16/12/2011 Daily Politics

Afternoon, welcome to the Daily Politics.

Labour hold the Feltham by-election. The IMF warn of a 1930s type

Depression. And the French have got it in for us. Again. But more

important than any of this, it's the final Daily Politics of the

year. Ah! But fear not, because it's our

annual festive quiz. Hurray! It's that time again where

we take stock, and look back over the events of the past 12 months.

Well, that's going to cheer us all up! Maybe we should look to the

future, at all the things that could happen next year. This could

be a long programme. But fear not, because joining me today to battle

it out for this brand new Daily Politics mug are the three wise men

of politics. Labour's Charles Falconer. Chris

Rennard from the Liberal Democrats. And, seeing as we've got two lords

a leaping, we felt we needed a commoner. So we plumped for the

Conservatives' Jacob Rees-Mogg. Welcome to show.

And, like all good quiz shows, we've got buzzers. So let's give

them a try. Calm down. A pygmy. I'm not Tony Blair.

We'll split the quiz into three parts. Labour, Lib Dem. And first

the Conservatives. Questions in a moment. But to kick us off, let's

take a look back at their year. I should warn you, there's flash

photography right from the start. And tonight, British forces are in

Colonel Gaddafi said he would hunt you down like rats, but you showed

the courage of Lyons. Any money in the box, Chancellor?

If the rest of Europe heads into recession it may be hard to avoid

one here in the UK. This is criminality, pure and

What is on offer it isn't in Britain's interests so what did not

Jacob Rees-Mogg, you are renting a better than you thought you would,

but 2012 looks grim. The economy is in a difficult situation and the

euro remains in crisis. There is no solution to the crisis, the thing

they recommended last weekend amounted to nothing. Since the

Chancellor has said that the biggest drag on the economy that is

the uncertainty of the eurozone crisis, events are out of your

government's control. Economic events often outside government

control but the government cannot expect the economy to react

immediately. They can set the framework where business can do

business which is what this government is doing. Do you get the

feeling, the official forecast does not say it, but there is an

expectation of the session. clearly is difficult, but we are

not in the position of Greece, or Ireland, where they are cutting

public sector salaries by 6% in Ireland. There is a sense, it

doesn't matter who would be in power now, it would be heavy

pounding for any government. sense that the politicians have any

control over events is huge at the moment. George Osborne has had to

come back to the despatch box to revise his forecast. We have no

control over Europe, I don't mean just the failure to agree. The

eurozone, they cannot get that right. Politicians are looking to

the public as a whole, as very diminished figures. In a way, I was

struck by the way George Osborne had to rip up his economic policy

effectively, he won't get the structural deficit down by 2015,

the growth figures were wrong. And the country said, what do you

expect? The idea that government is in control, what Chris said was

admirable, but hopeless. It is whistling in the wind. The one

issue the coalition thought its part of them in the agreement, was

Europe, and Europe has come back to dominate politics. They are already

planning for a summit at the end of January, it continues to be an

issue. It clearly divides the coalition, does the coalition

divide -- survive? There are large differences in the coalition, on

how the health service might be changed, on Europe. It is not wrong

in a coalition to have differences. No one country controls its own

economy. If this country's economy and every other is to avoid

problems, we need to work together more closely. An interesting answer.

Could you answer my question? Does the Coalition survive? It is stable

and strong. Will it remain so? next general election will be in a

2015. You are tap-dancing around the Christmas tree. Suddenly for

the first time, David Cameron is a hero among his own backbench MPs.

He has always been, since the day he became leader. A hero to us and

the country. He has done the right thing on Europe. And now? To ensure

any agreement that comes through does not use the commission, that

it has to be outside the framework. That is what is being discussed at

the moment. If other treaties come through which they probably will,

that is the time to renegotiate. The Conservatives are committed as

a party to a renegotiation of our terms of membership, the coalition

is not. I ultimately want a renegotiation of the treaties, but

that comes with a majority Conservative government. Let's get

on with the questions. Question one. Which of these pairs of shoes do

Is it the gumboots? It is not. sparkling ones. It is. Who do these

belong to? You were second in. You have to get this bit right. To a

film star. They were from the Wizard of Oz Question two. Who's

the tallest? Jacob Rees Mogg. Give me a chance

to read out the names. Daniel Kawczynski it is the tallest MP in

history. 6 ft 8? 6 ft 9. The average national height is... 5 ft

9. He is the tallest MP ever. for Shrewsbury. Still no points!

Now for the final question in this round. Time for a bit of popular

culture. Who came second in this year's X Factor? Misha B. Marcus

Collins. Amelia Lily. Or Two Shoes? It was Marcus he was second.

you watch it? No, but I had spies giving the posts on what was going

on. What are these cause? -- the scores?

Let's move on to the Liberal Democrats. It's been quite a year

for them. Let's take a look back. It was my turn tonight to get a

Cause to listen and to engage. you not just have a slight argument

This has become a deeply, and appallingly, personalised campaign.

That is a new low in British It is not going to happen for three

years but divorce is inevitable. am bitterly disappointed by the

outcome of last week's summit. So, or Chris Rennard, you've lost

the vote, you did terribly in the polls, you are now in cahoots with

the most Euro-sceptic government in the history of this government --

country. I long for the day when we could blame unpopularity on mid

term. Used to benefit from it. have a few years to show it was

worthwhile and people are better off because we are there. The

Liberal Democrats have suffered but the country is better because we

have done what we have done. country is heading back into

recession. We are not in a situation of Greece, Ireland or

Italy. We are better Ross, because the Lib Dems are here. Lower income

families are paying lower income tax. And there is more free child

care because of the Liberal Democrats. It would be worse if the

Conservatives had overall majority. Do you like being in a coalition

where you are portrayed as the nasty evil blood-sucking party and

they do the cuddly things. I am sure they don't mean it. I think

there is some validity in that argument. The vulnerable are now

being protected. If it wasn't for the Lib Dems, you would have

brought back the workhouse, kids would be going out in days.

This isn't a realistic analysis of the coalition. The deserved his

could have done a large number of things they have done through the

coalition. The great thing the Lib Dems have brought is raising the

Thresher -- tax threshold. There are good bits of the coalition.

Politicians have to work with what the electorate gives them. Do you

think Nick Clegg will survive as a Liberal Democrat leader?

Liberal Democrats, the reason why the coalition is working is because

stepping outside the coalition represents political disaster. The

Liberal Democrats are bound in their own interest to get rid of

Nick Clegg in 2014. To fight a new election? Precisely. It is unlikely

on the basis of what we are seeing, they can say we supported the

recovery of the economy. They have wrecked the position in Europe,

what did they achieve? What is the answer? Labour can't say what they

would do? I elected Nick Clegg as leader. He was then working in the

European Commission. In trade talks with China. The answer to the

question? The ambition of the party was to move from protest to power.

Nick Clegg has achieved that. Charlie has a long memory and

remember the Government's doing, do things which are popular,

popularity can recover. He is formidably strong in TV debates.

That could have been a one off, novelty value. There was a

remarkable admission by Nick Clegg when he said to the Liberal

Democrat MPs, I am not going to go down in history as the last leader

of the Liberal Democrats by forcing a general election. If we went to

the country now, we would be wiped The party will not end with the

leadership of Nick Clegg. But he would be wiped out in a General

Election now? I think people vote for individual MPs as much as for a

government. If you look at the strength of the Bull Democrat MPs,

many times you and others have forecast the demise of the Liberal

Democrats. I never have. It's been pretty good. Can we get into the

text? I'm sure we can, but I have had different questions with you,

at many party conferences. When you said it will be so difficult for

to fail, we have always bounced back. Our MPs will do well again.

If you can't find it, we will have a blank space. What would you say

if David Cameron said, Europe is such a big issue, we've got to go

to the country, let's do it and fight over this issue? I do think

it is more important than the coalition. If the Lib Dems were

saying the price of coalition is that we signed up to the treaty,

the Tories could not accept that. It would be impossible to go to an

election. It is in the hands of the Lib Dems. If they want the

coalition to work, it can be made to work. Are you tempted to take

advantage of the politics of the moment? I am not. The Prime

Minister gave a commitment to make it work for five years. We would be

damaged at their electorate if we Let's get back to the quiz. The

Daily Politics Christmas quiz. There is a cat, there is Ekaterina

Zatuliveter. Which one? Is it the cat? Criminal proceedings? It is

not. You get a penalty point for interrupting with the Ronan said.

We have had Ekaterina Zatuliveter, Chris Huhne, or some election

literature. Which is the wrong one out? It's pretty easy, really.

was found not to be a Russian spy after all. Do you think Chris Huhne

is a Russian spy? I was being flippant. I cannot work out between

the four of them. Could it be it... No, forget it. I was going to say

the cat again. You just said that the cat! No wonder you don't get on

to proper quiz shows. The answer is Chris Huhne. Why? All the others

have been in front of a judge so far. The Liberal Democrat wife

stole the cat. The Russian was in front of a judge. Dodgy election

literature from the Lib-Dems, that had to be in front of a judge. But

Chris Huhne has not been in front of a judge. In 2011. Neither has

the cat! That is a terrible question. You are obsessed with

that cat. He was the shortest of these people? John Bercow... Sarah

Teather. The correct answer. You have got to be quicker, you two. A

soft life in the Lords has made them slow. Jacob has a Razorlight

What does TOWIE stand for? What a useless shower! It is a television

programme. It stands for... Because it is such a long name... The Only

Way Is Essex. It is one of the scripted reality programmes. You

have clearly not CNET. What does MIC stand for? Made in Chelsea.

Have you seen that? You see, it is the posh version of TOWIE. They

have really got their fingers on the Bozo of popular culture. Let's

look at the scores. -- bowser. Charles and Chris, one. I think he

has zero, actually. Charles, you are on 0. Chris is one, Jacob is

three. Pulling away, I would say. Poled away! Being the politically

neutral BBC, I am advised to say that we should take a look at

Can you tell us why you have You must be the first Mafia boss in

history that didn't know he was running a criminal enterprise.

steps that the Government could take tomorrow. I'm not Tony Blair.

It is not the job of politicians and we do not support strikes.

Nobody wants to see the strike happen, in fact. But both sides

So, Charlie Falconer. Unemployment is rising, heading towards 3

million. Living standards have been squeezed more tightly than at any

time since 1925. The economy is not growing. We stare recession in the

face and the Labour opposition is behind in the polls. Explain.

think no political leader is emerging with solutions. I think

the situation is incredibly difficult. It's not surprising that

we are not emerging. 18 months ago we lost a General Election. You are

not surprised? I would have thought you would be 20 points ahead.

Everybody recognises it is a very dire situation. We have just lost a

General Election, 18 months ago. The other parties are being given a

chance and it is very difficult. We got considerable advantages. We

have remained united. We have not gone off the page as far as the

public are concerned. There is still the choice to be made, is my

feeling. If your party watches PMQs, do they think, we chose the wrong

brother? I don't know what they think about that. There was a smile

coming on your face. I was going to make a little quip. I'm not sure if

they watch PMQs, even on your marvellous programme. I am sure

there are people that do. But I don't think that is the medium that

is influencing people on which leader to go for. The traditional

view about what was going to happen in British politics was that it

would depend on the economy. That view has been replaced by a sense

of powerlessness of politicians. The one who appears most to have

caught the mood over the next year or two is the one that will win.

That is why I am not as surprised as you, obviously. No mainstream

commentator thought Michael Foot had any solutions. At this

particular point, he was doing much better in the polls than Ed

Miliband. Michael Foot was doing better. What were the mainstream

commentators say -- saying? Margaret Thatcher does have a way

forward. Before the Falklands war, we thought she was going to lose

the election. I was not around them. But it is because... You were not

around? I was alive! You were living with Tony Blair. But I was

Given that if it was a Conservative government there would be a protest

vote, the anti-government vote would go to the Lib Dems as well,

that would not happen. If you don't like this government, there is only

one place in mainstream politics to go to, Labour. Doesn't it make it

more surprising? Labour do not really have the benefit -- Lib-Dems

do not have that benefit of protest. Before 2010, during the course of

the campaign, people had lost confidence in Labour's policies on

the economy. Since they have offered nothing difference in 2010,

they cannot recover their position. Jacob Rees-Mogg, you are something

of a specialist. What advice would you offer Ed Miliband to improve

his appeal with the masses? Resign. I don't understand why they haven't.

Ed Balls is so much more impressive. I don't think he's got any appeal.

If you look at the Tory party, Howard went through leaders, when

our leaders do not work out, we get a new one. It's a bit more ruthless.

I'm becoming an increasing fan of Ed Balls. I think he is capable and

an incredibly strong performer will stop you say that in an entirely

Your party doesn't want Ed Miliband to fall on his sword? From our

point of view, it's great. The longer the better. Does he survive

until the next election? He does. You don't do regicide? There was

quite a move to try and get rid of Gordon Brown in the build-up to the

2010 election, when he was very low in the polls, very unpopular. The

Labour Party would not budge. I think he will fight the next

election. Since you are also good at this quiz, let's go back to it.

Time for your final set of questions. Do since you like Ed

Balls, Jacob. Ed Balls cries at which programme? You know before I

had even mentioned the name. I know what he cries at. Is it the

Antiques Roadshow? It is. The other choices were Question Time, some of

us do cry at that. Downton Abbey. Or Lassia, I always cry at that.

Which of these is the odd one out, Ken Mackintosh, Tom Harris, Johann

Lamont. Kate McIntosh, the only one not running to be leader of the

Scottish Labour Party? No. Macintosh? Ed Miliband couldn't

remember his name? Correct answer. Let's see this clip. Can you name

three of them? There is Tom Harris, Beria's Johann Lamont and a third

candidate, who has also put himself forward. The front runner, Ken

Mackintosh. Yes. The front-runner, but you can't made him?

Mackintosh will be an excellent candidate.

There, but for the grace of God, go close. I bet you would not have

known? I have made worse mistakes than that. Let's have the final

question. It is another popular culture one. Pop star Justin

Bieber's plans are known as what? Bieberheads, Beliebers,

Biebermaniacs. No! You just guessed. Yes. It is great route. From

-- it is Beliebers, from the song, I am a Beliebers. You had a chance

to get it right and you were wrong. I can't believe not one of them

knew about TOWIE. To think Essex used to dominate the political

culture. Time to find out who is the lucky winner. Charles has got

two. Chris has got two. Jacob has got two. I went down! You took one

away. No, I think I took one away from you. I think we need a recount.

It's a bit like elections in Glasgow. I think Jacob won, myself.

You get the mug. That is it for this week. We thank our three wise