11-10-2023, 11:41 AM
The late Brian Walden springs to mind as an excellent interviewer of politicians of all colours, who showed no bias, despite having previously been a Labour MP. He was even reputed to have been Margaret Thatcher’s favourite political interviewer.
I didn’t see Ed Balls’ interview with Starmer, but providing he robustly challenged him as he would have with a Tory politician, I don’t think there’s a problem. Obviously if he gave him the soft-soap and told him what a wonderful job he was doing, then that’s certainly an issue.
All journalists have to put their own personal political views to one side, and I don’t think if someone is a former politician, it should necessarily be a problem. I guess it comes down to whether you’re doing your job properly or not.
I didn’t see Ed Balls’ interview with Starmer, but providing he robustly challenged him as he would have with a Tory politician, I don’t think there’s a problem. Obviously if he gave him the soft-soap and told him what a wonderful job he was doing, then that’s certainly an issue.
All journalists have to put their own personal political views to one side, and I don’t think if someone is a former politician, it should necessarily be a problem. I guess it comes down to whether you’re doing your job properly or not.