0:00:02 > 0:00:10Tonight, the PM lays down the gauntlet to the Kremlin.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14We will consider in detail the response from the Russian state.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Should there be no credible response, we will conclude this
0:00:18 > 0:00:22action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against
0:00:22 > 0:00:23the United Kingdom.
0:00:23 > 0:00:29the United Kingdom.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30has 24 hours to come
0:00:30 > 0:00:34up with an explanation for the Salisbury attack or Britain
0:00:34 > 0:00:38will consider it an unlawful use of force against the UK.
0:00:38 > 0:00:47The nerve gas crisis is escalating into a full-blown crisis.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Authoritarianism is on the rise in Poland and it's spooking the EU.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Europe threatens to remove Warsaw's voting rights,
0:00:53 > 0:01:01while the Poles resent Brussels' high handedness.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I will be recommending a short, independent lead inquiry looking
0:01:17 > 0:01:19into allegations of bullying by staff.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22into allegations of bullying by staff.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23Newsnight's bullying of parliamentary staff provokes
0:01:23 > 0:01:25action from the Leader of the House.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27But does her promise satisfy the MP who brought the issue
0:01:27 > 0:01:28to the commons today?
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And Steve Smith recalls the moment Ken Dodd revealed
0:01:31 > 0:01:34his love of Newsnight.
0:01:34 > 0:01:41Why did you decide to talk to us?I thought it was about time you had a
0:01:41 > 0:01:44bit of encouragement.
0:01:44 > 0:01:51bit of encouragement.
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Good evening, so what happens now?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Good evening, so what happens now?
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Moscow has been given 24 hours by the UK government
0:01:56 > 0:01:58to explain what happened in the Salisbury chemical attack.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01The Foreign office has summoned the Russian ambassador to explain
0:02:01 > 0:02:03whether the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter
0:02:03 > 0:02:06was a direct action by the Russian state or the result of that
0:02:06 > 0:02:08government losing control of its stock of nerve agents.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11This afternoon in the Commons, the Prime Minister stated
0:02:11 > 0:02:14that the chemical used was a weapons grade state-produced substance
0:02:14 > 0:02:17from Russia's Novichok programme and said if no credible response
0:02:17 > 0:02:21was forthcoming from Russia by the end of tomorrow Britain
0:02:21 > 0:02:23would conclude the action amounted to a use of force
0:02:23 > 0:02:26on British territory.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29So, after firm words from the PM the ball is now in Russia's court.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30What happens next?
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Let's ask Mark Urban our diplomatic editor, who's been on this
0:02:34 > 0:02:38from the beginning.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Talk us through what we know of the nerve agent or the programme,
0:02:43 > 0:02:48Novichok, mentioned for the first time today.At the risk of sounding
0:02:48 > 0:02:53like a pedant it is pronounced Novichok. It defines things in quite
0:02:53 > 0:02:59a few ways, but it is still quite a broad category. There are something
0:02:59 > 0:03:03like 100 different agents that are contained within that programme.
0:03:03 > 0:03:09Firstly, let's talk about what it now makes clear. For a few days they
0:03:09 > 0:03:14did not know what they were dealing with. The Novichok agents were
0:03:14 > 0:03:18designed not to be detectable by standard Nato chemical agent
0:03:18 > 0:03:24detectors. That would explain a lot of things including why those
0:03:24 > 0:03:28warnings to people at Salisbury did not come for a few days, because
0:03:28 > 0:03:33they had not detected it for the first few days and that also
0:03:33 > 0:03:36conditioned the treatment that was given to Sergei Skripal and his
0:03:36 > 0:03:40daughter. They were treated for nerve agent poisoning relatively
0:03:40 > 0:03:44quickly, but they did not know what they were dealing with. The normal
0:03:44 > 0:03:50ones like sarin are detectable. Secondly, it may add some insight
0:03:50 > 0:03:55into why this may have happened earlier than many people think. The
0:03:55 > 0:04:00table was found to be contaminated in a restaurant and it could easily
0:04:00 > 0:04:05have been a few hours before the pair were finally seriously ill.
0:04:05 > 0:04:11Various theories, could it have been a liquid put on their food? That has
0:04:11 > 0:04:16already been touted. Other people are looking at one of the other
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Novichok agents which is a powder. It could have been in the
0:04:20 > 0:04:24ventilation system or in the car, so when it started it blew into the car
0:04:24 > 0:04:30and it was contained within that Shell. They parked and then they
0:04:30 > 0:04:34went to the restaurant and they were shedding contamination there and in
0:04:34 > 0:04:39the pub before they fell ill. All of these things have been defined and
0:04:39 > 0:04:42now increasingly it will define the politics, including the drama today
0:04:42 > 0:04:51in the Commons.We know we are in a diplomatic stand-off. The Russians
0:04:51 > 0:04:56have been given 24 hours to provide an explanation of how one of the
0:04:56 > 0:05:01nerve agents ended up on British streets. An ultimatum after an act
0:05:01 > 0:05:07of apparently shocking recklessness. It is not a new strategy for Russia
0:05:07 > 0:05:11for the breadcrumbs so to speak to lead back to the Kremlin. Part of
0:05:11 > 0:05:16this is revenge, but the bigger part is really about delivering a message
0:05:16 > 0:05:20to Russians inside Russia, to Putin's own electorate in advance of
0:05:20 > 0:05:24the elections. And his security services who are enabling him to
0:05:24 > 0:05:31remain in power.As investigators took samples late last week, the
0:05:31 > 0:05:35diagnosis of Britain's chemical warfare community became clearer.
0:05:35 > 0:05:42Nerve agent, part a family nicknamed Novichok in the old Soviet Union,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46highly potent and very hard to detect. The Prime Minister today
0:05:46 > 0:05:50called out Russia.On Wednesday we will consider in detail the response
0:05:50 > 0:05:55from the Russian state. Should there be no credible response, we will
0:05:55 > 0:05:59conclude this action amounts to an unlawful use of force by the Russian
0:05:59 > 0:06:04state against the United Kingdom. And I will come back to this house
0:06:04 > 0:06:08and set out the full range of measures that we will take in
0:06:08 > 0:06:13response. Mr Speaker, this attempted murder using weapons grade nerve
0:06:13 > 0:06:19agent in a British town was not just crime against Sergei Skripal and his
0:06:19 > 0:06:24daughter. It was an indiscriminate and reckless act against the UK,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk.What of Russia's
0:06:27 > 0:06:32response?
0:06:33 > 0:06:37response? Steve Rosenberg caught up with Vladimir Putin electioneering.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43Is Russia behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. Get to the bottom of
0:06:43 > 0:06:47things there and then we will discuss it came the reply. Novichok
0:06:47 > 0:06:51is a family of about 100 nerve agents developed as the Soviet Union
0:06:51 > 0:06:57was on its last legs. The chemical principles are well understood, but
0:06:57 > 0:07:02the processes in constituent chemicals create a highly signature.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07It is possible to determine the exact structure of the molecule.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Because of that it is possible to determine which pre-cursors were
0:07:11 > 0:07:17used in the manufacture of that agent. It is possible because of the
0:07:17 > 0:07:21knowledge about the precursor is to reconstruct the method of synthesis
0:07:21 > 0:07:28and these are tell-tale signs like fingerprints.As the clock ticks
0:07:28 > 0:07:32away on Theresa May's ultimatum to the Russians, the wires will be
0:07:32 > 0:07:37burning between the Foreign Office and allied ministries across Europe
0:07:37 > 0:07:41and of course the State Department in the United States. What the UK
0:07:41 > 0:07:45will be trying to find out is how much support there is, whether
0:07:45 > 0:07:50solidarity in backing Britain in its calls for sanctions against Russia
0:07:50 > 0:07:55extends beyond the rhetorical. The Prime Minister did leave one
0:07:55 > 0:08:00possible route out for the Kremlin, alluding to the possibility that
0:08:00 > 0:08:05Novichok, a banned weapon in any case, might have been used without
0:08:05 > 0:08:09government authorisation.It could be that it was stolen or sold at an
0:08:09 > 0:08:15earlier date to another entity. In which case the question is what is
0:08:15 > 0:08:21happening? Why did that happen? What is the security here? How could this
0:08:21 > 0:08:27have been allowed to happen? That is a very different set of questions.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32But if Russia continues to deny everything, Britain will likely by
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Wednesday afternoon be asking its allies to endure the pain of
0:08:34 > 0:08:40applying new sanctions.This is a threat that suddenly came to
0:08:40 > 0:08:44fruition in the UK. It does not mean it would not happen in other Western
0:08:44 > 0:08:50countries and together we need to take action, whether it comes in the
0:08:50 > 0:08:54form of declaring Russian officials persona non grata in the UK, or
0:08:54 > 0:08:58sanctions against specific Russians. There is a cost we will pay, but if
0:08:58 > 0:09:03we do not face the cost now, we may pay more in the future.This is
0:09:03 > 0:09:08developing into a fully fledged diplomatic crisis and Britain soon
0:09:08 > 0:09:13could be putting forward a whole new raft of measures against Russia.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14And what response from the Russians tonight?
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Putin brushed off the question saying the British need to get
0:09:17 > 0:09:18to the bottom of it first.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19The Foreign Ministry
0:09:19 > 0:09:21called it a circus show.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23Joining me now, Amy Knight, a world expert on the KGB,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and Sir Tony Brenton, British Ambassador
0:09:25 > 0:09:29to Moscow until 2008.
0:09:29 > 0:09:36Nice to have you here. I will start with you, Amy. Theresa May laid out
0:09:36 > 0:09:40those two options. The Russian state or a rogue perpetrated that has
0:09:40 > 0:09:47borrowed the agent. What do you sense that this is?I think the
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Kremlin will undoubtedly not admit it is the Russian state that
0:09:51 > 0:09:58committed this act. But I think the likelihood that rogue elements got a
0:09:58 > 0:10:04hold of this nerve gas and were able to transport it or bring all the
0:10:04 > 0:10:11pre-cursors and make this, I think it is highly unlikely. The FSB is
0:10:11 > 0:10:17the agency that is in charge of these sophisticated laboratories
0:10:17 > 0:10:21that do this and it is really unlikely that this would have
0:10:21 > 0:10:28happened.Mark was espousing some of the theories of what might have
0:10:28 > 0:10:31happened on that day. Do you think this went according to plan or did
0:10:31 > 0:10:38something go wrong?You know, I was surprised by the fact that this
0:10:38 > 0:10:40substance was actually allowed to damage other people and put people
0:10:40 > 0:10:49in hospital. Even Sergei Skripal's.. But if you look back at the
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Alexander Litvinenko poisoning, that was also handled very carelessly. We
0:10:53 > 0:11:02know that the two gentleman work hired by the FSB to poison Alexander
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Litvinenko. I was surprised at the lack of professionalism if you will,
0:11:06 > 0:11:12but presumably this can happen.But you still think that Putin's
0:11:12 > 0:11:17fingerprints are ultimately on this or you think it might have been
0:11:17 > 0:11:22people acting, believing it was what he would have required?That is not
0:11:22 > 0:11:28the way things operate. I have heard this theory before in regard to
0:11:28 > 0:11:33other crimes and so forth. This kind of action would not have been taken
0:11:33 > 0:11:40without the explicit approval of Vladimir Putin. Of course there will
0:11:40 > 0:11:45never be a smoking gun because that is not the way things work. He will
0:11:45 > 0:11:50just continue to deny and denied. I am sure they will say that they will
0:11:50 > 0:11:55investigate it and tried to get to the bottom of things, but as you
0:11:55 > 0:11:59know, Vladimir Putin and his very close colleagues control all of the
0:11:59 > 0:12:05investigative organs. So there is no possibility of Russia having any
0:12:05 > 0:12:07kind of an independent investigation of the circumstances of this
0:12:07 > 0:12:14poisoning.Let me pick up on that point. What does Russia do now? If
0:12:14 > 0:12:18you were in that Foreign Office meeting tomorrow, would you expect
0:12:18 > 0:12:23the Russian ambassador to turn up? What would you expect him to say?
0:12:23 > 0:12:28I'm sure he will turn up and what he will say is we did not do it and we
0:12:28 > 0:12:32do not believe anybody from our side did it either. It is clear we will
0:12:32 > 0:12:37get a negative response the Russians. And again the question has
0:12:37 > 0:12:42been put to them in that way.Has Theresa May taken a gamble or has
0:12:42 > 0:12:47she played a blinder? Does Russia care?I they spooked by this at all?
0:12:47 > 0:12:52I do not think she has taken a gamble, she is responding entirely
0:12:52 > 0:12:57properly to an outrageous attack on the UK. Do the Russians care? That
0:12:57 > 0:13:02depends on how we now respond. We have got a range of sanctions at our
0:13:02 > 0:13:06disposal. We can make life uncomfortable for Russian
0:13:06 > 0:13:11intelligence agencies working in the UK. We can hit Russian money in the
0:13:11 > 0:13:14city. But the crucial question is how much support we can get from our
0:13:14 > 0:13:22allies. Our action by itself will do some damage. But if the West at
0:13:22 > 0:13:25United 's lead, that will have much what impact.We are pretty much
0:13:25 > 0:13:31alone at the moment. From the looks of it we have not got trapped coming
0:13:31 > 0:13:36to our aid. We have not got the EU necessarily rallying round at this
0:13:36 > 0:13:46point, how are we, have we?Around the Alexander Litvinenko affair, the
0:13:46 > 0:13:51lack of support was disappointing. The Europeans in particular were
0:13:51 > 0:13:56knocked over and beyond rhetoric. The position has changed a lot. All
0:13:56 > 0:13:59of the West is much more at loggerheads with the Russians than
0:13:59 > 0:14:04we were in 2006, so there is more scope for persuading our western
0:14:04 > 0:14:09partners. This has happened on our streets today, it will be on your
0:14:09 > 0:14:13streets tomorrow. But a lot comes down to the skill and
0:14:13 > 0:14:15professionalism and persuasiveness of the British diplomats and
0:14:15 > 0:14:20ministers over the next few days.Do you think Donald Trump will have to
0:14:20 > 0:14:24start taking this seriously? Will he have to come out against the
0:14:24 > 0:14:30Russians if this is where it leads? You know I think it is interesting
0:14:30 > 0:14:34that timing of this incident. Not only did it occurred two weeks
0:14:34 > 0:14:38before the Russian presidential election, but also it occurred at a
0:14:38 > 0:14:44time when the tram administration is totally caught up in scandals. So I
0:14:44 > 0:14:49think first of all the tram administration is very distracted,
0:14:49 > 0:14:54so they are not likely to be able to react as well as they might if
0:14:54 > 0:14:58things were going smoothly in the White House. Secondly, we know
0:14:58 > 0:15:04Donald Trump has bent over backwards to apologise for everything that
0:15:04 > 0:15:12Vladimir Putin has done. He has gone on record as saying that he does not
0:15:12 > 0:15:17believe Vladimir Putin ever commits any kind of political killings. I
0:15:17 > 0:15:21think it is unlikely that we are going to get any initiative from
0:15:21 > 0:15:26Donald Trump. That said, there are people in the White House and in the
0:15:26 > 0:15:32Congress who have been very proactive when it comes to this kind
0:15:32 > 0:15:39of thing. So we might see something from them. But I hesitate to say
0:15:39 > 0:15:43that it is going to be as strong as it might be if we had an
0:15:43 > 0:15:46administration that was much more realistic about Russia.Thank you
0:15:46 > 0:15:49very much.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52The Leader of the House of Commons has ordered an independent inquiry
0:15:52 > 0:15:54into allegations of bullying of staff by MPs after
0:15:54 > 0:15:57an investigation by this programme.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59In one of the more uncomfortable sessions for the House,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03the Speaker John Bercow, one of those MPs named
0:16:03 > 0:16:07in our investigation, presided over today's proceedings.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Andrea Leadsom said the reports of bullying were of "huge concern"
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and that a short inquiry would assess whether current
0:16:14 > 0:16:16procedures to protect people who work for the Commons
0:16:16 > 0:16:21were fit for purpose.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Ms Leadsom chose not to address a question on Mr Bercow's own future
0:16:24 > 0:16:26but insisted bullying must be stamped out wherever it is seen.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Chris Cook and his producer Lucinda Day broke the story for Newsnight.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Here's Chris on the latest.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38Last week Newsnight revealed a problem inquest Mr, an issue with
0:16:38 > 0:16:48the so-called plumptiousness, the apolitical class who make the place
0:16:48 > 0:16:51tick, who say they serve bullying from MPs and they say they don't
0:16:51 > 0:16:56trust management processes to protect them. In large part because
0:16:56 > 0:17:00of serious cases where MPs can be involved in judging one another.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Management have told us to report stuff but if I said something I
0:17:03 > 0:17:07would be moved. I haven't seen one case go against them.The response
0:17:07 > 0:17:13from the Commons authorities is pretty dismissive, for example we
0:17:13 > 0:17:18told you how a serving Clark told us how she lived in a culture of fear.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22The authority said that was a grotesque exaggeration. Today we
0:17:22 > 0:17:28reported on a new development. We got hold of a letter from the clerk
0:17:28 > 0:17:33of the House of Commons, completely changing his position. The letter
0:17:33 > 0:17:35was sent to the House of Commons clerks.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02The senior management of the house are acknowledging that they got the
0:18:02 > 0:18:07tone of their response to Newsnight's reporting wrong, they
0:18:07 > 0:18:09acknowledge there is a problem with bullying and harassment in the
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Commons and that the policy in place to deal with it is inadequate and
0:18:13 > 0:18:18must be looked at again.The letter was seen as a step forward but we
0:18:18 > 0:18:20gathered testimony revealing continued concerns among serving
0:18:20 > 0:18:30clerks. He makes no apology or commitment...
0:19:05 > 0:19:11The people who have that power are the MPs. They met today to discuss
0:19:11 > 0:19:14our report. We revealed that John Bercow is accused of bullying. He
0:19:14 > 0:19:19denies it and chaired the session. The commission will meet on Monday
0:19:19 > 0:19:23the 19th of March, next Monday and I have given notice to my fellow
0:19:23 > 0:19:27members that I will be recommending a short, independently lead in
0:19:27 > 0:19:34Querrey by the house commission looking into allegations of systemic
0:19:34 > 0:19:37bullying of parliamentary staff -- independently lead enquiry. I
0:19:37 > 0:19:42propose the enquiry should hear from current and past staff members about
0:19:42 > 0:19:44their experiences and help to provide them with closure where
0:19:44 > 0:19:52possible.It's unclear whether this enquiry will name MPs or just
0:19:52 > 0:19:55discuss the culture. That's for the House of Commons commission to
0:19:55 > 0:20:02discuss next week. A panel chaired by John Bercow. Some MPs today were
0:20:02 > 0:20:06concerned about overreaction. Here is Paul Farrelly who denied
0:20:06 > 0:20:10allegations of bullying last week. Before members jump to judgment on
0:20:10 > 0:20:14what was a very selective BBC broadcast, approaching the cases
0:20:14 > 0:20:18that have been raised in a more balanced way.A consensus has
0:20:18 > 0:20:20emerged that something must be done and the enquiry should help to
0:20:20 > 0:20:27decide what. The clerks won't be left out of efforts to reform
0:20:27 > 0:20:31Westminster but any system where MPs and still make decisions on
0:20:31 > 0:20:36sanctioning MPs will not have the support of staff. That was Chris
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Cook.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40I am joined now by the MP Caroline Lucas, the co-leader
0:20:40 > 0:20:42of the Green Party.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46And the MP who tabled the urgent question leading to Andrea Leadsom's
0:20:46 > 0:20:51statement. Did it go the way you hoped?There was a change of tone,
0:20:51 > 0:20:58which was welcome. There was a change or deciding the complaints as
0:20:58 > 0:21:05exaggerated. That was positive. We had acknowledgement that the new
0:21:05 > 0:21:09procedures will be expanded to include all staff, which is good,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13but where it fell short is the lack of real grappling with the fact that
0:21:13 > 0:21:16the whole process from start to finish has to be independent. This
0:21:16 > 0:21:22new enquiry that Andrea Leadsom announced is supposed to be
0:21:22 > 0:21:24undertaken by the House of Commons commission, in other words another
0:21:24 > 0:21:31set of MPs. If this saga has told us anything it is that you cannot have
0:21:31 > 0:21:37MPs judging other MPs. It doesn't work, it won't breed confidence. So
0:21:37 > 0:21:41in the new procedure and the old one we have to look at, we have to get
0:21:41 > 0:21:45rid of any sense that this is MPs marking their own homework.Did you
0:21:45 > 0:21:49feel today that there was the appetite to recognise that and
0:21:49 > 0:21:55change it?Not to the degree that I'd have liked. Some MPs get it
0:21:55 > 0:21:58across the house. But the fact that the leader of the house can be
0:21:58 > 0:22:05proposing another process that is not independent, the commission
0:22:05 > 0:22:09looking at cases indicates a lack of understanding. We cannot have MPs
0:22:09 > 0:22:13making those key decisions on fellow MPs.That is mirrored by the
0:22:13 > 0:22:19situation today, John Bercow presiding over and calling on you to
0:22:19 > 0:22:23make the urgent question. Is that the sticking point, that actually
0:22:23 > 0:22:28while you've got the judge and jury in the same place, you can't get to
0:22:28 > 0:22:33the bottom of it?The position of John Bercow today was different in
0:22:33 > 0:22:37the sense that we weren't talking about live complaints that are
0:22:37 > 0:22:41current under existing guidelines being discussed this was about a
0:22:41 > 0:22:44structure, the systemic issue and to be fair to him he's been very good
0:22:44 > 0:22:51at calling urgent questions.Does he need to say something publicly about
0:22:51 > 0:22:55the allegations about himself?I think it would clear the air if he
0:22:55 > 0:22:58did, but there has to be an investigation and at the moment
0:22:58 > 0:23:02we've only had allegations from one side which have been refuted. We
0:23:02 > 0:23:08need an investigation. But it cannot and must not be an investigation
0:23:08 > 0:23:14undertaken by MPs. That can have no credibility with the staff.Do you
0:23:14 > 0:23:18think there is a need, and appetite to get to the bottom of this or
0:23:18 > 0:23:21whether there is a bit of politicking going on, especially
0:23:21 > 0:23:26concerning the speaker's job, as he has made a lot of enemies in the
0:23:26 > 0:23:32job.Some people are using this for political ends. James Diedrich got
0:23:32 > 0:23:38up to criticise John Bercow for deciding over the proceedings today,
0:23:38 > 0:23:42that MP has no love for John Bercow, for many years. Yes, people are
0:23:42 > 0:23:46using this to settle scores and that's disappointing because what's
0:23:46 > 0:23:52at stake is the well-being of staff who work very long hours, everyday
0:23:52 > 0:23:57for MPs, so we have to tackle the underlying culture of privilege
0:23:57 > 0:24:00allowing MPs to think they can act in ways that would not be accessible
0:24:00 > 0:24:06in any other workplace. Parliament should be the beacon of best
0:24:06 > 0:24:08practice rather than constantly running to keep up.Thank you for
0:24:08 > 0:24:09joining us.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12When it comes to picking fights with the EU Britain is not alone.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Poland is now in the dock.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16It's popularist right-wing government stands accused
0:24:16 > 0:24:18of threatening the independence of the judiciary by
0:24:18 > 0:24:22greatly increasing it's control of the courts.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25This has led the European Commission to trigger an unprecedented Article
0:24:25 > 0:24:277 proceeding against Warsaw.
0:24:27 > 0:24:35If Poland fails to back down by next Tuesday, March 20th,
0:24:35 > 0:24:39it could ultimately lose it's EU voting rights.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42There are also widespread concerns that the authoritarian policies
0:24:42 > 0:24:45of the ruling Law and Justice Party are threatening liberal democracy
0:24:45 > 0:24:47by attacking the media, curbing civil rights and encouraging
0:24:47 > 0:24:50cultural and religious intolerance.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Mike Thomson's been to Warsaw to find out more about Poland's
0:24:53 > 0:24:56creeping authoritarianism.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00We should get back to our tradition.
0:25:00 > 0:25:06We do not need to learn from the West.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08This is against the mainstream, against the elite.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10It's the right direction.
0:25:10 > 0:25:18We are very much afraid.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20We are closing our society, just to our nation,
0:25:20 > 0:25:21and that's not good.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The world is multinational.
0:25:24 > 0:25:30Ever since Russian forces left, 25 years ago, Poland has
0:25:30 > 0:25:34faced an identity crisis.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36What does it mean to be Polish?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40At first, the Euro way was the only way.
0:25:40 > 0:25:48But now, a new nationalism is sweeping the nation.
0:25:48 > 0:25:53In power since 2015, the right-wing Law and Justice party
0:25:53 > 0:25:57has tapped into dissatisfaction with liberal, western values.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02Emphasising a traditional idea of Polishness, which promises
0:26:02 > 0:26:08to give people back their pride, culture and self-belief.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11But many here fear that what they regard as the authoritarian
0:26:11 > 0:26:16political party behind all this is hijacking the government,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18by subverting the judiciary, muzzling the media and curbing civil
0:26:18 > 0:26:19rights.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24I'm here to investigate whether such claims are justified
0:26:24 > 0:26:27and if we are really seeing the beginning of the end of liberal
0:26:27 > 0:26:29democracy in Poland.
0:26:29 > 0:26:37This is Ostrow Mazowiecka, a Law and Justice stronghold.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Like many parts of rural East Poland, people have long felt
0:26:41 > 0:26:46neglected by liberal politicians and the urban elite.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Here at this windswept paving stone factory on the edge of town,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53there is resentment about the way foreign EU leaders are criticising
0:26:53 > 0:26:55the party they support.
0:26:55 > 0:27:03This man has worked at the plant for more than 25 years.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11The town's mayor insists people here have long been
0:28:11 > 0:28:14ignored and talked down to.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17He says his party are giving them back their dignity.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Pride, both personal and national, isn't the only thing
0:28:48 > 0:28:55being given to people here.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Welfare payments for anyone with children is yet another
0:28:57 > 0:29:01very popular policy.
0:29:01 > 0:29:0627-year-old Monika, struggling to raise three
0:29:06 > 0:29:08children in her tiny flat, has long felt let
0:29:08 > 0:29:10down by politicians.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Not any more.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Which party do you think you will give your vote
0:29:15 > 0:29:22to in the next election?
0:29:59 > 0:30:02This gathering in the capital, of older urbanites, looks a world
0:30:02 > 0:30:05away from those in Ostrow Mazowiecka.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08But appearances can be deceiving.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13Here at this right-wing club in central Warsaw,
0:30:13 > 0:30:17liberalism is under attack.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20For the last hour or so we've been hearing all about concerns over
0:30:20 > 0:30:22the Pope's policies towards gay marriage and divorce,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25but it goes much deeper than that.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28People here have big issues with the whole subject
0:30:28 > 0:30:31of Western democracy itself.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35We were robbed, we have debts.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Most of the rules were very poor, very bad.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40We were servants, servants to the Western capitalists coming
0:30:40 > 0:30:48to Poland from 1989.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51In Jan's view, the majority of Poles have seen few real benefits
0:30:51 > 0:30:53since the fall of Communism.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55Who gained freedom, I'm asking?
0:30:55 > 0:31:00Who?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Was Communists, their friends and families and their
0:31:02 > 0:31:04supporters, that's it.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06One third is for the rest of the people.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08Very simple.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12We should really pursue our own way and our own tradition.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Of course it's very difficult but there is a good
0:31:15 > 0:31:16saying, can you count?
0:31:16 > 0:31:22If you can, count on yourself.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27But if Poland carries on down this path, the biggest beneficiary of EU
0:31:27 > 0:31:35grants can't count on the support of the EU.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41Brussels has condemned its move to take over the appointment
0:31:41 > 0:31:49and disciplining of judges and to make them retire earlier.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52But the party's vice president in the European Parliament sees this
0:31:52 > 0:31:59as an unwarranted interference.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03Mainly when I'm talking with my colleagues in
0:32:03 > 0:32:06the European Parliament I always say, OK, you are criticising Poland.
0:32:06 > 0:32:12Look at your country.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14I cannot accept situation when the people from the other
0:32:14 > 0:32:16countries which are not informed about the situation,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18do not speak Polish, do not visit Poland,
0:32:18 > 0:32:22they compare the situation of Poland to Russia, Turkey, two different
0:32:22 > 0:32:28undemocratic countries.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30Some believe the government is playing an Poland's many
0:32:30 > 0:32:38reminders of invasion, to blame foreigners for their woes.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46This government needs enemies, you know, they are in desperate
0:32:46 > 0:32:48search for enemies.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50Each and every month they invent a new enemy.
0:32:50 > 0:32:51The European Union is one.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Germany is number one.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58It is a very successful mechanism for attracting people
0:32:58 > 0:33:01and the name of the game again, with this electorate, as I described
0:33:01 > 0:33:04it, is a kind of simplicity.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Proud of being Polish, there is this megalomaniac history
0:33:09 > 0:33:14that is being proposed, offered anew, which is not
0:33:14 > 0:33:17necessarily is a real history.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Civil rights groups have come to fear that
0:33:19 > 0:33:22they're on this list too.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Through these doors is the offices of a women's rights charity.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Just a few months ago, police went through here,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30up the stairs and raided the office, taking with them dozens
0:33:30 > 0:33:38of confidential files, none of which have yet been returned.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Of course it was very shocking for us and very scared,
0:33:43 > 0:33:49especially when it was a day when we had clients in our offices.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52When the police came they took not only all the financial documents
0:33:52 > 0:33:55but also the documents concerning very sensitive
0:33:55 > 0:34:03data of our clients.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11Sometimes we think how big an impact it had not only on us,
0:34:11 > 0:34:13on our situation, the trust of our clients, how safe they feel.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16She suspects that her organisation's biggest crime is championing women's
0:34:16 > 0:34:18rights rather than the kind of traditional family
0:34:18 > 0:34:25values espoused by the Polish Prime Minister.
0:34:25 > 0:34:32So, how is this all being allowed to happen?
0:34:55 > 0:34:57Neither will campaigns backed by this judge to keep Poland's
0:34:57 > 0:34:59judiciary independent.
0:34:59 > 0:35:05But why is the government is so intent on eroding this?
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Law and Justice have insisted that all they're doing is redressing
0:35:30 > 0:35:35the long-standing liberal bias in the country.
0:35:35 > 0:35:43But is it not really a naked power grab?
0:35:49 > 0:35:51This was in your questions about fundamental rights, civil rights.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54I can assure you, they are not in danger, in this country.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59The professor believes things cannot go on the way they are indefinitely.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02One of the things that we have to emphasise about the Poland
0:36:02 > 0:36:06of today is that we have a constituational crisis.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10We have a separation of powers that is nonexistent here,
0:36:10 > 0:36:18the rule of law has been violated on many occasions by the president
0:36:18 > 0:36:20and by this party.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24This is a violation of the existing binding constitution
0:36:24 > 0:36:27and we are asking ourselves, when will it be that these people
0:36:27 > 0:36:30will face the state tribunal?
0:36:30 > 0:36:31Because this is the obvious thing.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34I think it will happen sooner or later.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Poland's radical policies are flying high for now,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40kept aloft by populist answers to the nation's identity
0:36:40 > 0:36:46crisis and the woes of its marginalised rural poor.
0:36:46 > 0:36:52But gathering storm clouds may yet force Warsaw to change course,
0:36:52 > 0:36:57as the battle with Brussels nears.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59Mike Thomson reporting.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02We did ask the Polish government for an interview
0:37:02 > 0:37:04but no one was available.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Ken Dodd used to say that he loved to watch Newsnight
0:37:07 > 0:37:08last thing at night.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10"It's saved me a fortune on milky drinks."
0:37:10 > 0:37:12He might have stayed up for this one though,
0:37:12 > 0:37:14a tribute to a comedian who was called many things,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17perhaps the nicest of which was simply "life affirming".
0:37:17 > 0:37:19Ken Dodd was was the son of a coalman.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21He never left the home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool,
0:37:21 > 0:37:25where he grew up and indeed died there aged 90 this weekend.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Stephen Smith looks back on the work of one of Britain's greats.
0:37:28 > 0:37:36The one and only Ken Dodd!
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I feel absolutely tattyfilarious
0:37:43 > 0:37:48and full of plumptiousness.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51What he had in spades was that very peculiarly British
0:37:51 > 0:37:57quality of total daftness.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59It makes me absolutely disconficurated to see that
0:37:59 > 0:38:02so many of you have turned up for the free soup.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05He hung out with the Beatles and they shared jokes about hair.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Lovely hair.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Lovely hair.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11We call it "herr" in Liverpool.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12We say Judy with the "ferr herr".
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Only the Fab four themselves had bigger hits in the 60s.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Ken Dodd even held the record for the longest run
0:38:17 > 0:38:19at the London Palladium.
0:38:19 > 0:38:2242 weeks.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25To go to one of his gigs wasn't only a kind of beautiful experience
0:38:25 > 0:38:31of Stockholm syndrome, as he kept you inside that theatre
0:38:31 > 0:38:35until you submitted to his humour, but it was also to hear jokes that
0:38:35 > 0:38:40might have been in circulation are centuries.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42might have been in circulation for centuries.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Newsnight spoke to Ken Dodd in his hometown a few years back.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49If you want to enjoy life, its optimism.
0:38:49 > 0:38:57I always go on the stage and say, by Jove, what a beautiful day.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00What a beautiful day for doing this and that,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03what a day for ramming
0:39:03 > 0:39:05a cucumber through the vicar's letterbox and saying, look out,
0:39:05 > 0:39:13the Martians are coming.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16What a beautiful day for bouncing up and down in a big
0:39:16 > 0:39:17barrel of blancmange.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20What a beautiful day for rushing onto the Roland
0:39:20 > 0:39:24Using the jokes, which works to emphasise.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26Willie works in the docks in Liverpool and he's
0:39:26 > 0:39:29what they call a diesel fitter, he goes round looking in the cases
0:39:29 > 0:39:31saying "these'll fit her", "these'll fit her".
0:39:31 > 0:39:34I worked for my father in a coal business with my brother and then
0:39:34 > 0:39:37I was on the knocker, as you say, going around selling
0:39:37 > 0:39:39pots and pans and tickling sticks.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Selling things like this, saying ooh, missus and all
0:39:41 > 0:39:44of that is a kind of patter, a kind of pitch that's directed
0:39:44 > 0:39:45at a working-class audience.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Here's a suggestion from Mrs Nellie Dean who writes,
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I think it's high time that Ken Dodd got knighted.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Well, Mrs Dean, I'd like to thank you very much for your kind letter.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55Just a minute, that says naughty, not knighted.
0:39:55 > 0:40:03Class may have held Ken Dodd back, he wasn't knighted until 2016.
0:40:05 > 0:40:11He also faced trial over an alleged tax fraud before being acquitted.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14# Tears have been my only consolation #.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Many admired his
0:40:16 > 0:40:19singing voice which brought him several hit records and directors
0:40:19 > 0:40:22cast Ken Dodd in straight acting roles or straight-ish.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24But you've won the grand prize.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Well, what is it?
0:40:26 > 0:40:27I've never won anything before.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Your prize...
0:40:29 > 0:40:32Hang about.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr Ken Dodd.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Even his greatest admirers admit it was the theatre, not telly
0:40:39 > 0:40:43where Ken Dodd really shone.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45Ken was addicted to a live audience, to real people
0:40:45 > 0:40:47sitting in rows of seats.
0:40:47 > 0:40:52In a sense, the camera got in the way and he never mastered
0:40:52 > 0:40:57the camera like Frankie Howard did or Bruce did or Eric and Ernie.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01A live theatre, it's a one to one experience,
0:41:01 > 0:41:06there's not all this scrap iron in the way!
0:41:06 > 0:41:10Is there ever a moment...
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Don't you dare say that word!
0:41:13 > 0:41:14No, no, no.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18People retire, men retire when they stop doing what they don't
0:41:18 > 0:41:21want to do and start doing what they do want to do.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Now I happen to know that you'd rather have an allotment and raise
0:41:24 > 0:41:26chickens than be a journalist.
0:41:26 > 0:41:33Geronimo!
0:41:33 > 0:41:36# Happiness to me is an ocean tide, a sunset fading on a mountainside.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39I watched your programme, it is a barrel of laughs.
0:41:39 > 0:41:40You have some very, very funny people.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44# Happiness, happiness #
0:41:44 > 0:41:46That's all we have time for.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Evan's here tomorrow.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52Till then, goodnight.