Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

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10 Questions for Vince Cable, post-Question Time

An open letter to the Business Secretary following our debate on BBC1.

Dear Vince,

Nice to see you last night in Liverpool. I just got home!

You've had a great week, with a strong speech to your party members at the Lib Dem conference followed by a fluent performance on Question Time. (You were also, I hear, a big draw at the NS fringe on "progressive austerity" in Liverpool on Monday.)

But QT is just too short for me. Sixty minutes? Call me greedy, but I wanted more time to continue our debate and discussion on the economy. If we'd had longer, and it'd just been you and me, here are the questions I'd like you to have answered for me:

1) You have referred to "slashing now" as "an act of economic masochism" (13 March 2010) and have said that "cutting too soon and pushing the economy back into recession will make the deficit worse, as tax receipts fall and benefit payments rise" (24 April 2010), so how can you now claim that your opponents are "deficit deniers" for making precisely the same case as you made only months ago?

2) You claimed last night on television that we were facing a financial "emergency" and that the deficit had to be confronted and cut down. But in your book, The Storm, you wrote that UK debt is "moderate in comparison with those of other countries" (p25) and that budget deficits of 13 or 14 per cent in the US and the UK were "not a great cause for alarm" (p144). How do you explain the disconnect?

3) You referred in your conference speech to the "spivs" and "gamblers" in the City, and denounced bankers' bonuses on Question Time, but bank shares rallied after your coalition's "emergency Budget" in June and Deutsche Bank, for example, described the Budget as a "good outcome for banks". Again, how do you explain the disconnect?

4) Nick Clegg said five days before the general election: "My eight-year-old ought to be able to work this out -- you shouldn't start slamming on the brakes when the economy is barely growing." How is it that eight-year-old Antonio Clegg has a greater grasp of economic theory, and of the lessons of economic history, than you, Clegg or Danny Alexander?

5) Do the latest figures from the Republic of Ireland worry you? Make you doubt your support for immediate and widespread "austerity"?

6) How about the news from the eurozone?

7) You have said that John Maynard Keynes is your hero, but isn't Keynes turning in his grave right now? Why is it that all the leading Keynesian economists (Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, David Blanchflower, Robert Skidelsky, etc) are so opposed to your coalition's cuts?

8) Can you tell us when exactly you switched your position on cuts? The date and time, please?

9) In the green room before the programme was recorded, you and I discussed how much Liverpool had changed and progressed in recent years. So do you agree or disagree with the Lib Dem leader of Liverpool City Council, Warren Bradley, when he says that northern cities like his own "could be set back ten or 20 years" by the impact of your coalition's cuts?

10) You condemned monopolies and "rigged markets" in your conference speech. Will you promise to launch a review, on public-interest grounds, of Rupert Murdoch's bid to take full control of BSkyB? Or will you have to check with Andy Coulson first?

I hope you had a safe journey back to London.

Regards,

Mehdi

 

 

91 comments

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James's picture

@James

err excuse me "James" I think you'd better change your name... I called first dibs on it. Besides, I really wouldn't want to be confused with a child-abuse condoning catholic.

jane manby's picture

on question time vince cable said "we are in real finacial difficulties and worse" what does the worse mean

Nick's picture

Robert: Was it not the chap in the audience who made the jibe about Cable joining the BNP? Think you will find it was.

James's picture

If you've got a problem, perhaps you should change your name. Try "Titus" on for size.

ljmt's picture

James,re "the more significant position of the two"; why would any sane polite well-mannered person think that you abusing s.o. you have never met on a bb as a "child-abuse condoning Catholic" might be significant. Sad,rude, bigoted, yes. Significant, no, member of Mensa (bow, bow, scrape, you masses), or not. Learn some manners. And no, I am neither a Catholic nor do I know the man you abused.

TBag's picture

@Daragh McDowell

"You were on QT last night? Well guess that's one hour struck off my iPlayer list..."

Shucks. That must've been devastating. Irreparable damage to MH'S heart! Jeez.

TBag's picture

@Ben
24 September 2010 at 10:33

"Mehdi, if you were talking to Vince before the programme, why didn't you ask him some of these questions then? Just a thought..."

So have a friendly chat with VC in the green room. Put him at ease, let him drop his defenses, get a few pointers, and then really thrash him on those points in the program.

That would be a very under-handed way to conduct oneself, don't you think?

grumble's picture

medhi hassan is the nick griffin of the muslim world,your attack on the pope on question time just confirms to me why muslims have no place in british soceity with this hatred and extremism that has cursed this country since 1997 when new labour opened the floodgates of mass immigration to the uk of muslims from terrorist states like pakistan,iraq and afghanistan,you medhi hassan showed your true colours on question time and if your supposed to be a moderate muslim well god help us what your exremists brothers of yours thinks of the west and the uk,

Imran's picture

Excellent performance on both QT and Sunday Morning Mehdi. I thought you did particularly well on Sunday Morning with some particularly sensitive topics. You seemed to have drawn the short straw as you were the only panelist that stayed on for the whole programme! Hope to continue to see you on the box.

I Can't Believe It's Not James's picture

@James (26 September 2010 at 06:23)

But the question is surely whether the rate of paedophilia/cover-ups in the Catholic church is higher than in other comparable institutions (i.e. other religious groups, state schools, secular youth groups etc)? From what (limited) systematic comparatative studies there have been the RC percentage rate seems to be if anything slightly lower than in Protestant denominations and MUCH lower than in the secular school system. Can two reports (which deal with allegations, not legal convictions) from small nations about an institution which has over a billion members be counted as authorative? So at what ratio of paedophiles to non-paedophiles is one justified to make the blanket judgement that paedophilia is "part and parcel" of an organisation?

jie4v7i14's picture

What Cable needs to answer is what the hell he is doing at the moment, he seems to be lost, floating around some strange Brit political coalition oether.

Please tell us Cable, because we do not know what you are up to.

Mr J Martin's picture

Mr Hasan

I did not know who you were before Friday. Watching you on QT I was very, very impressed - I was in agreement with most all you said. I enjoyed your passion and that you came accross as not 'one of the gang'. Now there's a young man who is no politician I cheered. He says it as it is.

On Saturday I came to this website to find out more. I spent hours reading your articles and the associated comments. And I must admit I was a little troubled by what I found. In particular I found no explanation from you for your words concerning non-believers and animals. And yes, I read your article addressing this question but found obfuscation therein. But ok, I thought, you are a man of faith. Perhaps you were just quoting the Koran and perhaps your words were easily misread out of context.

After watching Ed Miliband on Andrew Marr's show I noticed you were on the following programme and decided to watch. I thought you were clearly uncomfortable in the discussion about sex workers and unprepared to listen to the more informed such as the sex workers union representative. Ho hum, I thought, well this is a subject that calls beyond intellect and we can all find ourselves confused in such matters without fully understanding why.

But then came the conversation regarding homosexualility. In your one comment during this piece you conspicuously failed to take the opportunity to defend a persons right to a non-heterosexual sexuality. Instead you chose to attack "aggressive secularism". Oh dear, you took the politicians choice to avoid the question. Do you not see that your inability to defend a persecuted minority of which you do not belong diminishes your defence of a persecuted minority to which you do belong? Are you not asking yourself how you found yourself in agreement with an obvious loathsome bigot?

It is hard to recognize and escape the bigotry into which we are born. I am an aging fella who has struggled for tolerance and wealth distribution all my adult life, but I grew up in a time and a working class where racism was rife. I had to learn that my community, my mum and dad, my uncles and aunts, my friends were wrong. It wasn't easy and at the time caused much pain. But it was the right thing to do.

I do not want to believe you are a homophobe or a religious bigot. You may well be struggling with these matters but unfortunately your increasing profile as a "progressive" commentator will allow you to prevaricate no longer. Your position demands you make choices, and clearly state your choices, nomatter how difficult for you and your kin.

I do not care that you believe ancient texts are the word of a god. I do care if you take such things seriously enough to harbour prejudice against other people.

Regards

Mr J Martin, London

stuart's picture

one day when you all wake up from your slumber of hatred you will relise hating catholics because of a few bad apples in the midst is the wayv forward,but great to see the left for what they are,dirty, bigoted, fascists.

Penvronius Miles Cambrensis, sfo's picture

It may hlpone to vent one's feelings to write in this column but I doubt if the gentleman in question has read and taken any notice of everyone's comments

So is it worthwhile writing except to exercise one' wrists - a rather Onanistic exercise in the circumstances

jie4v7i14's picture

Another essay writer and something to make me yawn. Some people just do not get it after the last ten years we have been through. Some are trying to dig us deeper in self-destruction, and some albeit in lateral thinking are trying to sort it.

But some speil the base level of every day, just for today. Big bluddy yawns. Song,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mJSewIWxZc

Penvronius Miles Cambrensis, sfo's picture

I found Medhi Hasan's comments on Question time on the whole interesting and thought provoking, until his remark about there being 'Tens of Thousands of Paedophile Catholic Priests.'

This is really an outrageous statement in view of the facts, that in the UK there are likely to be no more than 5,000 priests, in total, and that research has shown only 0.4% have been accused of offences against children, not all of whom have been convicted. Even those 20 or so offenders is necessarily far too many.

One would expect a serious journalist who should be familiar with the social sciences and the nature of statistics, to provide the most substantial evidence before making such a claim.

One of the reasons for the Holy Father's visit was to apologize most sincerely to the citizens of the UK for the serious sins committed against children by an incredibly small minority of Catholic priests,
and for that apology to have been graciously accepted.

Is Medhi Hasan so holy that he can cast not just a stone against the catholic priesthood but the whole of the Himalayas?

This kind of irrational outburst does not serve the truth. Neither does it build bridges of hope between sincere people of faith and sincere non-believers. Rather it would entrench already hardened ill informed attitudes.

It was an extremely inflammatory remark to have made and not one worthy of a morally sound and fair-minded journalist.

David Dimbleby also failed gravely in his duty as Chairperson in not reprimanding Hasan for this breach of the etique of debate.

For his and everyone else's information, 'this not the kind of
behaviour one would expect from an educated English Gentleman.'

James's picture

@James

I note you don't deny that you are a child-abuse condoning catholic.

tincella's picture

You`re arrogant and up your own backside; you perform like so many better men before you - Bernard Levin being the acme, but you lack the charm. Your attack on the Pope was reprehensible. How do we know that child abuse isn`t rife in islam - all those long, roomy "frocks" imams wear (lots of scope for gropes, fumbles and more), and the authoritarian rule. You wouldn`t, of course, know because muslims are so scared of their own religious leaders. Islam is religion by tyranny. At least Roman Catholics now have a voice.
As for your jibes about Cameron, wealth and co, you sound like you have benefited from privilege too. Hypocrite!

James's picture

@James

I note you don't deny you're a wife-beating paedophile. That doesn't mean I think you /are/ a wife-beating paedophile. I just note that you don't deny it.

CrISpY DuCk's picture

." How is it that eight-year-old Antonio Clegg has a greater grasp of economic theory, and of the lessons of economic history, than you, Clegg or Danny Alexander?

lol

Reginald-Fah-fah's picture

What an entertaining Question Time!!!

Marvellous performance by Mehdi and Ian Hislop!

To be honest, I feel that Vince Cable got a bit of hard time.

Craig's picture

Somehow Idon't think he will answer these questions. Vince Cable sold out his principles for power. Plain and simple!

Saf's picture

Excellent Mehdi! Great performance on QT.

James's picture

Mehdi you gave a virtuoso performance at Question Time today. Searing and insightful: We're not worthy, we're not worthy :)

Kristel Farr's picture

You asked questions that needed to be asked, you did it well and yes you are well informed, but I agree with a few of the others that are critical of your approach -it needs to be a bit more mature!

mcquade's picture

Fine performance Mehdi. On the timing of VC's conversion to deficit hawk, LFF did a good piece this week on Clegg's conversion (which includes a link showing that there was not a sudden "firestorm" from Greece; it had in fact been rumbling along for some time). http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/09/cleggs-justification-for-deficit-...
Quizzed on the same matter this week by Andrew Neil, Huhne used the same argument. He referred to a Bloomberg table (which I have yet to find)showing there was a spike in interest rates during the days of coalition negotiations. Keep up the good work.

Rose4's picture

You made brilliant points Mehdi-your incisive analysis, facts, humour and empathy was well appreciated by the audience. John Redmond was taken aback being put on spot about bankers while he was waxing lyrical about the private sector's strategic decision-making and Ian Hislop's cynicism and self-satisfied guffaws were well exposed. The Liverpool audience were not duped by the opportunist switch by Cable. Pity your points and dates of Vince's sudden conversion could not have been aired as well. Look forward to future appearances.

Clem the Gem's picture

You did well last night Mehdi, but need to let others finish - they can damn themselves on their own. Hislop looked particularly grumpy - i hope you gave him a hug...
Cable is caught in a bind, and I dont see his experience of this coalition being a happy one...

Adam Blane Richards's picture

Congratulations Mehdi, I thought your performance last night was considerably improved on last time. A balance of relevant and succinct answers delivered with passion and a dash of humour. Dare I suggest including a little self-deprecation next time?!

Top performance and top trender. Top job Mehdi.

Ps My feelings towards St. Vince have shifted from genuine contempt to feeling quite sorry for the chap. Please don't beat up on him too hard!

stuart's picture

if they do invite the far left medhi hassan on question time again i hope he issues an apology to all catholics in the uk who he insulted with his racist and bigoted comments he made about that religion, but i guess the bbc kinda like the nutty muslim on with extreme views and his eyes popping out of there sockets and medhi hassan certainly fits that profile,i would of prefered maajid nawaz from the quilliam foundation on question time because at least he knows what he is talking about and is a good role model for muslims,that i cant say for medhi hassan.

Dave C's picture

Robert wrote, "Any respect I had for Mehdi and his opinions disappeared with his cheap jibe about Vince Cable joining the BNP."

I've just watched QT on the iPlayer.

Mehdi Hasan said nothing whatsoever about the BNP.

A bloke in the audience did rant a bit about Vincent Cable once having been a Labour Party member and suggest he might join the BNP in the future.

Will you apologise for your false allegation, Robert?

Howard Smith's picture

Mehdi, we need more like you to shine a harsh light on the flip flopping Lib Dems and their questionable coalition.

You were immense on QT last night.

Peter's picture

Vince Cable is the worst kind of opportunist. He doffs his cap to Cameron and Osborne while at the same time doing his best to make the right kind of noises to be seen as some kind of leveraging force on the left of the coalition; he is no such thing - he's a weak man too afraid to be true to his original principles.

He's gone from the Voice of Sanity to His Master's Voice.

Steve S's picture

Vince seems to get an immensely hard time for what I see as no reason whatsoever. Of course there are contradictions with a few of his views, but the only way Cable can really motivate any real change is through being in Government.

You can't expect a member of a coalition government to be outspoken against the cuts when the winning party marketed themselves on cutting the deficit.

I actually think, had Vince stepped back and refused to be a part of this coalition, the Lib Dems would have been beaten and bruised and the coalition destroyed before it had even began. Also, had the Lib Dems decided on a "progressive" coalition with Labour and other parties to secure a majority, that coalition would have been much more unstable as this present one.

Although Vince is a politician and should be called to account on his contradictions, Mehdi showed himself to be nothing other than a horrid, arrogant bully. This "open letter" to Vince also expresses an element of cowardice as, why would Mehdi not ask these questions on the panel as the 60 minutes would have presented plenty of time to do just that.

Dorian's picture

Well done Mehdi, Vince deserves all he gets.

Faye's picture

I thought you were a little too keen to please the crowd. Also you all ganged up on poor Vince Cable. It felt like bullying at school

Ali's picture

According to Ladbrokes you're 100-1 to be next leader of the Labour party. Running for Ed's position already. Same odds as Tony Blair? That's got to be insulting to a man of your intellect !

Numan Hussain's picture

Mehdi

What a confident and eloquent performance both a QT and Sunday Morning. You clearly unsettled both politicians and the chap from christian voice. Keep it up!

Rgds
Numan

Lou's picture

@Stuart,
The QT audience are members of the ordinary public and is a cross section of society, usually from within the area the programme broadcasts from. The cross section represents all three main political parties plus the others and there are some no political affiliation members of the public too.
Hope that helps.

@SteveS.
The sixty minute programme affords only five questions plus some follow ups. The questions are the five most popular questions submitted by the audience that they want to ask. Mehdi could not follow up on his points because time didn't allow, other panel members have to be seen to be given an equal say, the audience has to be seen to be able to challenge, respond and reply to what they hear and DD has to be seen to be acting fairly with all requirements.

The only 'bully' I saw on the panel was Redwood, berating Mehdi for making a point by saying he was talking over him yet going on to talk over Mehdi at length.

@DaveC
Yes you are right, it was a member of the audience.

@Mr J Martin
Maybe Mehdi was uncomfortable with the limited, and I mean limited, scope for any discussion on that particular programme. Maybe the reason he only made one comment on the homosexuality subject is because he only got one opportunity to answer a particular question and not follow it up or open it out more than the confines of the original question. Reid is hardly a cutting edge journalist asking the most pressing and incisive questions and getting the debate really going. She asks a question and then doesn't hear the reply as she's too distracted reading her notes. She asks single questions and there's rarely a follow up question to the reply that was given because she moves on to the next guest for the next question.

I agree with the comments that the programme should be longer, ninety minutes would be more fitting and would enable for more indepth debate and discussion.

Ben's picture

Mehdi, if you were talking to Vince before the programme, why didn't you ask him some of these questions then? Just a thought...

Publishing an 'open letter' (quite the most self-fellating way of making all the points you weren't skilled enough to make last night) just continues to cement your place in my mind as the sixth-form bully, desperate to carve out a TV niche for themselves as an attack dog who barks out selective quotations made by your opponent, often out of context, and then shouts them down whilst they try and answer.

I'm amazed you manage to drag yourself away from the mirror in the morning in order to get into work.

Mike S's picture

Yeh - well done the man. Good to see the obnoxious Redwood getting riled.....

Dave S1's picture

You're pretty good at this QT thing, Mehdi...would love to see you in frontline politics.

No point being shy and letting Tory bullies walk all over you, doing the "talking bollocks with an authoritative voice" thing.

CF looked out of her depth.

Overall a crap show though, last night....the show is not what it was.

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