@John Schembri
How can people set an agenda. They have neither the voice nor the time to research the facts behind the political statements. Paxman’s line of question is considered aggressive (it is also very, very funny) but it is also known to bring out the true facts of the matter. Watching a politician squirm as he tries to avoid answering the question, tells the public a lot about what is really happening. They can then truly start setting the agenda.
Yes Paxman is a showman.he plays by the rules of the game. but do not be fooled . he has a razor-sharp brain which is why politicians dare to come near him. If a minister gets out of a Paxman interview unscathed, you can be sure he will receive plaudits from one and all.
One of the jobs of a journalist is to keep a politician’s feet firmly on the ground. In Roman times when a victor was allowed a victory procession, the man holding the crown of laurels above his head would constantly whisper in his ear ‘remember you are mortal’
Then again British politicians are used to teh rough and tumble of politics. Indeed the system is based on this concept. A curious fact is that when Winston Churchill designed the current House of Commons,he not only insisted that the government and opposition face each other as in a boxing ring,but he also insisted that there should be less seats then politicians. it was important to him to remind politicians that they had to constantly fight for their seat, not just once every five years. Perhaps if we had the same attitude inM alta we would see less complacent mps and a more dynamic democratic party system, which evolves at a faster more pro-active rate rather than its current slow reactive rate of evolution.
The alternative is what we are currently seeing in Italy. A print and broadcast media totally controlled by the parties and a parliament which is totally discredited. Come to think of it we are already there in some respects.
Apologies for being so long winded, but i honestly believe that a strong press is the heart of a strong democracy and the opposite is also true. And part of astrong press is the ability to bit eteh hand that feeds you.

cheers

totally agree with you

Galloway (whom I don’t particularly like) exercised his democratic right to contest an election – and he won.

What does Paxman want – MPs to be selected rather than elected? And by whom? Him?