and then gets almost annoyed when it doesnt happen that way.
A great interview but very disappointed in his comment re Corbanism. Jeremy got 40% in 2017. He was defeated by one of British politics most infamous charlatans. The claim that Corban was anti Semitic and that the party was riddled with that sentiment has been shown to be totally scurrilous. I listened to a recent podcast which made the point that 1% of the British population owns 50% of the land and wealth. Unless wealth is restributed fairly embedded social issues will persist.
@@davidparish2343 Corban is anti-semitic or pretending to be, apart from that I agree with the other things you said
Rory gets flack for not pushing hard and for pushing too hard.
@@FireflyOnTheMoon ....that's not what I said... but maybe english isn't your first language.
@@davidparish2343 You're quoting a Novara Media podcast; I listened to the same one, it's drivel. 'Most land is owned by 1% of the population' is just another way of saying 'most people don't own a farm anymore, given it's the 21st century'. It has literally nothing to do with inequality
Douglas is the type of person who should be in parliament
The reference to "politics on both sides of the Channel" is one of the most astute remarks made by a British observer of Brexit in a long time.
Fascinating episode. It shows more examples of how low quality the 2010 - 2024 tory govt were & how stupid their decisions were too
If nothing else Mhairi Black ensured Douglas Alexander is guaranteed to be remembered in the history books - Even as a Unionist I was saddened by her decision to stand down after 9 years representing Paisley, because She'd grown from a young ned who resembled a student union politician; to a very effective orator, who would likely have been snp party leader within a decade - I suspect she could've beaten Swinney easily, and probably stood a good chance against Humza Yousaff & kate forbes
Mhari Black as SNP leader would have put the final nail in the party’s coffin.
@@thescotlandfan3977why is this community so vehemently anti independence and SNP? It feels like a genuinely unfair and disingenuous bias compared to the otherwise healthy mix of opinions and views I see here
@@enemystand2981 as a Scottish independence supporter I just feel her as FM would have ruined our chances of any success after the humza yousaf era.
@@thescotlandfan3977 in that case sorry. It’s something Iv noticed a lot from Rory and Alastair outside of maybe 1 or 2 SNP politicians, and the comments are always a bit of an echo chamber with no real conversation when it comes to both issues.
Your’s just happened to be the comment that I finally responded to
Is “go back to your constituency’s and prepare for government “ the funniest and most mistaken quote ever by a politician at an election?😃✌️❤️🇬🇧
Best ever!
What a great man. I wish he was PM.
Politicians today, apart from a few are not in the same class as a were.
Great interview! It would be great to see you guys cover how UK foreign policy strategy towards the Global South has shifted overtime in light of the rise of South-South cooperation symbolised best by groups such as Brics and Arab league. For example if you think about the influence UK has in Africa in 1997 when New Labour came into power versus now, UK seems to be second tier power rivalled by China, the US, the EU (mainly Germany, France and the Netherlands)and even countries such as UAE.
As a Texan American. I truly appreciate the candor, insight. & humility that this man offers- even as Rory pokes at him incessantly! Wonderful guest, TRIP crew!
Something that Douglas Alexander forgets is that Labour won the election with less votes than Jeremy Corbin got. And that a great number of people voted tactically - me included. But the disappointment of Starmer's "not in my lifetime" rhetoric re the common market and customs union has alienated me already, and I can't see me voting Labour again. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.
I think the 'never Tory' manta has been expanded to 'never Tory nor Labour'.
@@lukedaniels7750
LOL! Yes, I think that's exactly right.
The Labour Party has now occupied the middle right since the tories vacated it for right wing animal it has become.
Labour are now nothing more than pound shop tories. They don't call them the red tories for nothing in certain quarters.... And there are more than a few reasons as to why it has stuck.
Look at this guy and tell me you don't see a age out over grown tory boy.. With all his talk of the free market, not withstanding
Brown was anti car, this was because he had to give up driving after his eye injury. That's why Labour were so stubbornly anti car during their first 4 years in government.
Enjoyed listening to this interview, a very sensible and reasonable politician (and lawyer).
As a “natural” conservative I am heartened that there are grown ups back in the cabinet.
This was recorded prior to news starmer had his hand in the cookie jar
Just remember that Alexander also voted to go to war with Iraq without the UN mandate. He's as Blairite as they come hence the reason why he was given a safe seat to contest in the recent election.
Yes but he did indicate some regrets about not speaking up louder on those issues to his credit.
@@DavidWatson-w7x By voting with the government he enabled Blair and Alastair Campbell to engage in an illegal war with disastrous consequences. He had the chance to do the right thing, and chose not to. I hope he loses his seat at the next election.
Ofcourse he voted for it, he was a cabinet minister
@@KevenHutchinson-gt1nn so was Robin Cook.
@@roydini1 Robin Cook was the only cabinet minister who resigned over it. Everyone else in the cabinet voted for it, including Gordon Brown (and other prominent people like David Cameron)
sorry - 16 years, the other 6 I served as a councillor on Greenock Corporation
I guess ex-politicians would make good dodgy car sales men...
America has boomed because it has talked a good game of free markets for everyone else meanwhile it has backed its IT sector to the hilt. Private money has followed gov investment not led it. We need to learn that lesson.
Also, since it is the UNGA this week, any thoughts on role the UN in Global peace and security and how a renewed push for greater representation of the Global South in the UNSC is being pushed. What are thoughts on agenda to reform global governance system?
get Corbyn on!
😂
I don't think they want to give a platform to extremists
He would make them look like clowns, so probs not!
I disagree with Douglas when he says they have a credible plan for the next 5 years. There is no path to growth or a plan without a closer trading relationship with EU, none.
Eurozone in 2007 included the UK and now it doesn't. Also fun fact Douglas Alexander nearly landed on my bonnet (his fault) when he was crossing a filter lane in Manchester city centre during a Labour party conference.
Eurozone are those countries that use the euro, so never included the UK
Gordon Brown and Rishi Sunak are two textbook examples of why the best Chancellors dont make the best Prime Ministers.
Interesting interview. Glad Douglas has decided to come back into politics. Sounds like the sort of MP we need.
I like Rorys line of questioning in general but it's nice to hear an upbringing question that isn't him raising his hands behind his head and saying 'let's take things back', rolls his hands around 'what was it like growing up x y z'
why?
@FireflyOnTheMoon he words it almost identically every time and it just sounds a bit odd. All his other questions are great but that one always seems weird whereas the way Alistair asked the same kinda thing in this episode was better
@@boringjonny I think that as one does these interviews more and more, one establishes a pattern of questions and terms. It's normal. I've much respect for him, but I think the bigger issue is that he consistently reveals his political antenna to be off whenever he starts engaging in a conversation about strategy. He's just not a political animal.
This man is far too decent to be a politician.
A fine example of a useless Labour MP in Scotland who lost because he was useless, accept from climbing the greases pole.
@@eightiesmusic1984 Did you understand the point ? English my second language.
@@eightiesmusic1984 Did i say i spelt it incorrectly ?
Another good interview - Alexander was very interesting on the historical questions, not so good on the live issues of Europe and the bind they've got themselves into by promising not to raise taxes. His dodge of Rory's question on tax was actually quite unkind.
Two weeks on from this interview & the first 100 days of the new Labour gov isn’t going very well their ratings are in the toilet.
I’ve played this 3 times as a podcast and I still haven’t stayed awake long enough to get to the end. 😅
Was my MP for many years...very poor, never said anything of any substance in all that time. Mhairi Black said more in 10 mins than he did in years.
Just cannot watch this, I feel so much hatred towards Campbell for all the lies and the damage he caused our once great country!!
Fell out. ? They were never friends
Wow that was pretty bad i felt, the only vesion is be in government......profit
Career politician blah blah
I’m privileged to have seen Douglas profess at NYUAD during our J-Term. Glad to see a man of his intellectual caliber back in the commons.
You should have seen the looks on my colleague’s faces when they tried the Tunnocks Teacakes he gave us for the first time. It was a combination of confusion and delight.
Can you list his achievments as a MP ?
Haha Tunnocks tea cakes! Sure he’s complicit in the deaths of thousands, but he does some stuff that twee people find funny!
@@andrewmason1 Ikr. He’s twee too.
Good luck winning the Red Wall back if you intend to ban smoking in pub gardens and public pavements. If that policy is introduced and goes through, you will lose those voters for life, never mind a generation. Currently, the only advantage of Labour is that they are not the Tories. That is it.
I like him and I dont always agree with Rory's questions but actually the tax and custom union questions were perfectly fair points and he did the annoying political thing of answering the question he wanted to answer. My guess is that its cos they plan to make moves on those two points but dont want to announce it. But who knows.
In the long term, membership of the CPTPP will benefit the UK economy by 0.08% according the Chatham House (CH) and the OBR.
Compare that to the 4% (OBR) lost from Brexit and that the UK is a net loser from the trade deals negotiated so far (CH) surely it's a no brainer that if you want to enhance more rapidly the UK economy rejoining the single market (M) and custom's union (CU) has to be a top priority.
Labour's belief that it can somehow succeed where the Tories failed in somehow melting the barrier that is the SM & CU is surely naïve at best and arrogant at worse especially as, according to .GOV & CH the overriding aim of the CPTPP membership is not economic growth but for the UK to globally influence international trade especially in the growing and emerging markets laughable surely by the big 3.
Not really fair to call a straight forward bloke "earnest". Rory, turn off your bloody phone
@@FireflyOnTheMoon why?
@@Bobisalive Why turning off the phone or to making unfair comments? A&R both constantly look at their phones while recording and are clearly not listening to each other or following the conversation. It should be no blasted hardship to turn off or put away their phones for an hour.
I think it's uncharitable to someone trying to speak honestly and straight forwardly to call them "earnest". It's one of those words, like "worthy" that says more about the speaker than the target.
Rory's right but he also seems naive to the fact that all politics is short-term politics
All I remember of Douglas Alexander is that years ago he always spoke like the very worst kind of boring machine politician. I found him unbearable to listen to. He never seemed to speak from himself. Maybe time out from politics has changed him (as a politician) for the better, I have no idea.
An opinion
£700K inheritance: It’s enough to buy a home and pay off the £100,000 university debt, on the great scheme of things, it’s not a lot of money compared to £10 million, £70 million or more high value homes in London owned through tax havens.
Should set inheritance tax threshold at £5 million like USA not the 1980s nonsense £350K and that way small farms and SME’s would not always vote Tory
Or untaxed posh boys who didn’t remortgage for next 30+ years Mayfair and the 100,000+ acres land and quarries etc
Paid virtually ni inheritance tax on £9 billion to £13 billion parked under Grosvenor Estates, ‘not my Bentley, I’m just borrowing from the trust, Grosvenor Estates.
Rachel looked after her mates and he tories’ mates in her budget while hitting low hanging fruit.
£2.7 trillion estimates parked in off shore tax haven offices vis legal instruments, nominee name companies, shell companies, trusts… see tax lawyers and tax accountants offices in British Virgin Islands, Belize, caymans, Isle of Man et al… holding that £70 million boltons mansion home in Kensington & Chelsea
Don’t worry most peasants in UK outside of London won’t notice and don’t know anything eh?
www.theguardian.com/money/2016/aug/11/inheritance-tax-why-the-new-duke-of-westminster-will-not-pay-billions
These politicians are like turds that wont flush. Do nothing but make out they've changed the world. They're all in the club. It's pathetic.
Yeah, thanks for everything you have done for our country. What we need is more trolling on TH-cam and you are making a start here.
Douglas who?
Rory Stewart Scottish first minister well hopefully one wee day
If he loses heart we really need this sort of energy, passion and intellect in Canada. Mark Carney needs help. This interview fills me with vicarious Scots hubris.
Funny how Alistair always says "when we were in power", when he's never been elected in his life.
he was a central part of the team
But he was a member of the Labour Party at the time and involved in decision making. So seems reasonable to me that he talks about it as 'we'.
@@buzzukfiftythree I non-elected, making the decisions. Sounds about right!
52:07 "Thanks for watching" the editor clearly wasn't. 🤣
Resign.
To be honest, I am rapidly becoming sick to death with politics and politicians (especially the male variety and, before you ask, I am male). Self-important, self-opinionated, arrogant, narcissistic, over-confident and, all too frequently downright dishonest). Douglas Alexander seems to be the exception. I’ve supported Labour all my life and could never vote Tory. But I am feeling frustrated at the moment with the present government and the mixed messages we’re getting from them. I hope I’m proved wrong; the thought of more upheaval in the country (or even worse another Tory government) is just about more than I can bear. However, they have been in power less than 4 months - it is far too early to make judgements on the effectiveness of the Labour government as some are doing.
So everything he ever achieved was because of nepotism. That's the most tory backstory I have ever heard!
He has such plastic, manufactured talking points. He didn't seem genuine for a moment despite trying so hard to
He 's as "tailored" as a "hooky-street suit".
All of “Scottish” Labour are like that.
It just seems to an outsider, that the Labour party is too afraid of the leave voters to bring meaningful change.
Yeah.. it’s almost like they’re respecting the uks biggest ever democratic vote
Probably the first episode in which the title of the video ends up not being discussed. Clickbait?!
It seems Rory and Alastair do not respect the British people's decision on Brexit. Economically, it may have been the greatest single act of self-harm since WW2. Still, it was a decision made by a nation whose population was in thrall to a jingoistic idea of a historical Britain led by bulldog Churchilian figures who lead the world from the standpoint of glorious isolation. The nation needs time to come to reality, to find, by a series of hard knocks, its place in the world. Brexit, from that point of view, is a period of introspection for our country, we can no longer blame everything on the EU, we have to own our country's failings and slowly come 'round from the hangover of 300 years of empire, exceptionalism and entitlement. It's a process that will span many years, perhaps decades, rushing back to embrace the customs union or the single market, as Rory and Alastair are gagging to do, seems disrespectful, it doesn't give the country the time it needs to separate from the fantasies of the past.
An insane accent
Most middle class.Scots have this accent!
Sorry to say I could only stomach three or four minutes of this interview. I found Alexander a sanctimonious, self congratulatory little creep, telling us what a principled, caring individual he is. I'm a self confessed cynic which means I can't take what people say at face value. Saville, Princess Diana, Blair, Branson, Anita Roddick....these are/were people that always told us how caring they are/were. And yet their actions speak/spoke differently. Alexander voted for taking Britain into the Iraq war and voted against investigations into the Iraq war. He truly is a Blairite/Cambpellite.....if such a word exists!
Yuk, a one hour audition for a ministerial role filled with a self serving account of history filled with name dropping.
rory telling the labour party that they cant raise wealth....they could normalise you and people like you...
Weekly reminder that Jeremy Corbyn got more votes in 2017 and 2019 than Kier Starmer did in 2024. 40:03
I agree, nobody would talk about Corbyn in this way under a fairer electoral system
Yeah, but our voting system doesn’t work this way. This is actually exactly the problem with Corbyn - all dreams, no reality.
Corbyn was good at piling up the votes in safe Labour seats. That strategy does not win elections.
Less people vote in a landslide election, it's not rocket science.
If it's basically guaranteed who will win, most people won't go out and vote.
It's not really proving much.
And John Major got more votes in 1991 than Blair in 1997, Thatcher in 1987, Attlee in 1945 etc etc. Raw vote tallies are a stupid way of juding a leaders competence.
Enormously.presumptive.for RS to assume a loss of faith as the going in position. Why might one assume so? A more neutral question would be a better interviewing technique.