Aaron Banks should never have been invited onto the Andrew Marr Show when his case had recently been passed to the NCA. As Caroline Lucas remarked, it might well have prejudiced his ability to get a fair trial. He would be delighted with this of course.
The interview was not Andrew Marr's greatest moment. He is not a Paxman who can ask the same question 13 times, nor is he an accountant. Banks said nothing and dodged every question, merely trotting out the old populist lines that everyone is corrupt (except him of course).
But then we had the hapless Caroline Nokes, Minister of State for Immigration: not once but twice.
Her appearance before the Home Affairs Committee chaired by Yvette Cooper was a simple car crash which reduced Yvette Cooper to putting her head in her hands. Dramatic stuff indeed.
OK, let's give the Minister the benefit of the doubt: she was up against a seasoned parliamentary performer from the other side. Her performance required her boss, the Home Secretary, to issue all sorts of 'clarifications' to try to rescue things.
Caroline Nokes has form. Back in May she appeared before the Norther Ireland Committee and was completely at sea.
One of the joys of these three examples is the style of the questioner: Andrew Marr was considered and adult (but did not get the truth); Yvette Cooper was precise, direct and dramatic.
I love the last one for its gently spoken approach:
'The Government tells us that it puts great store by the Good Friday Agreement. Have you actually read the Good Friday Agreement whose 20th birthday we have been celebrating?'
'No.'
'Have you read any part of it?'
'No. Twenty years ago I was having a baby. I have only been a Minister for five months.'
Ouch! It is not always best to have heavy feet to make one's point.
How do people face themselves in the mirror after sessions like this? Aaron Banks is arrogant to think he had 'won' (cf Trump and the Mid-term elections). When Tracey Crouch disagreed with a policy announcement, she resigned. Caroline Nokes clearly does not think it necessary after two car crashes.
