Ask Tony
Yep, it's "pretend we care" time at Downing Street again, as Blair
"will be taking questions from two respected newspaper journalists, Sarah Sands of the Daily Mail and Michael White of The Guardian, as well as from users of the Downing Street website.So, what are the chances of Sands or White picking some of the genuinely tough questions that will doubtless be sent off? And what are the chances of them receiving satisfactory replies?
"This is an opportunity for you to submit questions to be answered by the PM. The interviewers will select the questions and put them to the PM on your behalf.
"The new forum is open to anyone and is an opportunity for the public to challenge the PM on any subject they wish, just as MPs do every Wednesday at Prime Minister's Questions Time.
"The interview will take place on Tuesday afternoon and be broadcast from 1700 BST that evening via our website.
"Please email your questions toquestions@pmo.gov.uk
"You should include your name and the town or city that you live in. Questions will be accepted up to 1200 BST on Tuesday 5 June."
Still, if it's for real then it's an interesting new approach, as they seem very keen to stress that, despite being the party of manufactured media, "The questions chosen to go to the PM will not be selected by his office."
6 Comments:
Why do I suddenly feel all overcome with a deep sense of cynicism?
Dear Mr Blair,
It was recently reported in the national press that your wife, along with your good friend Mr Alistair Campbell, recently autographed a copy of the Hutton Report into Dr David Kelly’s tragic suicide and sold it under auction to raise funds for the Labour party. I was wondering whether there are any other reports into suicides that you may consider suitable for auction? I for one would be interesting in buying a signed copy of anything to do with your teenage daughter's attempted suicide in early 2004 – this is not due to ghoulish voyeurism but simply because it was not reported much in the national press and I think it is a matter of great national importance that the Prime Minister’s daughter can be driven to such extreme actions. Was the attempt because she was ashamed of her father lying to the nation in order to plan and wage aggressive war, or was it simply hormones?
Any clarification would be appreciated.
Yours in good faith,
AP
So there's going to be a 5 hour period between the questions being asked and answered. That's "just as they do every Wednesday at PMQs" then. Er...
And I thought "Sir" Michael did work for Blair's office? Ahem.
"The questions chosen to go to the PM will not be selected by his office..."
...but the people choosing which questions to ask will be.
"Questions will be accepted up to 1200 BST on Tuesday 5 June."
Hilariously/annoyingly, the email from the Number 10 server alerting me to this didn't arrive until 12.14 BST.
Knobbers.
Hang on I've just realised: Today's Monday, isn't it?
Maybe it was a deliberately placed typo in an attempt to fox dissidents. Nearly worked.
Knobbers.
Post a Comment