MR
One issue about this story is that ITV News were going to run a story at 6:30pm claiming that Charles Kennedy was seeking treatment for alcoholism. However by making this statement he has pre-empted that story, pretty much making it null and void.
Oh, I bet ITV wish they still had that News Channel in order to broadcast that exclusive story.
Oh, I bet ITV wish they still had that News Channel in order to broadcast that exclusive story.
CW
Charlie Wells
Moderator
Prehaps it's just the way the presenter is speaking, but it sounds like ITV are a bit bitter about Charles Kennedy giving the news conference before ITV were able to break the news.
BB
What?!
Obviously apart from all the other ones that were more revealing and dramatic!
What a load of rubbish!
I don't know why, Nick Robinson really doesn't seem to cut it. He always seems out of his depth, although he shouldn' seeming as he is political editor!
On a different note, Sky had the right idea; Boulton in the studio, Glen O'Glaza at Lib Dem HQ. This meant that Boulton could give analysis straight after the statement. As Robinson was in the press conference, he couldn't do this.
couch_potato posted:
"The most dramatic, revealing statement a party leader has ever made" - Nick Robinson, Six o'clock News.
What?!
Obviously apart from all the other ones that were more revealing and dramatic!
What a load of rubbish!
I don't know why, Nick Robinson really doesn't seem to cut it. He always seems out of his depth, although he shouldn' seeming as he is political editor!
On a different note, Sky had the right idea; Boulton in the studio, Glen O'Glaza at Lib Dem HQ. This meant that Boulton could give analysis straight after the statement. As Robinson was in the press conference, he couldn't do this.
JH
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
couch_potato posted:
"The most dramatic, revealing statement a party leader has ever made" - Nick Robinson, Six o'clock News.
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
GA
Gareth
Founding member
Interesting that the ITV News report about his "drinking problems" appeared to be common knowledge as Nick Robinson mentioned on the Six O'clock news that "Collegues at ITN were ready to run a report regarding Kennedy's treatment for an alcohol related problem" or words to that effect. That or Nick still has insider contacts with ITN
PH
Sky are now reporting that Menzies Campbell will not run against Kennedy, which means things now look much better for him. Meanwhile, one of the 11 who signed this no confidence letter to Kennedy appears to be telling Julie Etchingham that he now does back him, either way he is contradicting himself and not making sense.
SJ
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
No, but a party leader admitting not only that he's had a drinking problem during his tenure, but that he's openly lied and lied again about it during the last 18 months, including during an election campaign, and yet hopes to continue in his job, is pretty extraordinary.
Jonathan H posted:
couch_potato posted:
"The most dramatic, revealing statement a party leader has ever made" - Nick Robinson, Six o'clock News.
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
No, but a party leader admitting not only that he's had a drinking problem during his tenure, but that he's openly lied and lied again about it during the last 18 months, including during an election campaign, and yet hopes to continue in his job, is pretty extraordinary.
RT
rts
Founding member
Not an amazingly flaterring picture on the BBC News front page.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41186000/jpg/_41186806_statement_203index.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41186000/jpg/_41186806_statement_203index.jpg
BR
Back fired big style really on ITV - they got the scoop and their rivals got to reveal the news first.
On the issue of the story though, do you think journalists are right to probe the private life of public figures.
On the one hand he's a leading politician - though not in Government, but on the other this is a private matter and they have the right to deal with it privately.
If it been the papers revealing this it wouldn't surprise me one bit, and though ITV News doing it doesn't surprise me, I'm not that comfortable with it - or any story where people in the public light are basically forced to admit to something they are perhaps not ready to because the media are about to reveal it anyway.
On the issue of the story though, do you think journalists are right to probe the private life of public figures.
On the one hand he's a leading politician - though not in Government, but on the other this is a private matter and they have the right to deal with it privately.
If it been the papers revealing this it wouldn't surprise me one bit, and though ITV News doing it doesn't surprise me, I'm not that comfortable with it - or any story where people in the public light are basically forced to admit to something they are perhaps not ready to because the media are about to reveal it anyway.
LO
Especially when ITV's chief political correspondent is Charles Kennedy's former press secretary.
Brekkie Boy posted:
If it been the papers revealing this it wouldn't surprise me one bit, and though ITV News doing it doesn't surprise me, I'm not that comfortable with it - or any story where people in the public light are basically forced to admit to something they are perhaps not ready to because the media are about to reveal it anyway.
Especially when ITV's chief political correspondent is Charles Kennedy's former press secretary.
JH
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
No, but a party leader admitting not only that he's had a drinking problem during his tenure, but that he's openly lied and lied again about it during the last 18 months, including during an election campaign, and yet hopes to continue in his job, is pretty extraordinary.
True, but Major and Currie ? For all those years ? As the Prime Minister ? Just think of that. On second thoughts, it's not a pretty mental picture, is it?
tillyoshea posted:
Jonathan H posted:
couch_potato posted:
"The most dramatic, revealing statement a party leader has ever made" - Nick Robinson, Six o'clock News.
Surely it's going to be hard to beat the Major/Currie revelations as a dramatic and revealing statement? A party leader with a drink problem is hardly the sensation of the century, is it?
No, but a party leader admitting not only that he's had a drinking problem during his tenure, but that he's openly lied and lied again about it during the last 18 months, including during an election campaign, and yet hopes to continue in his job, is pretty extraordinary.
True, but Major and Currie ? For all those years ? As the Prime Minister ? Just think of that. On second thoughts, it's not a pretty mental picture, is it?