:00:10. > :00:13.Tonight on This Week, hankies at the ready
:00:14. > :00:16.as inspiration fails us and we return to Downturn Abbey
:00:17. > :00:22.We'll review a dramatic political year and look ahead to what could be
:00:23. > :00:35.I've just been to see Her Majesty the Queen and I will now form a
:00:36. > :00:40.majority Conservative Government. Our party has changed. We've grown
:00:41. > :00:43.enormously, because of the hopes of so many ordinary people.
:00:44. > :00:45.Lord of the Manor Quentin Letts and head butler Kevin Maguire
:00:46. > :00:50.have downsized, but they still can't act.
:00:51. > :00:59.I finally got to run the estate on my own and now my heir, George, he
:01:00. > :01:03.thinks he's running the place. You think you've got it bad. I've been
:01:04. > :01:11.purged by my own staff and who do you think they have put in charge?
:01:12. > :01:14.The bearded bloke who inspects the Han hole covers. Manhole covers.
:01:15. > :01:16.It's not only the cast of Downturn looking for new jobs.
:01:17. > :01:18.Some big political figures have have also had to
:01:19. > :01:25.I'm truly sorry I didn't succeed. Truly
:01:26. > :01:28.Obviously the results have been more crushing than I imagined.
:01:29. > :01:30.Settle down and treat yourself to a glass of mulled
:01:31. > :01:32.Blue Nun as we prepare to serve our traditional
:01:33. > :01:43.Welcome to our festive This Week 'Special' -
:01:44. > :01:47.and I use the term advisedly - broadcasting to you from a veritable
:01:48. > :01:53.no-expense spared Winter Wonderland, in O Little Town of Westminster.
:01:54. > :01:59.It's our final show of the year - (HURRAH!) - and you join us
:02:00. > :02:02.in a chillaxed mood, on what we like to call
:02:03. > :02:07.We've ditched our traditional Christmas jumpers -
:02:08. > :02:09.every Tom, Dick and One Show now copies us -
:02:10. > :02:11.and decided to dress upmarket, as befits posh folk
:02:12. > :02:18.And, as my contract demands, let's get this Party Seven started
:02:19. > :02:20.with my very own band of merry carol singers.
:02:21. > :02:22.Yes, they really do stagger through the snow
:02:23. > :02:36.Hit me with your Yuletide rhythm stick, Ida!
:02:37. > :02:44.Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane the snow is
:02:45. > :02:50.glistening. A beautiful sight, we are happy tonight, walking in a
:02:51. > :02:56.winter wonderland. Gone away, hear the bluebird. Here to stay is a new
:02:57. > :03:03.bird. He sings a love song and we go along, walking in a winter
:03:04. > :03:12.wonderland. Walking in a This Week wonderland.
:03:13. > :03:15.APPLAUSE. I told you they were good. Ida will be singing us out tonight
:03:16. > :03:20.to accompany your festive Twelfies. Yes, 'The Twelfie Night
:03:21. > :03:22.of Christmas' is back! And once again it's time to tweet us
:03:23. > :03:25.a festive picture of yourself - with proof you're
:03:26. > :03:27.watching tonight's show. Extra points for any tinsel,
:03:28. > :03:29.baubles, or Blue Nun in shot. If we get enough, our
:03:30. > :03:31.work-experience elves will edit them Remember to tweet #TWelfie
:03:32. > :03:38.if you want them to reach us. Speaking of programme content
:03:39. > :03:41.we got on the cheap, I'm joined in the stable tonight
:03:42. > :03:45.by four holy figures who travelled from afar, following a star, to bear
:03:46. > :03:50.witness to my messiah complex. Think of them as the
:03:51. > :03:56.Three Wise Pundits, and the Shadow Cabinet virgin
:03:57. > :03:58.of late night political chat. I speak, of course,
:03:59. > :04:00.of #sadmanonatrain Michael #madamemao Diane 'what happens
:04:01. > :04:06.behind the Berlin Wall, stays behind the
:04:07. > :04:10.Berlin Wall' Abbott. And #onepartystatesman -
:04:11. > :04:15.SNP MP, John "I've forgot my wallet" And not forgetting the only
:04:16. > :04:34.one you really care Aah. Michael, your moment of the
:04:35. > :04:38.year? Well, it may seem a little bit dull but it was the unexpected, to
:04:39. > :04:41.me, Conservative victory in the general election. Partly because it
:04:42. > :04:47.brought in economic stability which I had not expected. I had expected
:04:48. > :04:50.instability. It also ushered in political instability, because we
:04:51. > :04:56.are now going to have a euro referendum. And goodness knows where
:04:57. > :05:01.that will end up. We'll talk more about that. Diane? My exact moment
:05:02. > :05:05.on the year was 10 o'clock on election night, I was on my way back
:05:06. > :05:08.from my campaign headquarters and I heard that exit poll. I knew
:05:09. > :05:13.straight away the exit poll was right. I never doubted the exit
:05:14. > :05:19.poll. It was bongs on the Ten o'clock News on Radio 4 and I cried.
:05:20. > :05:23.I knew we had lost. We kind of knew we were going to lose, but during
:05:24. > :05:28.the campaign, the polls were so tight we began to believe we could
:05:29. > :05:37.win. Not just tight, wrong. Basically wrong. Miranda? The Syria
:05:38. > :05:43.vote actually, because it seemed to me such an appallingly tense moment
:05:44. > :05:50.and these divisions between the two sides of the Labour Party were so
:05:51. > :05:54.horribly on show. It is also very difficult to assess how Britain now
:05:55. > :05:58.sees its place in the world. And David Cameron's attempts to play
:05:59. > :06:03.Blair on the world stage. How will that end? And I think also very
:06:04. > :06:07.divisive moment in terms of polarising people over whether they
:06:08. > :06:11.think Britain should be militarily involved. Your guy spoke for this
:06:12. > :06:16.military intervention. We are just doing moment of the year at the
:06:17. > :06:23.moment. That comes later. I know you haven't been with us for a while. We
:06:24. > :06:28.are not attacking every pundit. John, your moment of the year? I
:06:29. > :06:35.suppose my moment of the year politically was being elected. Along
:06:36. > :06:39.with quite a few others. It was the most extraordinary moment. The most
:06:40. > :06:45.extraordinary night in Scotland. Unbelievable. These guys are much
:06:46. > :06:50.more experienced politically than I am but nothing prepares you for
:06:51. > :06:56.standing on stage, hearing your name, and having to go forward and
:06:57. > :07:02.deliver a speech. And you are not a candidate any more but you are an
:07:03. > :07:07.MP. You have to speak for the people who voted for you and against. And
:07:08. > :07:14.prepare for losing too. He knows! Full of Christmas cheer. I've only
:07:15. > :07:19.just been elected! About losing, we know who can give you lessons.
:07:20. > :07:22.Now, for excited fans around the world, the wait is finally over.
:07:23. > :07:25.Many of you no doubt grew up with a series set in a galaxy far,
:07:26. > :07:27.far away, introducing us to some of the best-loved characters
:07:28. > :07:32.And many of you will have no doubt queued since early this morn
:07:33. > :07:34.to secure a front row seat for what critics are calling
:07:35. > :07:37.Yes, 'may the force keep you well-and-truly awake'
:07:38. > :07:41.as we return, once again, to the epic stately-home-space-opera
:07:42. > :07:47.Later in the show we will premiere the sixth and latest instalment,
:07:48. > :07:50.but for now, an exclusive look behind the scenes at how a modern
:07:51. > :07:55.Think of what follows as the cheap DVD extras
:07:56. > :08:11.It's a great British TV institution that's made us laugh and cry.
:08:12. > :08:18.But after six years, two days and a whopping 14 episodes,
:08:19. > :08:24.This Week's Downturn Abbey is finally drawing to a close.
:08:25. > :08:31.So tonight our cameras have been given a rare glimpse into how
:08:32. > :08:43.This place needs a bit of attention certainly.
:08:44. > :08:50.The show began way back in 2010, when I was just a nipper,
:08:51. > :08:56.following the ups and downs of life in a Westminster stately home.
:08:57. > :09:06.You should see me bake a Victoria sponge!
:09:07. > :09:18.Actually I had no choice, I was contractually obliged
:09:19. > :09:24.But it did while away two or three minutes sitting on a platform
:09:25. > :09:29.And I think it was a parable of modern life.
:09:30. > :09:35."O tempora o mores," as Cicero would say.
:09:36. > :09:42.The stars of the show are the Eric and Ernie of late
:09:43. > :09:49.The Daily Mail's fabulous Quentin Letts and the Mirror's
:09:50. > :09:55.No, I don't know who they are either!
:09:56. > :09:58.I only gave the programme six months at the start.
:09:59. > :10:00.It was only meant to last as long as the coalition.
:10:01. > :10:05.But it went on and on and on, and we've ended up like this.
:10:06. > :10:11.Well, we do get on, despite coming from poles apart politically.
:10:12. > :10:14.But Quentin, I've got to tell you, I voted for Jeremy Corbyn.
:10:15. > :10:19.Hm, so did I... twice.
:10:20. > :10:28.This year the part-time team of four have crammed 12 months of incredible
:10:29. > :10:35.Relations on set are a little more tense than usual
:10:36. > :10:54.It's a dire, awful, unbelievably bad programme,
:10:55. > :10:57.and every year when I see Downturn Abbey it puts
:10:58. > :11:02.The equivalent of which I have only reached those depths on May 7th
:11:03. > :11:08.He'd obviously had some advance information.
:11:09. > :11:10.I was expecting a great Labour victory.
:11:11. > :11:16.He was on his iPhone booking up a holiday in Ibiza.
:11:17. > :11:21.The year's other big stories were the rise of the SNP.
:11:22. > :11:24.Jeremy Corbyn becoming leader of the Labour Party.
:11:25. > :11:29.And our former Prime Minister spoke in the Commons for one last time.
:11:30. > :12:01.the final ever episode of Downturn Abbey.
:12:02. > :12:08.Magic, historical television. Thanks to Brian Blessed for doing the
:12:09. > :12:12.commentary on that. It will be in the archives forever. All of you,
:12:13. > :12:16.give me the major reason why you think Mr Cameron and the Tories
:12:17. > :12:23.against most predictions won an overall majority. I think they had a
:12:24. > :12:27.very targeted strategy. They took out the Lib Dems ruthlessly. From in
:12:28. > :12:32.the West Country and other places. For people that were meant to be
:12:33. > :12:36.their coalition targets. And although I thought Ed Miliband is
:12:37. > :12:42.fantastic and has been proved right on many issues, he didn't cut it
:12:43. > :12:47.with the electorate. John? People weren't convinced by Ed Miliband. I
:12:48. > :12:50.would go around the doors in my constituency and Labour voters would
:12:51. > :12:58.say, I cannot see that man as Prime Minister. I thought it was terribly
:12:59. > :13:02.unfair, because I think he would have been a perfectly competent
:13:03. > :13:06.Prime Minister. He is obviously a bright cookie. So Ed Miliband? I
:13:07. > :13:11.think Ed Miliband really did the Labour Party a lot of damage.
:13:12. > :13:16.Michael? Yes, Ed Miliband but the Conservatives convinced people that
:13:17. > :13:20.they were serious about the economy and convinced people you needed to
:13:21. > :13:26.be serious about the economy. Miranda? A combination of all these
:13:27. > :13:29.things plus the genius message from the Conservatives they wouldn't just
:13:30. > :13:36.be voting for Ed Miliband in Downing Street but Ed Miliband backed by the
:13:37. > :13:40.SNP. And that I'm afraid is what, I know apologists argue about this,
:13:41. > :13:43.but in the Lib Dem seats you don't get people voting Lib Dem if they
:13:44. > :13:48.are scared of the Labour leader in Downing Street. All parties have
:13:49. > :13:52.given that as the reason. Michael, why were you so convinced at the
:13:53. > :13:56.time that it wasn't within Mr Cameron's ability to deliver an
:13:57. > :14:02.overall majority? Because I couldn't see him improving on 37%, which was
:14:03. > :14:05.what he had got the time before. Governments don't improve on their
:14:06. > :14:09.previous record. And I couldn't conceive of the combination of votes
:14:10. > :14:15.that would give the Tories an overall majority with 37%. They did
:14:16. > :14:19.in fact get 37%, but because of the collapse of Labour Party, not least
:14:20. > :14:22.in Scotland, this 37% was sufficient to give them an overall majority.
:14:23. > :14:29.The Tories shouldn't convince themselves. When John Major won in
:14:30. > :14:33.1992, they had 42% and millions of Tory votes have gone away and
:14:34. > :14:37.haven't come back. And they won seats in Scotland too under John
:14:38. > :14:41.Major. Isn't it worth pointing out, that even had Labour won every seat
:14:42. > :14:47.in Scotland they still wouldn't have been able to form a government? I
:14:48. > :14:49.wanted to make that point to Diane. You were wiped out in Scotland but
:14:50. > :14:59.you did badly in England, why? Outside of London there is a lot to
:15:00. > :15:04.be done to rebuild Labour's position with what we used to regard as core
:15:05. > :15:08.Labour voters. And I think in Scotland as well there is an
:15:09. > :15:12.organisational issue. Scotland had been a Bastian for so long that the
:15:13. > :15:17.structure of the party had atrophied. That was one of the
:15:18. > :15:22.issues, putting independence to one side. You agree now with Miranda
:15:23. > :15:27.that it was that the Tories frightened particularly the English,
:15:28. > :15:31.with not just Mr Miliband, but Miliband propped up by Nicola
:15:32. > :15:40.Sturgeon? I was very doubtful that the time. I remember. Thank you, you
:15:41. > :15:46.have a memory like an elephant. Especially when you are wrong. It
:15:47. > :15:49.has been a hopeless year for me because I did misunderstand that, I
:15:50. > :15:53.did not predict a Conservative victory and I did not dig the
:15:54. > :16:03.triumph of Diane's friend, Jeremy Corbyn. As the SNP was taking all
:16:04. > :16:07.before it and Nicola Sturgeon had become a UK- wide figure because of
:16:08. > :16:11.the debates and the rise of the SNP, did you ever take into account that
:16:12. > :16:16.you would as a result of this stop Labour from winning? No, because I
:16:17. > :16:23.don't think it have that effect, myself. I think Labour lost on its
:16:24. > :16:28.own, and because of its own policies and its own campaigning, and because
:16:29. > :16:33.of its own leader. So I don't accept that analysis. And I have to say, I
:16:34. > :16:38.have not met these mythical people who apparently were so scared of the
:16:39. > :16:42.SNP they decided to vote Tory. You might need to get around England a
:16:43. > :16:49.bit more. Miranda, tell him he is wrong. Diane's point about the well
:16:50. > :16:56.targeted Tory campaign, it is on the level of, if you vote Labour, Nicola
:16:57. > :17:02.Sturgeon will block your ARoad. You will not have met those people,
:17:03. > :17:11.because it was a talented campaign. -- targeted campaign.
:17:12. > :17:19.How did a lacklustre Miliband lead to an unknown Corbyn? It wasn't, as
:17:20. > :17:24.it were, from individual to individual. I think it was that the
:17:25. > :17:29.party as a whole decided, decisively, that it wanted to put
:17:30. > :17:36.the Blair-Brown years behind it. Is that what happened in the summer? I
:17:37. > :17:41.think so. All of the candidates were good, particularly Liz Kendall, who
:17:42. > :17:45.I don't agree with, but was tied in with the Blair-Brown legacy. The
:17:46. > :17:50.party said, maybe great things were done, but we want to move ahead. It
:17:51. > :17:54.depends what you mean by the party. The parliamentary party did not once
:17:55. > :17:59.Jeremy Corbyn. He was only nominated because some people lent their votes
:18:00. > :18:05.to him for the nomination. They won't do that again in a hurry! As
:18:06. > :18:10.for the party at large, as you know, the ranks were swollen by vast
:18:11. > :18:14.numbers appear from nowhere. We have just seen the joke where Quentin
:18:15. > :18:20.Letts says that he voted for Jeremy Corbyn. Michael, I love you. But you
:18:21. > :18:25.need to stop reading Tory propaganda. Jeremy one in every
:18:26. > :18:30.section of the electorate, existing members, ?3 per head members and the
:18:31. > :18:38.trade union affiliates. Not the members of Parliament. It was a
:18:39. > :18:43.decisive win. Did it ever cross any leading Lib Dem mind that the party
:18:44. > :18:47.would be all but wiped out? I don't think it did. It was a huge
:18:48. > :18:52.surprise. Something really bad happened which had never happened in
:18:53. > :18:58.any party. There was a tinge of believing your own propaganda. This
:18:59. > :19:01.idea that Lib Dem MPs as individuals are so well dug in and in their
:19:02. > :19:06.local area that they are untouchable. OK, fine, but if the
:19:07. > :19:12.tide is going out massively, even that is not going to save you. So
:19:13. > :19:17.there was quite a lot of delusion, actually. It was inevitable that
:19:18. > :19:22.going into coalition was going to be electorally toxic, but the scale of
:19:23. > :19:27.the damage, no way to predict. Was it hard to see Nick Clegg preside
:19:28. > :19:30.over the crushing of his party yet keep his seat? If he had lost his
:19:31. > :19:37.seat, he could have started life all over again. I think he has, he does
:19:38. > :19:45.not turn up and vote very often. He did make a very good resignation
:19:46. > :19:50.speech. That is a new meaning to damning with faint praise. That was
:19:51. > :19:56.the best moment of my career. And you have gone on to great things, so
:19:57. > :20:02.there we are. Is Scotland now a 1-party state? No, because a 1-party
:20:03. > :20:08.state is eight country where only one party is allowed to stand.
:20:09. > :20:13.Scotland is a country which has... You are not going to allow other
:20:14. > :20:16.parties to stand, are you? It is worth saying we all know what they
:20:17. > :20:24.1-party state is, and it certainly is not Scotland. You know what I
:20:25. > :20:27.mean, you are so dominant now, in a sense you have all of these MPs in
:20:28. > :20:34.Westminster, but do you really have much power? It is interesting how
:20:35. > :20:39.the narrative has changed about SNP MPs at Westminster. In May we were
:20:40. > :20:44.all uncontrollable hooligans. You were going to be drunk every night.
:20:45. > :20:48.Drunk on champagne, the Daily Mail said. We would be staggering around
:20:49. > :20:55.and Nicola Sturgeon would be unable to control us. Fast forward, and the
:20:56. > :21:00.narrative has changed and we are now 56 robots, marching in perfect
:21:01. > :21:06.Unison. Not really, because only 54 of you have the whip. Two have
:21:07. > :21:09.already lost the whip. But in the Daily Mail, the other two are still
:21:10. > :21:21.marching with us. Because they want the job back! It... The SNP is doing
:21:22. > :21:25.well because people seem to like the SNP. It has been in government for
:21:26. > :21:29.eight years. If we look at the polls in Scotland it is extraordinary. At
:21:30. > :21:35.the next election, the Holyrood election, they seem on course to win
:21:36. > :21:38.even more seats. We will go there shortly for all of you in 2016.
:21:39. > :21:40.Now, enough of this conversational good cheer.
:21:41. > :21:43.Let's raise a glass once more to our very merry carol singers.
:21:44. > :21:57.# Ding dong merrily on high # In heaven the bells are ringing
:21:58. > :22:06.# Ding-dong verily the sky # Is riven with angels singing
:22:07. > :22:14.# Gloria # Portillo in ex-Chelsea this
:22:15. > :22:26.# # Portillo in
:22:27. > :22:31.That is the best one yet! He loves being sung about.
:22:32. > :22:33.Ladies and gentlemen, our merry carollers,
:22:34. > :22:36.Appearing on a front doorstep near you very soon.
:22:37. > :22:38.Please give them all your spare change.
:22:39. > :22:40.And don't forget, you too can let the Christmas spirit pour forth
:22:41. > :22:43.on The Twitter, The Fleecebook and the former Great Leader's World
:22:44. > :22:46.We guarantee that all comments and complaints will receive
:22:47. > :22:54.and ready yourself for the cinematic ride of your life,
:22:55. > :22:56.as we suspend all critical faculties and rejoin the cast
:22:57. > :23:01.of Downturn Abbey for their latest and final epic adventure.
:23:02. > :23:04.We'd like to say this year's film picks up
:23:05. > :23:11.head nor tail of last year's instalment, so we're not wildly
:23:12. > :23:15.See if you can figure out what the hell we're on about,
:23:16. > :23:44.as we return, one more time, to Downturn Abbey.
:23:45. > :23:48.I can't believe it's come to this Maguire.
:23:49. > :23:50.Packed off to the dower house, at my age.
:23:51. > :23:58.There's so much I still want to do.
:23:59. > :24:01.After five years of being held back I'm in charge alone.
:24:02. > :24:06.And now my heir, George, he thinks he's running the place.
:24:07. > :24:13.Bargain Hunt's on the wireless, my lord.
:24:14. > :24:19.You think you've got it bad, my lord.
:24:20. > :24:22.And who do you think they've put in charge?
:24:23. > :24:25.That bearded bloke who inspects the manhole covers.
:24:26. > :24:28.He could be here for the next five years.
:24:29. > :25:17.I thought you'd taken up with that Farage fellow.
:25:18. > :25:21.No, it turns out I don't need a partner after all.
:25:22. > :25:32.I always knew you hated me but even I never dreamed you could be
:25:33. > :25:50.How is the resistance at Downturn, comrades?
:25:51. > :25:53.Mr Maguire, it's so depressing, it's a shambles downstairs.
:25:54. > :25:57.Every idea has to be submitted to a subcommittee of the staff.
:25:58. > :26:01.That is reviewed in parallel by an executive of former valets.
:26:02. > :26:05.Then it has to be approved by two thirds of the executive,
:26:06. > :26:10.unless it is overruled by a commissariat of the butler.
:26:11. > :26:13.I only asked for a cup of tea and a custard cream.
:26:14. > :26:22.Oh, look, it's the Downturn carol singers.
:26:23. > :26:26.# We'll keep the red flag flying here...
:26:27. > :26:29.Well, they've certainly got "momentum".
:26:30. > :26:37.Shall I turf them out into the gutter, my lord,
:26:38. > :26:43.Keep it up for another five years, I say.
:26:44. > :26:53.Every time I go away to make one of my little railway films,
:26:54. > :26:59.It's bad enough that you've made a mess of the big house and now
:27:00. > :27:05.Go on, clear off, or I'll get Mr Carson onto you.
:27:06. > :27:17.Kevin and Quentin never returned to Downturn Abbey.
:27:18. > :27:20.The house was demolished to make way for a third runway
:27:21. > :27:52.The end of a TV epic. Television will never be like that again.
:27:53. > :27:57.Diane, Jeremy Corbyn has a mandate from the members but not the MPs or
:27:58. > :28:02.the Shadow Cabinet. Does he unite the party by reaching out to the
:28:03. > :28:09.mainstream in 2016, all recast the party in his image? Party membership
:28:10. > :28:12.has doubled and the people that have joined are more likely to support
:28:13. > :28:17.Jeremy Corbyn. You do not support after a new leader if you do not
:28:18. > :28:21.support the leader. But Syria was immensely divisive. But there is
:28:22. > :28:26.more unity around domestic politics, so we have to hope, if you want the
:28:27. > :28:29.Labour Party to succeed, that we managed to gain unity around
:28:30. > :28:36.domestic politics while the Tories are split on Europe. If the party
:28:37. > :28:39.has changed, do institutions within the party, like the National
:28:40. > :28:43.executive committee and the Shadow Cabinet, do they have to change to
:28:44. > :28:49.reflect the changing nature of the party? Overtime. As far as I know
:28:50. > :28:53.there are no plans for a reshuffle, no plans for drastic constitutional
:28:54. > :29:00.change. Will there be a reshuffle next year to make it more like you
:29:01. > :29:07.and Mr Corbyn? Not as far as I know. So there will be, I can see by your
:29:08. > :29:13.face. Will you give us a date? From all of you, briefly, will Mr Corbyn
:29:14. > :29:17.lead Labour into the next election? Yes, the Labour Party is sentimental
:29:18. > :29:20.about its leaders. I think there is something important about the way
:29:21. > :29:26.the Labour Party voted, and it is that they were told for years and
:29:27. > :29:28.years that if they trimmed and they bit their tongue and adopted
:29:29. > :29:32.policies they did not relieve believing, they would be electorally
:29:33. > :29:36.successful. It failed, so this time they thought, you know what, we
:29:37. > :29:41.don't think he will win the election but we will vote for someone who we
:29:42. > :29:43.actually believe in. I just want to know if he will take Labour into the
:29:44. > :29:56.next election. I am certainly will. Will he be able to do it for five
:29:57. > :30:02.years? I don't see how they'll be able to dislodge him, and with
:30:03. > :30:07.boundary changes... Michael? The MPs will attempt to drive him to a
:30:08. > :30:12.nervous breakdown so he resigns but they'll be unsuccessful. I know what
:30:13. > :30:17.your answer will be. There are a lot of elections in May, local elections
:30:18. > :30:21.in England, Scottish Parliament elections, Welsh Assembly elections,
:30:22. > :30:28.Northern Ireland too? I'm not sure. How big a test for Mr Corbyn? They
:30:29. > :30:34.are a test but it's not a defining test. The regional elections, maybe
:30:35. > :30:40.we'll do well. We hope to win London, but it is tricky. We've only
:30:41. > :30:45.won London as the Labour Party once in four elections. I believe Jeremy
:30:46. > :30:51.will survive and lead introduce 2020. The Tories, Michael, Mr
:30:52. > :30:57.Cameron and Europe, which as we see is gaining momentum as an issue and
:30:58. > :31:01.trouble for the Tories is an issue too. In terms of trouble, will
:31:02. > :31:05.Europe be for the Tories what Mr Corbyn is for Labour? I don't think
:31:06. > :31:09.it is a problem for the Tories in the sense that once you have the
:31:10. > :31:14.vote the thing is resolved. So whatever split there's been in the
:31:15. > :31:17.Conservative Party has finished once it has happened. I see it as a
:31:18. > :31:24.disaster for the Prime Minister, because if the country doesn't vote
:31:25. > :31:29.the way he wants it too, and it is looking less certain it will, it is
:31:30. > :31:32.less certain how he can remain in his position. He must in the quiet
:31:33. > :31:38.moments of the night be thinking, why did I hold this referendum? What
:31:39. > :31:43.have I done? It was unnecessary. Something that seemed like a bright
:31:44. > :31:49.idea three or four years ago in the circumstances of the moment, which
:31:50. > :31:53.we have all forgotten, Ukip in the ascendancy, now seems like a
:31:54. > :31:57.wretched idea. Do you get the sense the Government would like to get
:31:58. > :32:02.this referendum over quickly? It has until the late autumn of 2017. Don't
:32:03. > :32:07.you feel if it could do it in 2016 it will do it? The longer this goes
:32:08. > :32:11.on the more Cameron's last years as Prime Minister, since he know he is
:32:12. > :32:16.going, are dominated by this problem. You don't necessarily want
:32:17. > :32:21.a referendum midterm. There are lots of factors pushing towards them
:32:22. > :32:27.trying to get it done in 2016. All of the incrowd, as it were, would
:32:28. > :32:31.like to do that. It is early days yet because the public aren't
:32:32. > :32:35.concentrating on this issue, it is a Westminster issue at the moment. But
:32:36. > :32:41.it will come when he comes back with some deal, or whatever it is. A
:32:42. > :32:46.triumph. It is always going to be a try. Harold Wilson said it was
:32:47. > :32:50.triumph when he got almost nothing, in 1975. Do you get the sense the
:32:51. > :32:56.main campaign is losing ground a bit? I think on balance people will
:32:57. > :32:59.vote to stay in. I think we'll see Project Fear 2. Referring of course
:33:00. > :33:06.to the Scottish referendum. The Scottish referendum. They'll be told
:33:07. > :33:09.the UK will be a bask case if at this time leaves the European Union,
:33:10. > :33:15.so I think on balance people will vote. But it could be tighter.
:33:16. > :33:22.People in referenda people tend to vote for the statous quo, so I think
:33:23. > :33:27.the balance of probability is the referendum will be next year. Amber
:33:28. > :33:31.Rudd let that cat out of the bag, and tinge Prime Minister will win.
:33:32. > :33:35.But how he'll be able to repackage the absolute defeat he will suffer
:33:36. > :33:41.with his negotiations with other European leaders as a triumph will
:33:42. > :33:46.be host amusing to watch. But this is really difficult, because all of
:33:47. > :33:51.David Cameron's domestic political opponents want to take potshots at
:33:52. > :33:57.the disastrous strategy, the smoke and mirrors over the renegotiation,
:33:58. > :34:05.but everyone else who wants to remain in will have to rally around
:34:06. > :34:09.David Cameron. What happens with the independents when Labour was on the
:34:10. > :34:18.platforms with the Tories, the voters didn't like it. Can you
:34:19. > :34:28.foresee any scenario in which we would come out? No. That's very
:34:29. > :34:32.disobliging. I don't think they are quite as stupid as sometimes he
:34:33. > :34:35.thinks that we are on. On the timing of the referendum, he is likely to
:34:36. > :34:39.treat this as a general election campaign, so of course he would like
:34:40. > :34:44.to get it out of the way in June 2016. But if you get into 2016 and
:34:45. > :34:49.it doesn't look like you can win, you must postpone it and hope that
:34:50. > :34:55.something will turn up. Whereas it could get worse. By 2017, midterm,
:34:56. > :35:02.even successful governments are often unpopular. John, you swept all
:35:03. > :35:07.before you in the general election. All the polls suggest that you're
:35:08. > :35:12.going to do very well. Maybe even better than your current situation
:35:13. > :35:19.in the Holyrood elections. At this point we are taking nothing for
:35:20. > :35:24.granted. That's the political cliche I'm meant to trot out at this stage.
:35:25. > :35:30.We are united on that. But despite the success of the SNP, independence
:35:31. > :35:33.is kind of off the agenda. Well, it is and it isn't. It is an
:35:34. > :35:37.extraordinary thing, when I go around and speak to a lot of schools
:35:38. > :35:43.in my constituency and elsewhere, one of the remarkable things when
:35:44. > :35:46.you ask the kids for a show of hands who supports independence and who
:35:47. > :35:50.doesn't. We are talking about voters, 16, 17 and 18-year-olds,
:35:51. > :35:54.very few people say they don't support independence. Wasn't that
:35:55. > :36:00.true at the referendum too? Yes, and it an age demographic things. 65s
:36:01. > :36:07.and others were strongly against independence. If the referendum had
:36:08. > :36:14.been confined to 16 and older, it would have been a yes. My feeling is
:36:15. > :36:20.that... So why don't you talk about it more? Well, I think you've got to
:36:21. > :36:25.respect the electorate. We had a vote and people voted the way they
:36:26. > :36:32.wanted to vote. I never liked it before I became a politician when I
:36:33. > :36:35.used to watch referenda in Europe and politicians would keep asking
:36:36. > :36:40.until they got the answer they wanted. You don't say, your party,
:36:41. > :36:45.that if England votes to come out of the EU but Scotland votes to stay
:36:46. > :36:50.in, that is automatically a case for another referendum. You don't say
:36:51. > :36:53.that any more. I do think if England votes to pull out and we vote to
:36:54. > :37:02.stay in, I think that will certainly trigger a bit of a crisis. A bit a
:37:03. > :37:06.bit of a crisis, not necessarily a referendum. I haven't had a
:37:07. > :37:14.discussion with any senior party figure that. But I do know that
:37:15. > :37:19.often in the constituency I will talk to noe voters who say if we
:37:20. > :37:23.pull out of the European Union I will vote for independence. Am I
:37:24. > :37:31.allowed to meanly mention the oil price? Do you think that might have
:37:32. > :37:41.something to do with it The chat in the pubs is not about oil prices. It
:37:42. > :37:46.might be in ab-David Beckham. It might be in Aberdeen. Anyway, you
:37:47. > :37:52.are enjoying yourself in the flesh pots of Westminster, I use that
:37:53. > :37:58.metaphorically, of course. Would you care if Britain voted to leave the
:37:59. > :38:02.European Union? I would. Whatever one's problems, I think the way
:38:03. > :38:10.Greece was treated was appalling. The European union has always been a
:38:11. > :38:19.union of elite. Sounds like the Stockholm syndrome when you fall in
:38:20. > :38:24.love with your kidnapper. I had forgotten how rude he is. I remember
:38:25. > :38:26.she used to lag off the European Union.
:38:27. > :38:35.Tonight on This Week, hankies at the ready
:38:36. > :38:36.That's enough chatter from Diane Abbott.
:38:37. > :39:04.Tis the season to be jolly, through the ancient Christmas Carol... The
:39:05. > :39:11.one and only Ida. Crazy name, crazy ladies.
:39:12. > :39:21.Awards and predictions. UK politician of the year? I don't mean
:39:22. > :39:25.to be too party loyal, but it has to be Nicola Sturgeon. I'm not
:39:26. > :39:31.surprised and there's a strong case for saying so. Miranda? Michael
:39:32. > :39:37.Gove, who has gone to the Department of Justice and behaved like a
:39:38. > :39:44.liberal and overturned all the terrible things that Chris Grayling
:39:45. > :39:59.did. And wear rose robes and walk back Wards. Mike Snell Nicola
:40:00. > :40:03.Sturgeon. It was a great achievement, but I don't think it
:40:04. > :40:08.compares with Nicola Sturgeon wiping the floor in Scotland. That's a fair
:40:09. > :40:17.argument. World politician of the year? Oh, dear. Mrs Merkel. I don't
:40:18. > :40:21.share her politics but I've been filled with admiration for what she
:40:22. > :40:25.has done with the refugees. To take on public opinion in Germany in the
:40:26. > :40:29.way she has done, to do what she thinks is the right thing is
:40:30. > :40:35.enormously admirable. And maybe paying the high price for it. Next
:40:36. > :40:43.summer, the 206 summer will be an interesting time in Germany.
:40:44. > :40:48.Millions settling there. Miranda? I think since John has taken Angela
:40:49. > :40:53.Merkel, Barack Obama, because of the way he has spoken out against gun
:40:54. > :40:58.crime in the US. It has been such an appalling year in America about mass
:40:59. > :41:04.shootings. But not managed to do anything about it. Michael, world
:41:05. > :41:11.politician? I think probably Angela Merkel. She's dominated Europe and
:41:12. > :41:17.put a whole career on the line over the immigrants. And because Barack
:41:18. > :41:23.Obama has disappeared. So she has filled a vacuum. Disagreement there.
:41:24. > :41:32.Very well. Die an? Angela Merkel, because I like the way all the men
:41:33. > :41:46.are so frightened of her. OK. Not chairman Mao? No-one thought about
:41:47. > :41:51.President Putin? He has enough admirers in strange quarters. A
:41:52. > :41:56.great admirer of Donald Trump. That will help Donald Trump. Who will be
:41:57. > :42:03.the two presidential candidates in the election? Hillary Clinton. And I
:42:04. > :42:10.I fear Donald Trump. And who would win? Hillary Clinton, without a
:42:11. > :42:15.doubt. Trump and Clinton, Clinton to win. I take about as much interest
:42:16. > :42:20.in this as I do Star Wars at the moment, but I would be delighted to
:42:21. > :42:26.see Hillary Clinton trump Donald Trump. I worked in American politics
:42:27. > :42:33.in the Senate. I think if the Republicans have an ounce of common
:42:34. > :42:39.sense, they don't, they would go for the Reuben. They need the Hispanic
:42:40. > :42:42.vote but they probably won't. I think Hillary Clinton will get the
:42:43. > :42:46.Democratic nomination and she will win because of the Hispanic vote.
:42:47. > :42:50.The Republican party will go so far to the right in the primaries they
:42:51. > :42:56.will not find it possible to win the general election. We know what one
:42:57. > :43:02.famous woman will end up doing, Mrs Clinton. What job will Diane be
:43:03. > :43:07.doing by the end of the year? Could be the same one or a little
:43:08. > :43:15.promotion. She could turn her hand to anything. Such a crawler. I am
:43:16. > :43:21.waiting to see... Shadow Foreign Secretary. Diane, Shadow Foreign
:43:22. > :43:24.Secretary? I love my current job in international development. Madam
:43:25. > :43:28.Mao. That's your lot for tonight
:43:29. > :43:31.folks, and for 2015. But not for us, because Lou Lou's
:43:32. > :43:33.is double-booked tonight. Half the club's reserved
:43:34. > :43:37.for the This Week Christmas party, the other half for Jose
:43:38. > :43:40.Mourinho's leaving do. So let the battle of
:43:41. > :43:44.the over-inflated egos commence. We'll be back in the new year,
:43:45. > :43:48.but in the meantime we leave you with some seasonal cheer,
:43:49. > :43:51.and our one and only lasting contribution to
:43:52. > :43:52.Western civilisation. The This Week celebration
:43:53. > :43:56.of Yuletide narcissism, otherwise known as the TWelfie
:43:57. > :43:58.Night of Christmas. Accompanied by my very own band
:43:59. > :44:01.of merry carol singers, Nighty night - don't let
:44:02. > :44:41.the mulled Blue Nun bite. Silen Night Holy n All is calm, all
:44:42. > :45:03.is bright, round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and
:45:04. > :45:12.mild. Sleep in Heavenly peace. Sleep in Heavenly peace.
:45:13. > :46:03.Heavenly host sing hallelujah. Christ the Saviour is born. Christ
:46:04. > :46:07.the thy saviour is born. Will this Christmas
:46:08. > :46:10.be one to remember... Your birth mum - if someone said,
:46:11. > :46:14."I can track her down,"