MACAVITY

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I got so caught up with Any Questions and Question Time yesterday that I neglected the Today programme. Norman Smith moved on (for a day at least) from spinning against the Conservatives to spinning for Labour. "BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith examines where the PM might stand," says the website blurb, as Smith previewed the day's big event, Brown's turn at the Chilcot Inquiry:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8551000/8551019.stm
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Why was Brown so quiet before the start of the Iraq War? Well, said Smith, his "reticence...can perhaps be explained by the fact that Mr Brown was chancellor, the war was not his business". Hmm.
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Throughout the week Norman has been informing Today listeners of Labour views on Lord Ashcroft and the Conservatives. On Friday, as Brown faced the Chilcot Inquiry, did he canvass the views of the Conservatives on Gordon Brown and Labour? Of course not. He previewed the day's big story by talking to:
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Eric Joyce, Labour
Peter Kilfoyle, Labour
John Kampfner, editor of The New Statesman (2005-8)
Tam Dalyell, Labour
Lord George Foulkes, Labour
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Odd to have only Labour voices, isn't it? Not really, this is Norman Smith after all.
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Something unusual did happen though on yesterday's Today. Evan Davis talked (just before 7.00) to Mats Persson of the Euro-sceptic think tank Open Europe. Had I been listening live, instead of using 'Listen Again' on a Saturday afternoon, I might have spat out a cornflake or two in shock!!