NEW RULE FOR POLITICIANS BEING INTERVIEWED

This is why I am devoted to Jeremy Paxman - relentless!

Andrew Marr is pretty good too!

And Jon Snow is good. About time somebody stood up to these weaselly politicians. When you get one who does actually answer a straight question (ok, I can't think of one off the top of my head) it is so refreshing!

Agree, however, sometimes journalists asks questions that set people (including politicians) up. The question RM asked was "Do you regret ...etc" - there is no way to answer that question without being damned if you do (regret) and damned if you don't.

What he perhaps should have said is "I'm not going to answer your question".

Richard Madeley , suppose politics gets him off the topic of ‘women’s problems’ and viagra , not forgetting his battle to form a pop group. Oh and impersonations, who could forget his ‘Ali G’ . He is so pompous

Yes, you have a point, Grannyknot, and you're right, that's indeed what he should have answered. Thinking that answering the question they wish had been asked is always irritating though, and they need to learn not to do it.

Grannyknot - all GW needed to have answered is "No" because he probably doesn't regret it. His rather childish insult to a major world power shows how out of his depth he is and underlines Theresa May's repeated failures to select people with a bit of nous for her Cabinet.

None of them are honest enough to say outright "I'm not going to answer your question" because they are too cowardly and realise how bad it would sound.

I don't care if Richard Madeley appears pompous at other times sometimes because it is about time that journalists stopped toadying up to politicians and allowing them to get away with not answering their questions.

If GW had any brains or imagination, he would have replied "Why do you think I would regret those words"? and insisted on RM explaining why he is asking.