Wednesday, March 03, 2010

One More Heave (UPDATED: Not)

This seems to have passed people by. Speaking on Newsnight on Monday night, former Number Ten adviser Peter Hyman said this about Gordon Brown's temper.

I’ve seen him push people, but everybody knows that Gordon Brown loses his temper.

You can see it on iPlayer HERE [17:22]

Isn’t this admission slightly at odds with Brown’s all encompassing TV denial? If you remember on C4 our PM claimed: ‘Any allegations that have been made about hitting or shoving people or anything are completely untrue.’


UPDATE: A couple of people have asked me to look at this again, suggesting that Hyman actually says "I haven't seen him pushing people...". Having now played it back a couple of times I think they are right. I could delete this post but it's probably better for me to admit I got it wrong and be open about it. Apologies.

19 comments:

Peter Daly said...

Oh for crying out loud, this is truly pathetic.

Cynic said...

Oh be fair Iain! The PM couldn't possibly be both a BULLY and a LIAR could he?

Anonymous said...

iain, your blog is very underwhelming at the moment. What's up? Can't you think of anything interesting to discuss?

Marky W said...

Too easy to reinterprete 'push' as 'goad', rather than 'shove' to get much traction, I fear.

Doesn't stop the man being a loon, mind you, just doesn't add to the argument much.

Unknown said...

Hearing aids needed Iain - he says 'haven't...' he has clearly picked up islington speech patterns from teaching at school but still seems very clear to me that he is saying the complete opposite of what you are alleging.

Not a sheep said...

Yon mean that Gordon Brown and/or his spokesman may have lied; I am shocked.

hafod said...

Tories guilty of flogging a dead horse. Next.

(I hate Labour and even I think Brown is benefitting from these pathetic attacks on him)

Despatch Box said...

But Iain, in their lexicon 'shoving' is different to 'pushing'!

Anonymous said...

@ hafod "(I hate Labour and even I think Brown is benefitting from these pathetic attacks on him)"

You are SO right about that. SO right... I just feel like I could never ever consider voting Tory when I hear this kind of rubbish...

Iain Dale should be locked away during the general election along with Nadine Dorries. They are huge liabilities for DC.

Salmondnet said...

When is a shove not a shove? When it's a new Labour push.

Lasteddie said...

he said... 'I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM PUSH...'; I am no fan of GB but get the facts right otherwise you undermine the other clear evidence and by the way we are all bored of this 'bullying' thing.. In case you hadn't realised we mostly think he is a bully or most don't care..

Unknown said...

Aren't you going to correct this blogpost Iain? - ask daniel Finkelstein or Olly Grender if you still can't hear what Peter Hyman actually said - a quality i have always admired on your blog is your willingness to admit when you have got something wrong. here, you have just got what he said wrong - - that is why noone in the studio reacts and why noone watching at home reacted (except perhaps you!) imagine if he had said what you claim - you think that kirsty walk wouldn't have jumped on it!!? Or are you one of those bbc conspiracy theorists???

Tim Johnson said...

I thought I heard "I haven't seen him, but everyone knows ....".

Unknown said...

Thank you Iain - my faith in your integrity remains!

Unsworth said...

@ Canvas

You're underwhelmed?

Are you obliged to be here?

Praguetory said...

I misheard the same as you if it's any comfort.

Unknown said...

I heard it the first time - I have listened several times since - you were right first time.

Unknown said...

You muppet! Put your hearing aid in next time!

................................. said...

He should be the one apologising for mumbling his words. What kind of education must those kids be getting?