LUCKY DOUGIE

*
Spokesmen for the parties who took part in last night's prime ministerial debate took to the Today programme this morning. Labour's Douglas Alexander struck gold in getting an unusually gentle Sarah Montague (I.C. of just 0.2), whereas both Danny Alexander from the Lib Dems (I.C. of 0.6) and William Hague (I.C. of 1.2) got John Humphrys! The interruption coefficients tell much of the story here.
*

MARCH'S INTERRUPTION COEFFICIENTS - THE FULL LIST

*
A new month means another list of interruption coefficients.
*
317 interviews with UK politicians have occured throughout March. This covers every edition of:
*
Today
The Daily Politics
The World At One
PM
The World Tonight
Newsnight
The Andrew Marr Show
Broadcasting House
The Politics Show
The World This Weekend
The Politics Show: Scotland
Dragon's Eye
The Record: Europe
Westminster Hour
*
Just as a reminder - Interruption Coefficients (I.C.s) are calculated by dividing the number of interruptions by the length of the interview. The higher the I.C. the tougher the interview (as a rule). I.C.s of 0 have contained no interruptions! Interruptions are only classed as interruptions if they stop or significantly alter the speaker's flow. Muttered 'wells' and the like are classed as 'abortive interruptions' and are not counted. Those that share an I.C., say of 0.8, are sub-ranked according to a hidden (inferior) measure called the Questions Coefficient, which is calculated by dividing the number of questions by the length of the interview. The more questions there are, the likelier the interviewer is holding the reins in an interview. That means that everything is ranked just where it should be!
*
As usual I will begin with the full list.
*
You will notice something remarkable at the top of this month's list. The Lib Dem-who-loves-to -interrupt found himself last night to be on the receiving end for once. Thus he is March's surprise winner of the coveted Month's Most Interrupted award. *

Every else is pretty much as you expect.

*

*
Date, Interviewer, Interviewee, Party, IC
*
31/03 Jeremy Paxman Chris Huhne Lib Dem 3.2
*
18/03 Kirsty Wark Tim Loughton Conservative 3
*
31/03 Jeremy Paxman David Campbell-Bannerman UKIP 2.8
*
17/03 Jo Coburn Theresa May Conservative 2.7
*
17/03 Jeremy Paxman Theresa May Conservative 2.6
25/03 Kirsty Wark Chris Grayling Conservative 2.6
31/03 Jeremy Paxman Damian Green Conservative 2.6
*
09/03 Justin Webb Owen Paterson Conservative 2.5
16/03 Andrew Neil Stephen Timms Labour 2.5
*
15/03 Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 2.4
*
25/03 Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 2.3
*
10/03 Jeremy Paxman Michael Gove Conservative 2.2
12/03 Gavin Esler Charles Tannock Conservative 2.2
21/03 Shirin Wheeler John Bufton UKIP 2.2
8
11/03 Kirsty Wark Theresa Villiers Conservative 2.1
15/03 Andrew Neil Emily Thornberry Labour 2.1
10/03 Jeremy Paxman Ed Balls Labour 2.1
*
03/03 Robin Lustig William Hague Conservative 2
23/03 Jeremy Paxman Dominic Grieve Conservative 2
16/03 Andrew Neil Danny Alexander Lib Dem 2
25/03 Andrew Neil Lord Oakeshott Lib Dem 2
03/03 Martha Kearney Nick Herbert Conservative 2
*
24/03 Jeremy Paxman Liam Byrne Labour 1.9
25/03 Andrew Neil Stephen Timms Labour 1.9
10/03 Andrew Neil Norman Lamb Lib Dem 1.9
29/03 Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 1.9
17/03 Andrew Neil Theresa May Conservative 1.9
25/03 Kirsty Wark Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.9
*
22/03 Jo Coburn Ben Bradshaw Labour 1.8
03/03 Jo Coburn Michael Gove Conservative 1.8
01/03 Andrew Neil John Denham Labour 1.8
10/03 Jeremy Paxman David Laws Lib Dem 1.8
17/03 Andrew Neil Jim Knight Labour 1.8
15/03 Jeremy Paxman Richard Caborn Labour 1.8
*
15/03 James Naughtie Andrew Dismore Labour 1.7
02/03 Andrew Neil John McFall Labour 1.7
31/03 Martha Kearney Phil Woolas Labour 1.7
30/03 John Humphrys Andy Burnham Labour 1.7
*
31/03 Jeremy Paxman Phil Woolas Labour 1.6
02/03 Jo Coburn Nigel Farage UKIP 1.6
22/03 Jo Coburn Jeremy Hunt Conservative 1.6
08/03 Andrew Neil Tony McNulty Labour 1.6
16/03 Andrew Neil Ken Clarke Conservative 1.6
30/03 Gavin Esler Eric Pickles Conservative 1.6
11/03 Carolyn Quinn Ken Clarke Conservative 1.6
22/03 Jeremy Paxman Ken Clarke Conservative 1.6
25/03 Martha Kearney Norman Lamb Lib Dem 1.6
26/03 Shaun Ley Andrew Adonis Labour 1.6
28/03 Andrew Marr Ed Balls Labour 1.6
23/03 John Humphrys Jack Straw Labour 1.6
*
24/03 Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 1.5
22/03 Jeremy Paxman John Thurso Lib Dem 1.5
10/03 Andrew Neil Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.5
18/03 Kirsty Wark Baroness Morgan Labour 1.5
03/03 Andrew Neil Michael Gove Conservative 1.5
04/03 Andrew Neil Ken Clarke Conservative 1.5
27/03 Evan Davis Douglas Alexander Labour 1.5
03/03 Andrew Neil Tessa Jowell Labour 1.5
06/03 Ritula Shah Lord Soley Labour 1.5
*
29/03 Jo Coburn Jules Pipe Labour 1.4
23/03 Jo Coburn Ming Campbell Lib Dem 1.4
07/03 Andrew Marr Harriet Harman Labour 1.4
17/03 Andrew Neil Jim Knight Labour 1.4
10/03 Andrew Neil Jacqui Smith Labour 1.4
09/03 Martha Kearney Mark Pritchard Conservative 1.4
16/03 James Naughtie Ken Clarke Conservative 1.4
10/03 Martha Kearney Ed Davey Lib Dem 1.4
29/03 Carolyn Quinn Ed Vaizey Conservative 1.4
23/03 Justin Webb Sir Stuart Bell Labour 1.4
15/03 Jeremy Paxman Greg Hands Conservative 1.4
*
23/03 Justin Webb Chris Grayling Conservative 1.3
18/03 Shelagh Fogarty John Horam Conservative 1.3
24/03 Eddie Mair Philip Hammond Conservative 1.3
11/03 Kirsty Wark Andrew Adonis Labour 1.3
18/03 Kirsty Wark Baroness Walmsley Lib Dem 1.3
22/03 Justin Webb Sir George Young Conservative 1.3
29/03 Jo Coburn Philip Hammond Conservative 1.3
30/03 John Humphrys Andrew Lansley Conservative 1.3
29/03 Jeremy Paxman Jeremy Brown Lib Dem 1.3
30/03 Andrew Neil David Davis Conservative 1.3
04/03 Felicity Evans Peter Hain Labour 1.3
*
23/03 Jeremy Paxman Tony Lloyd Labour 1.2
16/03 Eddie Mair Nick Herbert Conservative 1.2
11/03 Andrew Neil Liam Byrne Labour 1.2
16/03 Martha Kearney Nick Clegg Lib Dem 1.2
22/03 John Humphrys Kevin Brennan Labour 1.2
29/03 Jeremy Paxman Ed Miliband Labour 1.2
16/03 James Naughtie Liam Byrne Labour 1.2
10/03 Martha Kearney Theresa May Conservative 1.2
09/03 Martha Kearney Nadhim Zahawi Conservative 1.2
21/03 Shirin Wheeler Ian Hudghton SNP 1.2
12/03 Gavin Esler Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.2
*
22/03 Andrew Neil Sir George Young Conservative 1.1
29/03 Martha Kearney Philip Hammond Conservative 1.1
29/03 Eddie Mair Ken Clarke Conservative 1.1
14/03 Shaun Ley Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.1
*
17/03 Jeremy Paxman Jim Knight Labour 1
07/03 Glenn Campbell Nick Clegg Lib Dem 1
19/03 Evan Davis Lord Pearson UKIP 1
22/03 Jeremy Paxman Peter Mandelson Labour 1
25/03 Kirsty Wark David Hanson Labour 1
04/03 Martha Kearney John Mann Labour 1
15/03 Jeremy Paxman Margaret Hodge Labour 1
07/03 Andrew Marr Liam Fox Conservative 1
08/03 Martha Kearney Eleanor Lang Conservative 1
*
03/03 Robin Lustig Ed Davey Lib Dem 0.9
31/03 Martha Kearney Sir Patrick Cormack Conservative 0.9
07/03 Shirin Wheeler Mary Honeyball Labour 0.9
08/03 Jeremy Paxman Bill Rammell Labour 0.9
10/03 Andrew Neil Richard Kemp Lib Dem 0.9
11/03 Kirsty Wark Norman Baker Lib Dem 0.9
24/03 Eddie Mair Liam Byrne Labour 0.9
29/03 Giles Dilnot Lord Layard Labour 0.9
02/03 Andrew Neil Frank Field Labour 0.9
23/03 Justin Webb David Hanson Labour 0.9
07/03 Glenn Campbell David Mundell Conservative 0.9
23/03 Jeremy Paxman David Heath Lib Dem 0.9
10/03 Jo Coburn David Mellor Conservative 0.9
18/03 Martha Kearney Barry Legg Conservative 0.9
24/03 Eddie Mair Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.9
07/03 Jon Sopel Alistair Darling Labour 0.9
08/03 John Humphrys Jack Straw Labour 0.9
23/03 Justin Webb Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.9
11/03 Carolyn Quinn Kevin Barron Labour 0.9
09/03 Justin Webb Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.9
16/03 Martha Kearney Lord Pearson UKIP 0.9
*
12/03 Carolyn Quinn Anna Arrowsmith Lib Dem 0.8
05/03 Emily Maitlis Lord Falconer Labour 0.8
29/03 Jo Coburn Sally Pidgeon Lib Dem 0.8
07/03 Andrew Marr Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.8
17/03 Shaun Ley Lord Adonis Labour 0.8
27/03 Ritula Shah Ed Miliband Labour 0.8
03/03 Andrew Neil David Laws Lib Dem 0.8
03/03 Martha Kearney David Owen Cross bench 0.8
07/03 Shirin Wheeler Charles Tannock Conservative 0.8
23/03 Martha Kearney David Mencer Labour 0.8
10/03 Andrew Neil Iain Duncan Smith Conservative 0.8
18/03 Evan Davis William Hague Conservative 0.8
28/03 Andrew Marr Michael Gove Conservative 0.8
20/03 John Humphrys David Miliband Labour 0.8
05/03 Shaun Ley Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0.8
31/03 Martha Kearney Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.8
30/03 Gavin Esler Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.8
29/03 Carolyn Quinn Tom Harris Labour 0.8
*
13/03 Sarah Montague Nick Griffin BNP 0.7
03/03 Jo Coburn Tessa Jowell Labour 0.7
18/03 Andrew Neil Chris Patten Conservative 0.7
11/03 Martha Kearney Andrew Adonis Labour 0.7
23/03 Andrew Neil Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.7
05/03 Shaun Ley Liam Fox Conservative 0.7
13/03 Sarah Montague Angus Robertson SNP 0.7
21/03 Andrew Marr Margot James Conservative 0.7
07/03 Shirin Wheeler Marina Yannakoudakis Conservative 0.7
*
03/03 Robin Lustig William Hague Conservative 0.6
02/03 Carolyn Quinn John Whittingdale Conservative 0.6
21/03 Andrew Marr Philip Hammond Conservative 0.6
24/03 Jeremy Paxman Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.6
08/03 Martha Kearney Bob Ainsworth Labour 0.6
21/03 Glenn Campbell George Osborne Conservative 0.6
21/03 Carolyn Quinn Stewart Hosie SNP 0.6
30/03 Gavin Esler John Prescott Labour 0.6
13/03 Ritula Shah Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.6
25/03 Evan Davis George Osborne Conservative 0.6
30/03 Andrew Neil Charles Kennedy Lib Dem 0.6
14/03 Andrew Marr Andrew Adonis Labour 0.6
15/03 James Naughtie George Osborne Conservative 0.6
21/03 Andrew Marr Alex Salmond SNP 0.6
30/03 Andrew Neil Caroline Flint Labour 0.6
21/03 Carolyn Quinn Mark Field Conservative 0.6
31/03 Martha Kearney Nigel Farage UKIP 0.6
01/03 Martha Kearney Michael Gove Conservative 0.6
26/03 James Naughtie Geoff Hoon Labour 0.6
*
05/03 Sarah Montague Gary Hopkins Lib Dem 0.5
01/03 Jo Coburn John McFall Labour 0.5
28/03 Glenn Campbell Gordon Brown Labour 0.5
28/03 Glenn Campbell Mike Russell SNP 0.5
07/03 Glenn Campbell Stewart Hosie SNP 0.5
01/03 Martha Kearney Gordon Prentice Labour 0.5
01/03 Andrew Neil Norman Baker Lib Dem 0.5
10/03 Jo Coburn Nadhim Zahawi Conservative 0.5
31/03 Evan Davis Alex Salmond SNP 0.5
21/03 Glenn Campbell Alex Salmond SNP 0.5
13/03 James Naughtie Nick Clegg Lib Dem 0.5
21/03 Andrew Marr Alistair Darling Labour 0.5
14/03 Andrew Marr Ken Clarke Conservative 0.5
29/03 Eddie Mair Keith Vaz Labour 0.5
*
15/03 Martha Kearney Jim Sheridan Labour 0.4
10/03 Jo Coburn Iain Duncan Smith Conservative 0.4
07/03 Carolyn Quinn Tom Harris Labour 0.4
15/03 Martha Kearney Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0.4
21/03 Glenn Campbell Danny Alexander Lib Dem 0.4
09/03 Martha Kearney Basil McCrea UUP 0.4
10/03 Andrew Neil David Mellor Conservative 0.4
09/03 John Humphrys Lord Sainsbury Labour 0.4
09/03 Carolyn Quinn Dawn Purvis PUP 0.4
12/03 Martha Kearney Paul Holmes Lib Dem 0.4
15/03 Martha Kearney Vera Baird Labour 0.4
30/03 Martha Kearney Dominic Grieve Conservative 0.4
25/03 Evan Davis Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.4
07/03 Glenn Campbell David Cairns Labour 0.4
18/03 Felicity Evans Carwyn Jones Labour 0.4
28/03 Shirin Wheeler Chris Davies Lib Dem 0.4
03/03 Martha Kearney Hilary Benn Labour 0.4
10/03 Justin Webb David Blunkett Labour 0.4
22/03 Justin Webb Kevin Brennan Labour 0.4
18/03 Shelagh Fogarty Richard Caborn Labour 0.4
18/03 Shelagh Fogarty David Lammy Labour 0.4
25/03 Felicity Evans Helen Mary Jones Plaid 0.4
08/03 Evan Davis Phil Hope Labour 0.4
07/03 Andrew Marr Charles Kennedy Lib Dem 0.4
07/03 Carolyn Quinn Mark Field Conservative 0.4
19/03 Shaun Ley Tim Loughton Conservative 0.4
16/03 Martha Kearney Sir Patrick Cormack Conservative 0.4
*
02/03 Ritula Shah Tessa Jowell Labour 0.3
03/03 John Humphrys Colin Stears Lib Dem 0.3
17/03 Shaun Ley Peter Mandelson Labour 0.3
04/03 Carolyn Quinn Elizabeth Peacock Conservative 0.3
14/03 Carolyn Quinn Emily Thornberry Labour 0.3
03/03 James Naughtie Helena Kennedy Labour 0.3
02/03 Martha Kearney Ed Miliband Labour 0.3
03/03 Robin Lustig David Miliband Labour 0.3
31/03 Sarah Montague Phil Woolas Labour 0.3
09/03 John Humphrys Lord Waldegrave Conservative 0.3
12/03 James Naughtie Kevin Barron Labour 0.3
14/03 Carolyn Quinn Sandra Gidley Lib Dem 0.3
17/03 Justin Webb Ed Miliband Labour 0.3
29/03 Carolyn Quinn Lord Oakeshott Lib Dem 0.3
24/03 James Naughtie Phil Woolas Labour 0.3
28/03 Glenn Campbell Tavish Scott Lib Dem 0.3
29/03 John Humphrys Evan Harris Lib Dem 0.3
29/03 Jo Coburn Lord Layard Labour 0.3
05/03 Emily Maitlis Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.3
09/03 John Humphrys Lord McGinnis UUP 0.3
*
23/03 Eddie Mair David Miliband Labour 0.2
14/03 Carolyn Quinn Charles Walker Conservative 0.2
04/03 Adrian Masters Boris Johnson Conservative 0.2
14/03 Carolyn Quinn Lord Lipsey Labour 0.2
23/03 Jo Coburn Tony Lloyd Labour 0.2
20/03 Evan Davis Nicola Sturgeon SNP 0.2
21/03 Carolyn Quinn James Purnell Labour 0.2
14/03 Shirin Wheeler Baroness Ashton Labour 0.2
19/03 John Humphrys Michael Mates Conservative 0.2
09/03 Carolyn Quinn Jeffrey Donaldson DUP 0.2
*
23/03 Robin Lustig Mike Gapes Labour 0
11/03 James Naughtie Norman Baker Lib Dem 0
04/03 Martha Kearney Lord Kalms Conservative 0
17/03 Jeremy Paxman Jeremy Brown Lib Dem 0
30/03 Martha Kearney Lord Lipsey Labour 0
14/03 Shirin Wheeler Diana Wallis Lib Dem 0
26/03 James Naughtie Robert Anderson Labour 0
01/03 Martha Kearney Lord Paul Labour 0
10/03 Martha Kearney Stephen Timms Labour 0
22/03 Martha Kearney Tony Wright Labour 0
29/03 Jo Coburn Merrick Cockell Conservative 0
30/03 Martha Kearney Peter Kilfoyle Labour 0
30/03 Martha Kearney Paul Clark Labour 0
02/03 Martha Kearney Tom Watson Labour 0
23/03 Martha Kearney John Knight Labour 0
26/03 Paddy O'Connell Diane Abbott Labour 0
28/03 Glenn Campbell Annabel Goldie Conservative 0
30/03 Martha Kearney Lord Lester Lib Dem 0
11/03 James Naughtie Tony Wright Labour 0
18/03 Martha Kearney Alan Beith Lib Dem 0
23/03 Jeremy Paxman Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
25/03 James Naughtie Lord Dubs Labour 0
14/03 Paddy O'Connell Lord Steel Lib Dem 0
18/03 Martha Kearney Ian Liddell Grainger Conservative 0
21/03 Glenn Campbell Kevan Jones Labour 0
11/03 Roger Hearing Rob Marris Labour 0
17/03 James Naughtie Lord Vallance Lib Dem 0
22/03 Justin Webb Tim Yeo Conservative 0
25/03 Adrian Masters Nick Ramsey Conservative 0
10/03 Jo Coburn Jacqui Smith Labour 0
11/03 Martha Kearney Adrian Ramsey Green 0
22/03 Martha Kearney Norman Baker Lib Dem 0
27/03 Evan Davis Ed Davey Lib Dem 0
30/03 Jo Coburn David Davis Conservative 0
01/03 Martha Kearney Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0
04/03 James Naughtie Lord Carlile Lib Dem 0
17/03 James Naughtie Chris Grayling Conservative 0
30/03 Jo Coburn Charles Kennedy Lib Dem 0
30/03 Ritula Shah Jim Allister TUV 0
31/03 Martha Kearney Damian Green Conservative 0
03/03 James Naughtie Baroness Ashton Labour 0
05/03 Shaun Ley Nick Clegg Lib Dem 0
15/03 James Naughtie Lord Oakeshott Lib Dem 0
18/03 Evan Davis Lord Lipsey Labour 0
19/03 John Humphrys Khalid Mahmoud Labour 0
23/03 Robin Lustig Martin Salter Labour 0
26/03 Paddy O'Connell Darren Johnson Green 0
31/03 Martha Kearney Frank Field Labour 0
10/03 Robin Lustig Baroness Ashton Labour 0
23/03 Martha Kearney Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
24/03 James Naughtie Lord Lawson Conservative 0
31/03 Evan Davis Phil Willis Lib Dem 0
03/03 Carolyn Quinn Neil Kinnock Labour 0
16/03 Eddie Mair Michael Mates Conservative 0
03/03 Martha Kearney Tony Benn Labour 0
03/03 Martha Kearney Jo Swinson Lib Dem 0
07/03 Carolyn Quinn Shirley Williams Lib Dem 0
07/03 Carolyn Quinn David Willetts Conservative 0
14/03 Shaun Ley Baroness Ashton Labour 0
21/03 Glenn Campbell Stewart Hosie SNP 0
23/03 Eddie Mair Dr Richard Taylor Independent 0
05/03 Carolyn Quinn Denis MacShane Labour 0
17/03 Shaun Ley Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0
18/03 Justin Webb David Willetts Conservative 0
21/03 Glenn Campbell Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
25/03 Martha Kearney Lord Lawson Conservative 0
30/03 James Naughtie Norman Lamb Lib Dem 0
18/03 Adrian Masters Lord Carlile Lib Dem 0
30/03 Jo Coburn Caroline Flint Labour 0
31/03 Sarah Montague Lord Lawson Conservative 0
15/03 James Naughtie David Lammy Labour 0
17/03 Shaun Ley Eric Pickles Conservative 0
06/03 Ritula Shah Iain Duncan Smith Conservative 0
16/03 Jeremy Paxman Lord Steel Lib Dem 0

A TASTER

*
Just a few more days of March remain and my monthly list of interruption coefficients will be out. So far nine out of the top ten most interruption-riven interviews are with Conservatives, only one with Labour. This looks set to be the most dramatic set of results yet. As the election nears the BBC is gearing itself up for a final onslaught on behalf of the party it loves.
*

FEBRUARY'S FULL I.C. LIST

*
A new month means another list of interruption coefficients.
*
256 interviews have occured throughout February, this covers every edition of:
*
Today
The Daily Politics
The World At One
PM
The World Tonight
Newsnight
The Andrew Marr Show
Broadcasting House
The Politics Show
The World This Weekend
The Politics Show: Scotland
Dragon's Eye
The Record: Europe
Westminster Hour
*
Just as a reminder - Interruption Coefficients (I.C.s) are calculated by dividing the number of interruptions by the length of the interview. The higher the I.C. the tougher the interview (as a rule). I.C.s of 0 have contained no interruptions! Interruptions are only classed as interruptions if they stop or significantly alter the speaker's flow. Muttered 'wells' and the like are classed as 'abortive interruptions' and are not counted. Those that share an I.C., say of 0.8, are sub-ranked according to a hidden (inferior) measure called the Questions Coefficient, which is calculated by dividing thee number of questions by the length of the interview. The more questions there are, the likelier the interviewer is holding the reins in an interview. That means that everything is ranked just where it should be!
*
As usual I will begin with the full list (with apologies as ever for the lack of punctuation!!) You will notice something unprecedented in my survey so far at the top. Never before has a Labour politician been the Month's Most Interrupted!:
*
*
24/02 Jo Coburn Sadiq Khan Labour 2.5
19/02 Jeremy Paxman Lord Adonis Labour 2.5

23/02 John Humphrys Ed Balls Labour 2.4
01/02 Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 2.4

03/02 Andrew Neil Jeremy Hunt Conservative 2.2

23/02 Jeremy Paxman Nick Harvey Lib Dem 2.1
14/02 Jon Sopel Andrew Lansley Conservative 2.1

02/02 Kirsty Wark Eric Pickles Conservative 2
25/02 Andrew Neil Phil Woolas Labour 2
26/02 Jo Coburn Nick Herbert Conservative 2
28/02 Andrew Marr George Osborne Conservative 2
12/02 Justin Webb Andrew Lansley Conservative 2

08/02 Andrew Neil Sir George Young Conservative 1.9
23/02 Andrew Neil John Redwood Conservative 1.9
09/02 Andrew Neil John Denham Labour 1.9
18/02 Gavin Esler Andrew Lansley Conservative 1.9

24/02 Andrew Neil Sadiq Khan Labour 1.8
24/02 Jo Coburn Caroline Spelman Conservative 1.8
26/02 Gavin Esler Ed Davey Lib Dem 1.8
26/02 Gavin Esler Michael Mates Conservative 1.8
23/02 Andrew Neil Geoffrey Robinson Labour 1.8
20/02 John Humphrys Douglas Alexander Labour 1.8

18/02 John Humphrys William Hague Conservative 1.7
15/02 James Naughtie George Osborne Conservative 1.7
24/02 Andrew Neil Caroline Spelman Conservative 1.7

10/02 Andrew Neil Shirley Williams Lib Dem 1.6
01/02 Jo Coburn Jim Knight Labour 1.6
19/02 James Naughtie Theresa Villiers Conservative 1.6
28/02 Shirin Wheeler Vicky Ford Conservative 1.6

10/02 Andrew Neil Ben Bradshaw Labour 1.5
02/02 Andrew Neil John Denham Labour 1.5
24/02 Kirsty Wark Phil Woolas Labour 1.5

10/02 Eddie Mair David Miliband Labour 1.4
01/02 Justin Webb Nick Clegg Lib Dem 1.4
03/02 Andrew Neil Liam Byrne Labour 1.4
03/02 Eddie Mair Bob Ainsworth Labour 1.4
08/02 Evan Davis Sir George Young Conservative 1.4
24/02 James Naughtie John Whittingdale Conservative 1.4
09/02 Andrew Neil Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.4
25/02 Andrew Neil Ann Widdecombe Conservative 1.4
09/02 Andrew Neil Dominic Grieve Conservative 1.4
01/02 Andrew Neil Denis MacShane Labour 1.4
01/02 John Humphrys Andy Burnham Labour 1.4
28/02 Shaun Ley Michael Gove Conservative 1.4
21/02 Andrew Marr Peter Mandelson Labour 1.4
14/02 Shirin Wheeler John Bufton UKIP 1.4

23/02 Martha Kearney John Denham Labour 1.3
03/02 Jo Coburn Liam Byrne Labour 1.3
02/02 Kirsty Wark Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.3
02/02 Martha Kearney Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.3
07/02 Felicity Evans Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru 1.3
03/02 Jo Coburn Jeremy Hunt Conservative 1.3
08/02 Emily Maitlis Michael Gove Conservative 1.3
03/02 John Humphrys Phil Hope Labour 1.3
01/02 Justin Webb Michael Gove Conservative 1.3
07/02 Andrew Marr Alan Johnson Labour 1.3
26/02 Gavin Esler Harriet Harman Labour 1.3

09/02 Eddie Mair Douglas Carswell Conservative 1.2
08/02 Emily Maitlis Ben Bradshaw Labour 1.2
08/02 Emily Maitlis Sir George Young Conservative 1.2
23/02 Andrew Neil John Prescott Labour 1.2
25/02 Felicity Evans Kirsty Williams Lib Dem 1.2
01/02 Eddie Mair Philip Hammond Conservative 1.2
28/02 Carolyn Quinn Ed Vaizey Conservative 1.2

21/02 Glenn Campbell Richard Lochhead SNP 1.1
21/02 Glenn Campbell Kenny MacAskill SNP 1.1
28/02 Andrew Marr Peter Hain Labour 1.1

10/02 Jo Coburn Ben Bradshaw Labour 1
21/02 Glenn Campbell Bill Aitken Conservative 1
23/02 John Humphrys Phil Woolas Labour 1
04/02 Eddie Mair Mike O'Brien Labour 1
23/02 Jeremy Paxman Bob Ainsworth Labour 1
03/02 Evan Davis Chris Grayling Conservative 1
15/02 Sarah Montague Louise Ellman Labour 1

21/02 Shirin Wheeler Edward McMillan Scott Independent Conservative 0.9
22/02 Martha Kearney Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0.9
19/02 Carolyn Quinn Lord Hunt Labour 0.9
02/02 Martha Kearney John Denham Labour 0.9
12/02 James Naughtie Catherine Bearder Lib Dem 0.9
08/02 Eddie Mair Ed Davey Lib Dem 0.9
22/02 Jeremy Paxman John Prescott Labour 0.9
24/02 Eddie Mair Andrew Lansley Conservative 0.9
12/02 Justin Webb Norman Lamb Lib Dem 0.9
23/02 Justin Webb David Laws Lib Dem 0.9
10/02 Martha Kearney Andy Burnham Labour 0.9
14/02 Shirin Wheeler Timothy Kirkhope Conservative 0.9
23/02 Martha Kearney Shaun Woodward Labour 0.9
21/02 Shirin Wheeler Roger Helmer Conservative 0.9
26/02 Sarah Montague Mark Field Conservative 0.9

02/02 Martha Kearney Jeremy Hunt Conservative 0.8
07/02 Jon Sopel Damian Green Conservative 0.8
09/02 James Naughtie Hilary Benn Labour 0.8
18/02 John Humphrys Caroline Lucas Green 0.8
28/02 Jon Sopel Ed Balls Labour 0.8
22/02 Jeremy Paxman Roy Hattersley Labour 0.8
22/02 Jeremy Paxman Lord Steel Lib Dem 0.8
28/02 Jon Sopel Michael Gove Conservative 0.8
14/02 Jon Sopel Norman Lamb Lib Dem 0.8
21/02 Jon Sopel Chris Grayling Conservative 0.8
23/02 John Humphrys Lord Soley Labour 0.8
02/02 John Humphrys Graham Watson Lib Dem 0.8
10/02 Andrew Neil David Willetts Conservative 0.8
09/02 James Naughtie Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.8
21/02 Jon Sopel Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.8

05/02 Eddie Mair Nigel Don SNP 0.7
07/02 Jo Coburn Chris Grayling Conservative 0.7
02/02 Kirsty Wark Peter Hain Labour 0.7
05/02 Eddie Mair Bill Aitken Conservative 0.7
15/02 Shaun Ley Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.7
25/02 James Naughtie George Osborne Conservative 0.7
24/02 Kirsty Wark Damian Green Conservative 0.7
11/02 Evan Davis David Davis Conservative 0.7
16/02 Kirsty Wark John Redwood Conservative 0.7
14/02 Carolyn Quinn Evan Harris Lib Dem 0.7
15/02 James Naughtie Alistair Darling Labour 0.7
14/02 Andrew Marr Michael Gove Conservative 0.7
14/02 Jon Sopel Andy Burnham Labour 0.7
07/02 Shirin Wheeler Nirj Diva Conservative 0.7

21/02 Glenn Campbell Douglas Alexander Labour 0.6
14/02 Glenn Campbell David Cameron Conservative 0.6
01/02 Eddie Mair Liam Byrne Labour 0.6
08/02 Jo Coburn Harriet Harman Labour 0.6
19/02 Evan Davis Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru 0.6
23/02 Jeremy Paxman Liam Fox Conservative 0.6
14/02 Andrew Marr Carwyn Jones Labour 0.6
26/02 Ritula Shah Michael Mates Conservative 0.6
28/02 Glenn Campbell David McLetchie Conservative 0.6
17/02 Martha Kearney Yvette Cooper Labour 0.6
18/02 James Naughtie Hilary Benn Labour 0.6
24/02 Eddie Mair Andy Burnham Labour 0.6
27/02 Justin Webb David Davis Conservative 0.6
08/02 Sarah Montague Harriet Harman Labour 0.6
13/02 James Naughtie Chris Patten Conservative 0.6
21/02 Shaun Ley Harriet Harman Labour 0.6
08/02 Emily Maitlis Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.6

02/02 Jo Coburn Nadine Dorries Conservative 0.5
02/02 Jo Coburn Martin Salter Labour 0.5
04/02 Andrew Neil Norman Baker Lib Dem 0.5
10/02 James Naughtie Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.5
06/02 Evan Davis Lord Goldsmith Labour 0.5
04/02 Andrew Neil John Mann Labour 0.5
08/02 Martha Kearney Dominic Grieve Conservative 0.5
21/02 Jon Sopel Alan Johnson Labour 0.5
11/02 Martha Kearney Peter Mandelson Labour 0.5
12/02 Carolyn Quinn Karen Buck Labour 0.5
14/02 Carolyn Quinn Paul Flynn Labour 0.5
12/02 Ritula Shah David Willetts Conservative 0.5
24/02 Martha Kearney Yvette Cooper Labour 0.5
27/02 Evan Davis David Willetts Conservative 0.5
26/02 Shaun Ley Margaret Beckett Labour 0.5
07/02 Carolyn Quinn Mark Field Conservative 0.5
22/02 Martha Kearney Phil Willis Lib Dem 0.5
07/02 Jon Sopel Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.5

04/02 Andrew Neil Ann Widdecombe Conservative 0.4
25/02 Martha Kearney Khalid Mahmood Labour 0.4
21/02 Andrew Marr David Davis Conservative 0.4
28/02 Glenn Campbell Pat Watters Labour 0.4
03/02 Jeremy Paxman Michael Portillo Conservative 0.4
10/02 James Naughtie James Arbuthnot Conservative 0.4
21/02 Shaun Ley Graham Allen Labour 0.4
10/02 Gavin Esler David Miliband Labour 0.4
11/02 Andrew Neil Dan Hannan Conservative 0.4
28/02 Glenn Campbell Wendy Alexander Labour 0.4
02/02 Martha Kearney Peter Hain Labour 0.4
10/02 Jo Coburn Shirley Williams Lib Dem 0.4
10/02 Martha Kearney Damian Green Conservative 0.4
12/02 Ritula Shah Kitty Ussher Labour 0.4
16/02 Evan Davis Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.4
28/02 Shirin Wheeler Sarah Ludford Lib Dem 0.4
21/02 Carolyn Quinn Tom Harris Labour 0.4
07/02 Glenn Campbell Kenny Gibson SNP 0.4
24/02 Evan Davis Frank Field Labour 0.4
07/02 Jon Sopel Phil Woolas Labour 0.4

16/02 Kirsty Wark David Heath Lib Dem 0.3
13/02 James Naughtie Jeremy Beecham Labour 0.3
12/02 Shaun Ley Louise Ellman Labour 0.3
19/02 Eddie Mair Sir Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.3
02/02 John Humphrys Martin Linton Labour 0.3
17/02 Robin Lustig David Liddington Conservative 0.3
11/02 Carolyn Quinn John Healey Labour 0.3
09/02 John Humphrys Brian Paddick Lib Dem 0.3
23/02 Martha Kearney Danny Kennedy UUP 0.3
25/02 James Naughtie Jeffrey Donaldson DUP 0.3
22/02 John Humphrys Evan Harris Lib Dem 0.3
07/02 Shirin Wheeler Michael Cashman Labour 0.3
10/02 Martha Kearney Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.3
05/02 Gavin Esler Norman Lamb Lib Dem 0.3

25/02 Martha Kearney Paul Myners Labour 0.2
14/02 Glenn Campbell Alistair Darling Labour 0.2
05/02 Sarah Montague Shaun Woodward Labour 0.2
11/02 Jo Coburn Keith Vaz Labour 0.2
05/02 Sarah Montague Jeffrey Donaldson DUP 0.2
28/02 Carolyn Quinn Paul Flynn Labour 0.2
12/02 Justin Webb Kim Howells Labour 0.2
21/02 Carolyn Quinn Douglas Carswell Conservative 0.2
23/02 Eddie Mair David Ford Alliance 0.2
26/02 Carolyn Quinn Nick Clegg Lib Dem 0.2
28/02 Carolyn Quinn Lynne Featherstone Lib Dem 0.2
07/02 Andrew Marr William Hague Conservative 0.2

04/02 Martha Kearney Ann Cryer Labour 0
23/02 Martha Kearney Eric Joyce Labour 0
02/02 Martha Kearney Tom Harris Labour 0
28/02 Shirin Wheeler Peter Skinner Labour 0
04/02 Martha Kearney Tony Wright Labour 0
05/02 Ed Stourton David Ford Alliance 0
24/02 Eddie Mair Brian Wilson Labour 0
02/02 Jo Coburn Tom Harris Labour 0
04/02 Evan Davis Norman Baker Lib Dem 0
23/02 John Humphrys John Puddifoot Conservative 0
07/02 Glenn Campbell Dave Berry SNP 0
14/02 Shaun Ley Lord Steel Lib Dem 0
19/02 Robin Lustig Charles Tannock Conservative 0
24/02 Robin Lustig Gareth Thomas Labour 0
08/02 Ritula Shah Ken Livingstone Labour 0
01/02 Ed Stourton Lord Carlisle Lib Dem 0
09/02 Martha Kearney David Blunkett Labour 0
17/02 Evan Davis Nick Herbert Conservative 0
23/02 Justin Webb Mehboob Khan Labour 0
02/02 Martha Kearney Stephen Hughes Labour 0
04/02 Eddie Mair Douglas Carswell Conservative 0
17/02 Gavin Esler Sir Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
01/02 Ed Stourton David Lammy Labour 0
08/02 Evan Davis Tim Yeo Conservative 0
09/02 Martha Kearney Leon Brittan Conservative 0
11/02 Carolyn Quinn Grant Shapps Conservative 0
12/02 Shaun Ley Lord Carlile Lib Dem 0
12/02 Ritula Shah Stephen Williams Lib Dem 0
24/02 Martha Kearney Chris Grayling Conservative 0
27/02 Justin Webb Sandra Gidney Lib Dem 0
03/02 Jeremy Paxman Daniel Hannan Conservative 0
04/02 James Naughtie Sir Stuart Bell Labour 0
05/02 Ed Stourton Ian Paisley Jnr DUP 0
07/02 Glenn Campbell Jackie Baillie Labour 0
08/02 Martha Kearney Sir Patrick Cormack Conservative 0
25/02 James Naughtie Nigel Farage UKIP 0
07/02 Carolyn Quinn Chris Mullin Labour 0
01/02 Eddie Mair Vince Cable Lib Dem 0
07/02 Shirin Wheeler Richard Corbett Labour 0
07/02 Glenn Campbell Alex Neil SNP 0
11/02 Evan Davis Lord Lamont Conservative 0
08/02 Ritula Shah Sir Malcolm Rifkind Conservative 0
14/02 Shirin Wheeler Stephen Hughes Labour 0
14/02 Paddy O'Connell Bob Ainsworth Labour 0
19/02 Nils Blythe Peter Mandelson Labour 0
27/02 Evan Davis Alf Morris Labour 0
03/02 Andrew Neil Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
21/02 Shirin Wheeler Chris Davies Lib Dem 0
21/02 Carolyn Quinn Matthew Oakeshott Lib Dem 0
24/02 Evan Davis David Hanson Labour 0
24/02 Evan Davis Julia Goldsworth Lib Dem 0
24/02 Martha Kearney Jeremy Browne Lib Dem 0
05/02 Robin Lustig John Alderdyce Alliance 0
27/02 Justin Webb Lord Carlile Lib Dem 0
28/02 Shirin Wheeler Timothy Kirkhope Conservative 0
02/02 Martha Kearney Sarah Teather Lib Dem 0
14/02 Shaun Ley Rhodri Morgan Labour 0

JANUARY'S I.C.s - INTRODUCTION AND FULL LIST

*
A new month means another list of interruption coefficients.
*
286 interviews have occured throughout January. As always, this covers every edition of:
*
Today
The Daily Politics
The World At One
PM
The World Tonight
Newsnight
The Andrew Marr Show
Broadcasting House
The Politics Show
The World This Weekend
The Politics Show: Scotland
Dragon's Eye
The Record: Europe
Westminster Hour
*
Just as a reminder - Interruption Coefficients (I.C.s) are calculated by dividing the number of interruptions by the length of the interview. The higher the I.C. the tougher the interview (as a rule). I.C.s of 0 have contained no interruptions! Interruptions are only classed as interruptions if they stop or significantly alter the speaker's flow. Muttered 'wells' and the like are classed as 'abortive interruptions' and are not counted. Those that share an I.C., say of 0.8, are sub-ranked according to a hidden (inferior) measure called the Questions Coefficient, which is calculated by dividing thee number of questions by the length of the interview. The more questions there are, the likelier the interviewer is holding the reins in an interview. That means that everything is ranked just where it should be!
*
As usual I will begin with the full list (with apologies as ever for the lack of punctuation!!):
*
*
Date, Interviewer, Interviewee, Party, I.C.
*
21/01 Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 3.3
*
13/01 Jeremy Paxman Mike O'Brien Labour 3.2
25/01 Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 3.2
*
12/01 Andrew Neil Arlene Foster DUP 3.1
04/01 Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 3.1
*
20/01 Jeremy Paxman Edward Timpson Conservative 3
*
21/01 Gavin Esler Lord Pearson UKIP 2.8
*
12/01 Andrew Neil Alex Maskey Sinn Fein 2.5
05/01 Jo Coburn Grant Shapps Conservative 2.5
*
31/01 Shirin Wheeler Lord Dartmouth UKIP 2.4
*
07/01 Andrew Neil Tony McNulty Labour 2.3
20/01 John Humphrys David Willetts Conservative 2.3
*
04/01 Jeremy Paxman Liam Byrne Labour 2.1
21/01 Andrew Neil Ed Davey Lib Dem 2.1
25/01 Andrew Neil Sarah McCarthy-Fry Labour 2.1
*
12/01 Jeremy Paxman Lord Falconer Labour 2
*
25/01 Andrew Neil Theresa May Conservative 1.8
*
22/01 Jo Coburn Jeremy Brier Conservative 1.7
31/01 Gary Robertson John Swinney SNP 1.7
06/01 Jeremy Paxman Peter Mandelson Labour 1.7
04/01 Eddie Mair Andrew Lansley Conservative 1.7
06/01 Justin Webb Justine Greening Conservative 1.7
*
06/01 Andrew Neil Chris Bryant Labour 1.6
17/01 Jon Sopel Ed Balls Labour 1.6
26/01 Ed Stourton Tim Lewis Conservative 1.6
22/01 Jo Coburn Rachel Reeves Labour 1.6
25/01 Sarah Montague Sammy Wilson DUP 1.6
*
18/01 Andrew Neil Mark Lancaster Conservative 1.5
07/01 James Naughtie Eric Joyce Labour 1.5
26/01 Jeremy Paxman Alistair Darling Labour 1.5
05/01 Jo Coburn Danny Alexander Lib Dem 1.5
13/01 Andrew Neil Peter Hain Labour 1.5
31/01 Sophie Raworth Harriet Harman Labour 1.5
05/01 Justin Webb Nick Clegg Lib Dem 1.5
20/01 John Humphrys David Laws Lib Dem 1.5
06/01 Justin Webb John Hutton Labour 1.5
*
27/01 Jo Coburn Michael Heseltine Conservative 1.4
27/01 Ed Stourton Philip Hammond Conservative 1.4
15/01 Jo Coburn Baroness Neville-Jones Conservative 1.4
11/01 Andrew Neil Danny Alexander Lib Dem 1.4
09/01 Andrew Marr David Cameron Conservative 1.4
17/01 Andrew Marr Nick Clegg Lib Dem 1.4
*
26/01 Felicity Evans Philip Hammond Conservative 1.3
08/01 Jo Coburn Joanne Cash Conservative 1.3
20/01 Jeremy Paxman Meg Munn Labour 1.3
20/01 Andrew Neil John Denham Labour 1.3
22/01 Justin Webb George Osborne Conservative 1.3
25/01 Jeremy Paxman Vince Cable Lib Dem 1.3
12/01 Jo Coburn Alex Salmond SNP 1.3
14/01 Emily Maitlis George Osborne Conservative 1.3
24/01 Glenn Campbell Anne McLaughlin SNP 1.3
05/01 James Naughtie Nick Herbert Conservative 1.3
10/01 Carolyn Quinn Ed Vaizey Conservative 1.3
20/01 John Humphrys Ed Balls Labour 1.3
22/01 James Naughtie Rob Hayward Conservative 1.3
27/01 Ed Stourton Denis MacShane Labour 1.3
20/01 Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 1.3
*
27/01 Andrew Neil Eric Pickles Conservative 1.2
10/01 Carolyn Quinn Emily Thornberry Labour 1.2
06/01 Andrew Neil Lord Strathclyde Conservative 1.2
31/01 Jon Sopel David Cameron Conservative 1.2
11/01 Justin Webb Boris Johnson Conservative 1.2
21/01 Ed Stourton David Liddington Conservative 1.2
18/01 Evan Davis Michael Gove Conservative 1.2
25/01 Jeremy Paxman Lord Myners Labour 1.2
*
17/01 Jon Sopel Nigel Farage UKIP 1.1
25/01 Andrew Neil Chris Huhne Lib Dem 1.1
28/01 Andrew Neil John Hutton Labour 1.1
20/01 Andrew Neil Lord Tebbit Conservative 1.1
07/01 Evan Davis David Cameron Conservative 1.1
06/01 Jo Coburn Chris Bryant Labour 1.1
08/01 Shaun Ley Ed Miliband Labour 1.1
26/01 Ed Stourton Alistair Darling Labour 1.1
*
28/01 Andrew Neil Liam Fox Lib Dem 1
27/01 Jo Coburn Phil Woolas Labour 1
24/01 Jon Sopel Chris Grayling Conservative 1
28/01 Shelagh Fogarty John Hutton Labour 1
18/01 Andrew Neil Joan Walley Labour 1
24/01 Andrew Marr David Miliband Labour 1
26/01 Andrew Neil Liam Byrne Labour 1
31/01 Sophie Raworth George Osborne Labour 1
15/01 Brian Hanrahan Andrew Mitchell Conservative 1
19/01 Evan Davis Alan Johnson Labour 1
22/01 Gavin Esler Ed Balls Labour 1
20/01 Jo Coburn John Denham Labour 1
*
06/01 Eddie Mair Ed Miliband Labour 0.9
06/01 Jeremy Paxman Geoff Hoon Labour 0.9
05/01 Jo Coburn Stephen Timms Labour 0.9
26/01 Andrew Neil Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.9
13/01 Jo Coburn Peter Hain Labour 0.9
19/01 Andrew Neil Chris Grayling Conservative 0.9
24/01 Jon Sopel Harriet Harman Labour 0.9
13/01 Martha Kearney John Healey Labour 0.9
27/01 Andrew Neil Phil Woolas Labour 0.9
01/01 Felicity Evans Mike Foster Labour 0.9
19/01 James Naughtie John Reid Labour 0.9
22/01 Ed Stourton Ed Balls Labour 0.9
24/01 Norman Smith Lord Pearson UKIP 0.9
11/01 Jeremy Paxman Roy Hattersley Labour 0.9
04/01 Jeremy Paxman Khalid Mahmood Labour 0.9
*
06/01 Robin Lustig Geraldine Smith Labour 0.8
06/01 Robin Lustig Ben Bradshaw Labour 0.8
14/01 Eddie Mair John Mann Labour 0.8
20/01 Jo Coburn Lord Tebbit Conservative 0.8
22/01 Ed Stourton Lord Myners Labour 0.8
10/01 Shaun Ley David Trimble Conservative & Unionist 0.8
24/01 Glenn Campbell Fiona Hyslop SNP 0.8
03/01 Andrew Marr Gordon Brown Labour 0.8
15/01 John Humphrys Baroness Neville-Jones Conservative 0.8
*
08/01 Jo Coburn Karen Jennings Labour 0.7
08/01 Jo Coburn Ken Livingstone Labour 0.7
11/01 Jeremy Paxman John Prescott Labour 0.7
28/01 Eddie Mair Douglas Alexander Labour 0.7
14/01 Andrew Neil Don Foster Lib Dem 0.7
25/01 John Humphrys Lord Fowler Conservative 0.7
24/01 Andrew Marr Rory Stewart Conservative 0.7
18/01 Jeremy Paxman Tim Loughton Conservative 0.7
27/01 Eddie Mair Clare Short Ind Labour 0.7
08/01 Shaun Ley Mitchell McLaughlin Sinn Fein 0.7
12/01 Jo Coburn Margaret Beckett Labour 0.7
03/01 Carolyn Quinn Panjit Dhanda Labour 0.7
06/01 Martha Kearney David Laws Lib Dem 0.7
*
31/01 Adrian Masters Cheryl Gillan Conservative 0.6
08/01 Eddie Mair Alisdair McDonnell SDLP 0.6
13/01 Andrew Neil Nigel Farage UKIP 0.6
19/01 James Naughtie Chris Grayling Conservative 0.6
06/01 Martha Kearney Chris Bryant Labour 0.6
11/01 Eddie Mair Mitchell McLaughlin Sinn Fein 0.6
25/01 Sarah Montague Gerry Kelly Sinn Fein 0.6
07/01 James Naughtie Shaun Woodward Labour 0.6
09/01 James Naughtie Michael Portillo Conservative 0.6
27/01 Justin Webb Harriet Harman Labour 0.6
25/01 Felicity Evans Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.6
27/01 Sarah Montague Theresa May Conservative 0.6
27/01 Andrew Neil Michael Heseltine Conservative 0.6
17/01 Glenn Campbell Shona Robison SNP 0.6
28/01 Gavin Esler Denis MacShane Labour 0.6
29/01 Brian Hanrahan Sir Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.6
31/01 Carolyn Quinn Caroline Lucas Green 0.6
*
19/01 Andrew Neil Ken Livingstone Labour 0.5
31/01 Sophie Raworth Clare Short Ind Labour 0.5
15/01 James Naughtie Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.5
21/01 John Humphrys Kim Howells Labour 0.5
01/01 Eddie Mair Mark Oaten Lib Dem 0.5
27/01 Ed Stourton John Denham Labour 0.5
06/01 Martha Kearney Patricia Hewitt Labour 0.5
31/01 Jon Sopel Peter Mandelson Labour 0.5
04/01 Martha Kearney Rachael Reeves Labour 0.5
21/01 Sarah Montague Tom Watson Labour 0.5
26/01 John Humphrys Michael Cashman Labour 0.5
11/01 Martha Kearney David Miliband Labour 0.5
08/01 Robin Lustig Jim Allister TUV 0.5
27/01 Justin Webb David Laws Lib Dem 0.5
13/01 Evan Davis Andrew Lansley Conservative 0.5
*
24/01 Felicity Evans Carwyn Jones Labour 0.4
25/01 Eddie Mair Lord Myners Labour 0.4
11/01 Jeremy Paxman Shaun Woodward Labour 0.4
04/01 Martha Kearney Rory Stewart Conservative 0.4
12/01 Eddie Mair Patrick Mercer Conservative 0.4
13/01 Jeremy Paxman Vince Cable Lib Dem 0.4
17/01 Glenn Campbell Jeremy Purvis Lib Dem 0.4
28/01 Robin Lustig Chris Bryant Labour 0.4
13/01 Jo Coburn Charles Kennedy Lib Dem 0.4
23/01 Ritula Shah Patrick Mercer Conservative 0.4
18/01 Evan Davis Lord Myners Labour 0.4
04/01 Justin Webb Brian Paddick Lib Dem 0.4
05/01 Ritula Shah Dick Taverne Lib Dem 0.4
06/01 Martha Kearney Eric Pickles Conservative 0.4
07/11 Robin Lustig Lord Hunt Labour 0.4
09/01 Sarah Montague Glenys Kinnock Labour 0.4
17/01 Shirin Wheeler Glenis Willmott Labour 0.4
19/01 Ritula Shah Sir Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.4
28/01 James Naughtie Gordon Brown Labour 0.4
29/01 Gavin Esler Sir Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0.4
05/01 James Naughtie Hilary Benn Labour 0.4
22/01 James Naughtie Lord Philip Gould Labour 0.4
10/01 Carolyn Quinn Jeremy Browne Lib Dem 0.4
31/01 Shirin Wheeler Richard Howitt Labour 0.4
*
29/01 Brian Hanrahan Liam Fox Conservative 0.3
24/01 Glenn Campbell Ann McKechin Labour 0.3
19/01 Martha Kearney Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0.3
26/01 Felicity Evans Lord Mandelson Labour 0.3
12/01 Evan Davis Bernard Jenkin Conservative 0.3
28/01 Gavin Esler David Miliband Labour 0.3
03/01 Andrew Marr Michael Portillo Conservative 0.3
08/01 Sarah Montague Bridget Prentice Labour 0.3
11/01 James Naughtie Anne Begg Labour 0.3
24/01 Shirin Wheeler Claude Moraes Labour 0.3
29/01 Gavin Esler Margaret Beckett Labour 0.3
04/01 Justin Webb Ben Wallace Conservative 0.3
11/01 Robin Lustig Alex Massey Sinn Fein 0.3
27/01 Eddie Mair Clive Soley Labour 0.3
03/01 Carolyn Quinn Ed Vaizey Conservative 0.3
26/01 Sarah Montague Lord Joffe Labour 0.3
13/01 Evan Davis Ming Campell Lib Dem 0.3
17/01 Shirin Wheeler Geoffrey Van Orden Conservative 0.3
21/01 Eddie Mair Denis MacShane Labour 0.3
30/01 James Naughtie Chris Huhne Lib Dem 0.3
02/01 Sarah Montague Des Browne Labour 0.3
29/01 Brian Hanrahan Lord Falconer Labour 0.3
*
11/01 Eddie Mair Gregory Campbell DUP 0.2
21/01 John Humphrys Lord Wallace Lib Dem 0.2
01/01 Shaun Ley Louise Ellman Labour 0.2
31/01 Carolyn Quinn Tom Harris Labour 0.2
31/01 Carolyn Quinn Lynne Featherstone Lib Dem 0.2
17/01 Norman Smith Tom Harris Labour 0.2
24/01 Norman Smith Charles Walker Conservative 0.2
29/01 Eddie Mair Margaret Beckett Labour 0.2
03/01 Carolyn Quinn Patrick Cormack Conservative 0.2
08/01 Sarah Montague Hilary Benn Labour 0.2
11/01 James Naughtie Alex Massey Sinn Fein 0.2
11/01 James Naughtie Nick Clegg Lib Dem 0.2
17/01 Norman Smith Mark Field Conservative 0.2
30/01 Evan Davis Alistair Darling Labour 0.2
11/01 James Naughtie Ed Balls Labour 0.2
*
09/01 Sarah Montague Shaun Woodward Labour 0.1
24/01 Norman Smith Jeremy Browne Lib Dem 0.1
*
22/01 Ed Stourton Vince Cable Lib Dem 0
31/01 Shirin Wheeler Mary Honeyball Labour 0
11/01 Robin Lustig Barry Sheerman Labour 0
04/01 Martha Kearney James Arbuthnot Conservative 0
09/01 Sarah Montague Dave Sparks Labour 0
25/01 Eddie Mair David Ford Alliance 0
07/01 Evan Davis David Sparks Labour 0
08/01 Sarah Montague Kevin Barron Labour 0
05/01 Martha Kearney Greg Clark Conservative 0
05/01 Martha Kearney Geoffrey Robinson Labour 0
07/01 Martha Kearney John Knight Labour 0
16/01 Felicity Evans Tony Benn Labour 0
17/01 Shirin Wheeler Jean Lambert Green 0
25/01 Sarah Montague Douglas Alexander Labour 0
07/01 Shelagh Fogarty Nadine Dorries Conservative 0
11/01 Martha Kearney Jeffrey Donaldson DUP 0
13/01 Martha Kearney Douglas Alexander Labour 0
20/01 Martha Kearney Simon Hughes Lib Dem 0
31/01 Shirin Wheeler Kay Swinburne Conservative 0
04/01 Martha Kearney Karen Gillard Lib Dem 0
12/01 Martha Kearney Lord Carlisle Lib Dem 0
13/01 Martha Kearney Caroline Spelman Conservative 0
22/01 James Naughtie Phil Woolas Labour 0
10/01 Shaun Ley Jim Allister TUV 0
17/01 Glenn Campbell Lord Hunt Labour 0
20/01 Martha Kearney Theresa May Conservative 0
21/01 Eddie Mair Ed Davey Lib Dem 0
30/01 Carolyn Quinn Chris Grayling Conservative 0
04/01 Ritula Shah Rory Stewart Conservative 0
06/01 Jo Coburn Lord Strathclyde Conservative 0
06/01 Martha Kearney John McFall Labour 0
07/11 Robin Lustig Gareth Thomas Labour 0
08/01 Shaun Ley David Ford Alliance 0
14/01 Martha Kearney Douglas Alexander Labour 0
16/01 Felicity Evans Carl Minns Lib Dem 0
21/01 Shelagh Fogarty Peter Kilfoyle Labour 0
27/01 Robin Lustig Sir Alan Beith Lib Dem 0
01/01 Carolyn Quinn Keith Vaz Labour 0
14/01 Sarah Montague John Denham Labour 0
14/01 John Humphrys Alan Beith Lib Dem 0
15/01 Felicity Evans Douglas Alexander Labour 0
17/01 Glenn Campbell Richard Simpson Labour 0
17/01 Glenn Campbell Derek Brownlee Conservative 0
18/01 Martha Kearney Cathy Ashton Labour 0
29/01 Eddie Mair Chris Mullin Labour 0
01/01 Norman Smith Tony Benn Labour 0
05/01 Martha Kearney Sally Keeble Labour 0
12/01 Jeremy Paxman Ming Campbell Lib Dem 0
14/01 John Humphrys Douglas Alexander Labour 0
20/01 Martha Kearney Jim Knight Labour 0
22/01 Ed Stourton Tim Lawton Conservative 0
24/01 Glenn Campbell Margo MacDonald Independent 0
27/01 Ed Stourton Jeremy Browne Lib Dem 0
31/01 Jonny Dymond Ed Miliband Labour 0
03/01 Paddy O'Connell Kim Howell Labour 0
04/01 Evan Davis Malcolm Rifkind Conservative 0
09/01 Ritula Shah Sir Patrick Cormack Conservative 0
12/01 Eddie Mair Sally Keeble Labour 0
12/01 Martha Kearney Keith Vaz Labour 0
25/01 Felicity Evans Alex Atwood SDLP 0
20/01 Sarah Montague Nicola Sturgeon SNP 0
28/01 Evan Davis David Blunkett Labour 0
13/01 Martha Kearney Danny Alexander Lib Dem 0
02/01 Justin Webb John Major Conservative 0
17/01 Jon Sopel Salma Yaqoob Respect 0
12/01 Martha Kearney Lord Falconer Labour 0
24/01 Shirin Wheeler Andrew Duff Lib Dem 0
28/01 Justin Webb Claude Moraes Labour 0
13/01 Andrew Neil Charles Kennedy Lib Dem 0

PAXO HAMMERS HAMMOND AGAIN

*
Unlike Radio 4's The World Tonight, which characteristically discussed the economy with Vince Cable only, Newsnight gathered Lord Myners, Philip Hammond and, yes, Vince Cable to chew over banking reform. Jeremy Paxman's interruptions (as ever on such occasions) were not fairly distributed, as the interruption coefficients show very clearly:
*
Philip Hammond - 10 interruptions, I.C of 3.2
Vince Cable - 3 interruptions, I.C. of 1.3
Lord Myners - 4 interruptions, I.C. of 1.2
*
This had followed a bank-bashing report by Paul Mason, featuring a new BBC favourite, former high-flying banker and 'City Boy' author Geraint Anderson (son of Labour MP Donald Anderson), now a sharp critic of the bankers.
*

CLEAR PROOF OF BEEB BIAS

*
Now having recorded the interruption coefficients of over 1700 interviews with UK politicians since the start of June 2009, I've built up a lot of data. Being a quiet, slippy Sunday, I thought I'd pool all my monthly speadsheets into a single superspreadsheet & see what that showed me now.
*
The thing that stood out straightaway (as it will to you too) was the colour-coordination of the Top 30 interviews - i.e. the toughest of the tough. Here is that chart, grouped by political party:
*
Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 5.7
Andrew Neil Phillip Hammond Conservative 3.9
Jo Coburn Phillip Hammond Conservative 3.6
Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 3.6
James Naughtie Phillip Hammond Conservative 3.5
Andrew Neil Chris Grayling Conservative 3.3
Jeremy Paxman Philip Hammond Conservative 3.1
Andrew Neil Philip Hammond Conservative 3.1
Andrew Neil Damian Green Conservative 3
Andrew Neil Andrew Lansley Conservative 2.9
Glenn Campbell David Mundell Conservative 2.9
Anita Anand Alun Cairns Conservative 2.9
Andrew Neil Jeremy Hunt Conservative 2.8
Jo Coburn Justine Greening Conservative 2.8
Andrew Neil Phillip Hammond Conservative 2.8
John Humphrys George Osborne Conservative 2.8
Kirsty Wark Greg Clark Conservative 2.7
Jo Coburn Grant Shapps Conservative 2.5
Adrian Masters Andrew RT Davies Conservative 2.5
Jeremy Paxman Michael Gove Conservative 2.5
Andrew Neil Mark Hoban Conservative 2.5

Jeremy Paxman Liam Byrne Labour 3.7
Jeremy Paxman Phil Woolas Labour 3.4
Jeremy Paxman Bill Rammell Labour 2.9
Jeremy Paxman Ben Bradshaw Labour 2.8
Jeremy Paxman Lord West Goat 2.8
Jeremy Paxman Denis MacShane Labour 2.7

Andrew Neil Jo Swinson Lib Dem 2.9

Jeremy Paxman Alex Salmond SNP 2.6

Anita Anand Glenn Tingle UKIP 2.8

*
As you can see 21 of the 30 toughest interviews on the BBC have been against Conservative MPs, with one against UKIP - making that 22/30 against right-of-centre politicians. That's proof of BBC bias if you ever needed it.
*
Also remarkable is the range of interviewers interrupting Conservatives and UKIP, as compared to only Jeremy Paxman (respect to him!) for Labour!!!! That's even more proof of BBC bias (but also a feather in Paxo's cap).
*
Also standing out is the name of Philip Hammond. One thing this shows me is that I haven't always spelled his christian name properly! The other is that he gets a far worse time of it on the BBC than his Labour opposite number, that slippery, giggling rascal Liam Byrne. (I think that might strengthen my case with Mr Hammond!)
*

WHEN DAVID MET ANDY

*
Last Sunday's Andrew Marr interview with Gordon Brown scored a fairly low interruption coefficient of 0.8. prompting me to set him a challenge for this week, when he announced he was going to be interviewing David Cameron:

Over to you then Andrew Marr! I will be watching (and counting) next Sunday. Behave yourself, score an I.C. somewhere around 0.8 & you'll prove me wrong!!!

Did he prove me wrong? How did Mr Cameron fair with Andrew Marr?
*
Well, adding in all the fragmentary bits at the end (on the sofa with Maureen Lipman and Chris Evans), the interview lasted just over 27 minutes - a little shorter (by about three minutes or so) than the one with Brown. Though a little shorter, it still contained significantly more interruptions -38 (compared to 25 against Brown), giving the interview an I.C. of 1.4. Though not on the scale of the 2.1 Marr scored against Dave during the party conferences, this was still a much tougher interview than last week's. Marr has not proved me wrong after all! Oh well, he had his chance.
*
Andrew Marr also failed another test I set him last week.
http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenge-to-andrew-marr.html

He (Brown) also got a lot of time to project himself as an international statesman. If Cameron becomes prime minister, what will he do about Yemen, or Somalia, or Afghanistan? Will Marr ask him about this next week? Or will he not give Cameron the chance to pose as an international-statesman-in-waiting, and stick to questioning him almost exclusively on domestic issues instead (cuts, cuts, cuts,
Eton, cuts)?

Well, though Eton didn't come up - though almost inevitably Lord Ashcroft did!! - it was indeed domestic issues, and above all cuts, that dominated the interview. The one very brief exception concerned the EU. And yes, there was nothing, absolutely nothing, about Yemen, Somalia, or Afghanistan. Marr, as predicted, gave Cameron no chance whatsoever to pose as an international-statesman-in-waiting. If viewers wanted to know what David Cameron would do, were he elected prime minister, about the Afghan War or the international terrorism threat - two of the biggest issues facing anyone who would be prime minister and facing us too -, they would be none the wiser this morning, thanks to Andrew Marr.
*
Next week it will be Nick Clegg. I predict (going off past experience) an I.C for Cleggy somewhere between the 0.8 for Gordon Brown and the 1.4 for David Cameron. How about 1.1!!??
*
*
The paper review this week featured two active Labour supporters, actress Maureen Lipman and socialist historian Tristram Hunt. (Why?). Maureen Lipman felt sorry for 'poor' Jack Straw, who is, she said, being 'crucified by the Daily Mail' , and both guests and presenter glided over the Peter Watt story with alacrity ("this character", Marr called him in passing). When Hunt used the Iris Robinson story to opine about the dark hypocrisy beneath moral conservatism, the other two 'mmm'-ed and nodded their agreement.
*
*
Two things made my stomach sink this morning. The first was Gordon Brown saying that if he wins the election he will serve a full-term as prime minister. Urgh, what a thought! The second was David Cameron telling Marr that he was a big fan of the BBC. He did have some caveats though, and there's a faint glimmer of hope in that. BBC bias was not among his little list of caveats, which is worrying. Still, he may just have been being polite! We can hope.

JO COBURN DOES A NAUGHTIE

*
Jim Naughtie's crimes against impartiality are nothing new really. The BBC political correspondent Jo Coburn is, of course, also a co-presenter on The Daily Politics & she's been proving again that, when the cat's away (i.e. Andrew Neil) and she's in charge, she likes to play at pouncing on Conservatives. Her crimes against impartiality (as an interviewer) are becoming ever clearer as she becomes more prominent on the show.
*
Yesterday saw Stephen Timm for Labour, Grant Shapps for the Conservatives and Danny Alexander for the Lib Dems gathering to discuss the election campaign. Here are the interruption coefficients scored for each by Jo Coburn:
*
Stephen Timms - 0.9
Grant Shapps - 2.5
Danny Alexander - 1.5
*
This is not new as far as Jo is concerned. There was this classic instance from October:
http://beebbiascraig.blogspot.com/2009/10/justine-faces-two-pronged-attack.html
There the Conservative Justine Greening scored 2.8 against 0.9 for Labour's Geoffrey Robinson.
*
Back to yesterday & a comparison between Jo's interruptions against Mr Timms and Mr Shapps (ignoring the Lib Dem!):
*
Here's how long it took for the interruptions to come during each answer given:
*
The interruptions against Timms:
I1: after 7 seconds
I2: after 23 seconds
I3: after 5 seconds
*
The interruptions against Shapps:
I1: after 2 seconds
I2: after 17 seconds
I3: after 3 seconds
I4: after 8 seconds
I5: after 2 seconds
I6: after 8 seconds
*
Jo's manner was noticably more assertive (with a particularly mocking grin at one stage) against Grant Shapps and she was far more excitable when interviewing him. (It's probably left-wing blood lust). She also asked Mr Shapps a higher proportion of specific questions (about Tory plans to cut the deficit) as opposed to general questions, of which Mr Timms got three (two of them about how a long election campaign could tire the public). We could be seeing much more of this now that Anita Anand has gone on maternity leave.
*
*
*

CODA

*
For trivia collectors, the same edition of the programme saw BBC political correspondent Ben 'Son of Tony' Wright discussing the election campaign and using the word 'Tories' three times and the word 'Conservatives' not even once.
*
Also there was a report on the 'leader debates' by young Adam Fleming, which featured as its only talking heads Ric Bailey, chief political advisor of the BBC (and executive editor of Question Time, so should that really be Ric Bailey - for fans of my colour-coordination?), and David (formerly Dave) Hill, former Labour spin doctor (who reminds me a little of the uptight spin doctor Steve Fleming (played wonderfully by David Haig) in The Thick Of It.) Again, no non-Labour politicos were featured in this report.
*

A CHALLENGE TO ANDREW MARR

*
Andrew Marr began the new year with an interview with Gordon Brown (as he did last year). Next week it will be David Cameron's turn and, presumably, the following week we'll see young Nick Clegg in the studio.
*
The Brown interview was a large-scale one, lasting 30 minutes (and 43 seconds!) and containing 25 interruptions. This results in an interruption coefficient of 0.8.
*
This gives us another useful benchmark for comparison.
*
The last weekly series of party leader interviews was at the time of last year's party conferences and saw these notorious results for Andrew Marr (with Cameron being interrupted over twice as often as Brown):
*
Brown - 1.0
Clegg - 1.3
Cameron - 2.1
*
Today's 0.8 figure for Brown shows that it was a somewhat softer interview this time than it was last time (the interview with the eye-sight question!). Indeed, 15 of those 25 interruptions came in just 10 minutes, as the topic turned to the economy - leaving only 10 interruptions for the remaining 20 minutes (and 3 of those were used on 'the playing fields of Eton', where Marr got the chance to say that Cameron was a 'Tory toff' and repeat that there are too many old Etonians at the top of the Tory party!!). This is not unusual when Marr interviews a senior Labour politician. Brown, therefore, got plenty of time to talk, without much interruption, for a large part of the interview, while only facing a few minutes of concentrated fire. He also got a lot of time to project himself as an international statesman. If Cameron becomes prime minister, what will he do about Yemen, or Somalia, or Afghanistan? Will Marr ask him about this next week? Or will he not give Cameron the chance to pose as an international-statesman-in-waiting, and stick to questioning him almost exclusively on domestic issues instead (cuts, cuts, cuts, Eton, cuts)?
*
We'll see next week what happens to David Cameron this time round & whether or not this will provide further proof of pro-Labour bias on Marr's part - a bias previously displayed most keenly prior to the June 2009 elections and during the party conferences seasons i.e. when it most matters. We're now at the beginning of the year of the general election, so it matters again.
*
Over to you then Andrew Marr! I will be watching (and counting) next Sunday. Behave yourself, score an I.C. somewhere around 0.8 & you'll prove me wrong!!!