Why is this Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV

by Rob Burley

A deliciously irreverent and humorous insider account of 25 years working at the very top of British political television ‘A delicious read’ – Emily Maitlis 'Very funny’ – Steve Coogan Why Is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me? – a question famously asked by master TV inquisitor Jeremy Paxman – is a history of thirty years in British politics viewed through the prism of political television, from Thatcher’s fall to the crash and burn of Liz Truss, via the Iraq War, austerity, Brexit and Partygate. Rob Burley’s deliciously irreverent insider’s account of a career spent trying to get straight answers from politicians offers a unique insight into the British political class and their complicated relationship with the truth. Rob Burley has prepared, practised and helped prosecute political interviews with eight prime ministers over more than twenty-five years, working alongside the biggest names in television. This book is his love letter to the political interview and, with the help of exclusive conversations with TV giants from Jeremy Paxman and Andrew Neil to Andrew Marr and Emily Maitlis, will take you inside the process like never before.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Society, Current Affairs, History, Journalism

446 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2023

Reviews

[Nikki Mcgee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a geeky teenager who grew up in the 80s and 90s watching political interviews from the likes of Walden and Frost this book was hugely nostalgic for me. The only reason it took me 5 days to read was that I looked up almost every interview on YouTube so I could watch and read at the same time.

I had listened to quite a few podcasts about this book before listening and so I had high hopes and I was not disappointed.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fascinating book by Burley, which told a unique political story through a medium not usually talked about. By charting the rise and fall of the political interview, so much is revealed about our political ecosystem and the character of those who lead us.

Offering an insight into a completely different world behind the scenes, and combining narrative with anecdotes and wit, Burley takes us behind the camera to see how news-making interviews take shape. The section on Johnson and Truss was particularly apt given the time we find ourselves in. Highly recommended!

[Mike Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provocative title, enjoyable read. TV exec Burley, who worked his way up from researcher on On The Record in the early 90s and now edits Andrew Marr is candid about why the political interview so often frustrates, exposing the tricks and techniques politicians use to avoid being held accountable - if they turn up at all. It’s not all cynicism of course and Burley has a high regard for some hack who manage to maintain a degree of transparency, among them John Major, Neil Kinnock, and, at times, the odd pairing of Thatcher and Corbyn, but he reserves special scorn for much of the current crop of Tories, especially Johnson hiding in a refrigerator to avoid questioning. If nothing else, I love it for coining Trussterfuck to describe the shortest prime ministership in history. It’s an insider’s tale and to some extent that leans in to somewhat overlong anecdotalism (and I wish he could think of a suitable contraction for “long form political interview” as it would save us all time and trouble), so it may be more one for the spods than the general reader, which is a pity, as it’s as much about the health of our broadcast media as the body politic, and that should concern everyone.

[Isabella Rothwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody Brilliant. When Rob announced that he was writing a book I immediately pre ordered it. It a brilliant insight into Political TV covering the big heavyweights of the 20th and 21st Century Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron, Miliband, Corbyn, Truss, Johnson, May and Starmer and Sunak. He balances his love for the BBC as an institution but isn’t afraid of criticising it fairly but looking at the problems in Political Programming and undue influence from the Government and others. So well worth the read!!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

To a certain extent the title of the book rather misleads about the seriousness of the text. But as I picked it out due to the title, showing my undoubted sophistication, I suppose it did its job.

It’s very early I read a book inside a week, but this one was well worth the “effort”. The author, a self confessed political junkie, got his dream job of working on the big political programme on TV and radio, mainly TV, and either worked with of met all the big names.

It all started with the author watching the interviews with Margaret Thatcher and usually her tame man, Brian Walden, who turned rogue in the interview following Lawsons resignation.

The argument he makes is that the long political interview is the best way for the public to judge a politician and his policies. The politicians realising that they could be vulnerable, so politicians became increasingly clever in avoiding getting caught, either by evading the question or replying with varying degrees of truth. Eventually they mastered the art of avoiding the difficult interviews altogether. Spoiler alert, the author considers the Boris and Liz turned this into an art form, either avoiding interviews, or if caught out, prepared to tell the odd fib.

Book is well written, and while offering a very serious message, doesn’t take itself out himself too seriously. It is amusing and offers some insight to the characters of the politicians and the interviews.

I read the second edition where the initial hope that Rishi would be better, is disappointed. In case you think this is particular anti Tory, there are incisive comments about all shades of the political spectrum

The final pages are a sum up of what politicians, the media and the public need to do to ensure that democracy is resumed. Democracy requires the truth.

[Owen McArdle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting history of TV political interviewing, though I won't lie, my favourite anecdote was Andrew Marr tipping a huge jug of milk all over Theresa May at breakfast 😂

[Bint Laden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book: it’s interesting, it’s well written, amusing in places and it reminds us all what a bunch of lying careerists we have running our country and our lives.
However, it is something of a self-congratulatory autobiography, as much as an examination of political interviews and of various politicians and if you’re interested enough to read this book you probably already know about Brexit, Truss, Johnson and the other episodes recounted within. Burley worked on this programme and then another one and then he was promoted to this or that role and so on, which is always more interesting for an author than for the reader. I would have liked it more if there had been a bit less of Burley throughout.
My second caveat is that although it is witty in places and Burley is deliciously rude about some politicians (he clearly dislikes Theresa May, for example) it’s not as laugh out funny as some of the reviews and endorsements might have you believe, as it’s actually a serious book about the charlatans in or seeking office and Burley’s strong belief that they are better held to account and often exposed as liars by the long form TV interview than by parliamentary process or any other mechanism.
On two specific points Burley is simply wrong. First, he claims that when Jeremy Corbyn made a comment about British Zionists and their sense of irony, he was clearly being anti-Semitic. This is nonsense: Zionism is a political ideology (like Trotskyism or socialism) and is not synonymous with Jews or any ethnic identity – there are many Christian Zionists and many Jews who are completely opposed to Zionist ideology. Conflating Zionism and Judaism is wrong, it’s used as a lazy smear against those who do not share this ideology and it’s dangerous.
Second, he repeats the now rather tired canard that it was a lie when the Vote Leave campaign used a slogan "We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead". It was actually true that we spent (more than, in fact) £350 million each week on contributions to the EU. It would be fair to say this was potentially misleading as the figure was the gross contribution, and not the net sum after rebates but it wasn’t in itself untrue. And it is itself a lie to say the campaign group ‘promised’ to spend this amount on the NHS, as they were a campaign group and therefore not in a position to promise how money might be spent, they simply proposed that it be invested in the NHS, rather than going to the EU. And as a point of fact, spending on the NHS increased by considerably more than £350 million after the UK left the EU, although whether as a result of Brexit or otherwise can be disputed.
All that said, I found it an interesting read and his occasional comments about various TV interviewers (Beth Rigby, Jeremy Paxman, Brian Walden, Emily Maitlis etc) added additional insight.

[Lucy Moyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Rob Burley’s love letter to the long-form political interview, exemplified by Sir Robin Day, Brian Walden, Andrew Neil, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Paxman, Emily Maitlis, Beth Rigby
- His argument for why it needs to return, as a crucial component of our democracy
- He’d always seek to answer the big question - “What is the truth?”
- Robin Day arguably ‘started’ the political interview - up until then, access to MPs was restricted and curated, often in a location of their choosing and without probing for answers
- Journalists are there to hold politicians to account and therefor must be impartial (Brian Walden an example of when that wasn’t the case)
- Blair surrendering British foreign policy to the US
- Andrew Marr built his career in print and became a household name before moving to broadcast

[]()

- Story of David Thompson, who died during austerity. ‘After we spoke, Gil proudly emailed me a certificate from BT thanking her hard-working brother for his years of service. She also attached a photograph of David’s CV. It includes a personal statement in which he describes himself as ‘hard working’, a list of his ‘key skills’ and his employment history. There was a pile of these CVs, printed out and ready for posting, lying next to David’s body when he was found dead in his flat. This was not a man making no effort to find work.’
- Sir John Major’s argument against Leave leaders re investment in NHS - ‘The concept that the people running the Brexit campaign would care for the NHS is a rather odd one. I seem to remember Michael Gove wanting to privatise it. Boris wanted to charge people for using it. IDS wanted a social insurance system. The NHS is about as safe with them as a pet hamster would be with a hungry python.’
- ‘Like Jeremy Corbyn at a wreath laying ceremony, I was present but not involved.’ 💀😵
- Election rules (2017) requiring equal coverage of parties
- Brexit being the immigration v economy debate
- Colin Powell’s ‘pottery shop rule’ - if you break it, you fix it (re foreign wars or Brexit)
- Sophy Ridge putting question to TM re Trump’s sexism, and similar questions not being put to men.
- ‘Inform’ in BBC’s mission is about explaining that things have happened, while also debating why and how, and looking at what’s next
- ‘Thrill of political interviews is the opportunity to test a politician’s ideas and arguments, and occasionally watch these collapse under scrutiny.’
- If politicians don’t accept interviews, they might lack confidence or knowledge in what they’re presenting - ‘if you haven’t the confidence to be interviewed, there’s a question mark over whether you’ve got the ability to run the country… it’s only the robust, long form interview that can reveal this.’
- Should there be an established set of rules for an election?

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite it's 400 pages length and subject matter, this was a quick and accessible read about the political interview on television and radio. Striking the right balance between covering aspects in-depth and moving on when needed, its weakest points were when Burley went beyond using his relevant experience to making himself the story, as he was not reluctant to highlight his influence on political interviews.

A blurb stated that "what Burley doesn't know about political interviews isn't worth knowing" and based on the Tweets of his I've seen shared, I'd feared a lot of what he did know wasn't worth knowing either. He had thought it was wrong of the BBC to have Joe Lycett on their Sunday morning show in a Tweet but his argument for the incongruous Andrew Marr music sections boiled down to "I liked them". I was pleasantly surprised to find he could write but he also sought the opinions of Marr, Andrew Neil, Emily Maitlis and others to produce a book with multiple voices which stopped it being too self-indulgent.

One got a feel for the behind-the-scenes procedures as well as an overview of how attitudes have changed from politicians over time, and that Johnson has set a precedent for not feeling duty-bound to be held accountable prior to a general election. There was also a potted history of political TV since the eighties and the different approaches of different big beasts - and the beasts' own takes. It also gave an insight into what interviewers are trying to get beyond 'good TV'.

Whilst generally insightful Burley was the story a bit too often, although it did indvertently lead to some Partridge-style humour. An ITV show 'punched above its weight' under his editorship, good bosses or employees sought out and acted on what he had to say while bad ones didn't and there were a few too many poor attempts at zingers for my liking too. An interview with Paddy Ashdown was relevant but there were times when Burley drew attention to things he'd prompted an interviewer to say as a personal victory. i don't recall the article 24 paragraph 5C interview with Johnson but Burley presented this as a considerable highlight. There was also the only section I felt went on too long when Burley set out in full how he had never outright confirmed to Labour that he'd secured a Johnson interview with Andrew Neil, which was too defensive.

There were useful nuggets and intentionally or otherwise, Robbie Gibb came across absolutely terribly and one who thinks politics and TV is a game. I raced through it and if you can accept the self-aggrandisement Burley claims to dislike, there is a lot to take from it and reading it didn't feel like a chore.

[Marin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author worked for several major British TV stations during his career, rising to the position of editor of political interview programmes.
His love for his behind-the-scenes role and his quest to catch lying politicians, or “lying bastards” as he affectionately calls them, are reiterated repeatedly in the book.
Structured as a career retrospective, the narrative revisits a series of well-known moments in which celebrity interviewers appeared to catch politicians off guard.
Yet none of these episodes is shown to have meaningfully influenced election outcomes or shifted public opinion.
The book offers little critical distance. The author clearly admires the celebrity interviewers he worked with and treats the “gotcha” moment as the ultimate measure of a successful interview, one that the media can amplify into a supposed turning point in political history.
Although he acknowledges that modern political culture often rewards caution and strategic evasiveness, the book merely rehashes familiar awkward encounters without uncovering new insights or offering substantive analysis.
While his enthusiasm is engaging, the author’s perspective is highly subjective and leans heavily to the left.
I will cite only two examples to illustrate this bias.
For him, Miliband’s failure was due to the fact that he did not lie enough, “Perhaps Miliband failed because, unlike some other bastards out there, he wasn’t much of a liar,” and Corbyn was a success: “As for Corbyn’s own interview that morning, he was a man transformed and at his most comfortable in the job. A little cocky, perhaps, but with a right to be, he was genuinely enthusiastic and hopeful for the future and relished Marr’s closing question: Marr: Is Jeremy Corbyn in this for the long term? Corbyn: Look at me. I’ve got youth on my side! Sixty-eight years young, candid, straight-talking candidate Corbyn was back. Not lying, not a bastard, Jeremy unspun.”
These portrayals underscore the author’s partisan lens and reinforce the book’s preference for spectacle over critical evaluation.
Finally, the recurring use of the phrase “lying bastards” to describe politicians strikes me as crude and needlessly derisive, echoing the contempt with which figures such as Jeremy Paxman often treated their interview subjects. The political class is what it is because it represents us; we are not inherently better than those we elect.

[Karen Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago = I am old - I was a broadcast journalist, called upon to interview Chalncellor Denis Healey live on air from a commercial radio satellite studio, during an election campaign. It was just him and me in the studio. He turned up early (on his own, no minders to keep him On Message), could see I was under pressure, and offered to make me a cup of tea. I accepted, got through the pre-interview checks, and we had about ten minutes before we went to air. We chatted about a zoo inj Sussex, and photography. I liked him. I gave him the softest inteview EVER! With hindsight, Healey knew exactly what he was doing to an inexperienced youngster . . . and even though he played me, I always liked him.

So this book . . . goes from the early - reverential - days of political interviewer and interviewee, almost all the way to suited Sunak inj the downpour, via high water marks such as Walden and Thatcher and low points such as Boris's talent for evading journalistic capture.

Burley's memoir shows just how far we have come. And not in a good way. From the days when people went into politics because they believed they could effect change, to today's crop of careerists, chancers and opportunists.

Do we get the politicians we deserve? It's easty to say yes, but personally I believe the role and remuneration of our Members of Parliament is long overdue for refiorm.

Anyway, eniough of me. Go read Burley's book!

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting something of a gimmick but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it from start to finish.

It’s more of a history book than I was expecting. Rob Burley charts the evolution of the political television interview in Britain with sharpness, wit, and a deep insider’s perspective. The book is part media history, part memoir, as Burley draws on his career in broadcasting to offer both entertaining anecdotes and a broader commentary on how political journalism has changed (and what’s been lost along the way). It’s engaging, briskly paced, and full of behind-the-scenes detail that will appeal to anyone interested in media, politics, or both.

That said, my only real criticism is that Burley occasionally seems a little too invested in the mythology of his own profession. At times, there’s a faint whiff of nostalgia that borders on self-importance as if a 6 o’clock grilling on ITV was the last bastion of civilisation holding back the tide of populist chaos. It’s an understandable instinct, especially from someone who clearly believes in the public value of robust political journalism, but it occasionally clouds the more reflective parts of the book.

Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is an enjoyable, often illuminating read that manages to be both informative and funny without veering into self-congratulation too often. Well worth your time if you’re even vaguely interested in how the media holds power to account (or at least tries to).

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is remarkably candid and irreverent, not to mention witty and incisive. There is humility and apology, insight into the world beyond the camera, and plenty of jokes that thankfully do not dilute the seriousness of the material. This is a very clear and viscerally engaging dissection of different interviewers and their interviewees, and you gain a ringside seat into such bouts as Walden v. Thatcher, looking under the bonnet like a mechanic would look at a car…except the car is moving at a breakneck speed, and sometimes one of the components of said car is determined not to drive you to your preferred destination. It poses political questions - “If you haven't the confidence to be interviewed, there's a question mark over whether you've got the ability to run the country” - as well as institutional ones for those answering and delivering the questions, and so adds up to be far more than an insider’s victory lap. This is a demand to elevate the long form political interview to reveal “character, competence and credibility”, and feels all the more crucial this year.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

In an engagingly written account of the history of political interviews in the United Kingdom, or at least Westminster, Rob Burley pulls back the curtain a little on political broadcasting over the past three decades, but he is perhaps a little too close to his subject. He sees interviewers as noble seekers of the truth, largely free of the vanity, self-aggrandisement and dirty tricks of their here today, gone tomorrow political opponents. If you want to know who is a prima donna or an utter nightmare, this is not the book for you.

Burley’s analysis of the failings of the political classes is not wrong, or particularly original, but I’m not as optimistic as he is that we can simply return to the glory days of long-form interviews conducted by grand inquisitors like Robin Day or Brian Walden. He makes a compelling case for why the politicians might not want it, but not for whether this is actually what the public actually want or expect anymore. Sadly, I think it is a noble but dying art.

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

While TV producer Rob Burley’s non-fiction book about the challenges and frustrations of trying to get the truth out of politicians on air is supremely readable and never less than entertaining, and while Burley himself probably avoids the lying bastard tag, he’s certainly a dissembler and his value judgements lack consistency. He continually takes a studied liberal/not-too-leftist stance, yet the mask slips occasionally, particularly when he refers to the odious Theresa May* as a “good woman unsuited to being prime minister”. (granted, the second half of that statement is true). Elsewhere, he hymns the BBC - which, let’s be Frank, is a cesspit of arrogance, complacency and lowest-common-denominator programming staffed by incompetents and abusers - as one of the world’s finest organisations only to chronicle a clusterfuck of office politics and race-to-the-bottom mismanagement a chapter or two later.

*Hostile environment, anyone?

[Craig Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title might give the impression this is an attack on lying politicians, but it’s actually an even handed account of the flaws of political interviewing, told through accounts of, sometimes infamous, examples of the form.

I’d seen many of the interviews that are discussed in this book and it was fascinating to understand more about the background, the preparation, and what was going through the minds of those involved at the time. The accounts are entertaining, but the narrative thread stringing them together isn’t lost, and it becomes easy to see how the spin and PR culture in Westminster fed into the rise of social media soundbites to create the mess we have now.

The book, written before the 2024 general election, ends on a message of hope. Reading it after the event has proved that the hope was misplaced - but I hope ministers in the elected Labour government read this book and reflect on the difference they have the power to make.

[A D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and occasionally funny book detailing the glory days and downfall of the long form political interview on national television. Beginning with the Walden/Thatcher interview in 1989, Burley details his fascination with politics and interviews and how he became involved in working with many of the best known interviewers of the last 30 years. He laments how politicians now go to great lengths to say absolutely nothing while explaining how it is that those working in that field of the media try to hold them to account. Some politicians come out well from it, mainly because they show up and are at least willing to engage, some don’t for the opposite reasons. It also lists how interviewers try to coax politicians onto their shows, and in one instance (Corbyn) they may not be deliberately mislead but they are not being told all of the facts, no matter how hard the author tries to spin it. In fact, he comes across as a bit of a politician himself. Definitely worth a read.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A partly missed opportunity: the author’s behind the scenes descriptions and frank assertions on the importance of long-form political interview are tilted out of perspective somewhat by an apparent bitterness (and sometimes based upon assumptions about very large population groupings).

It would be good to see something authoritative on what happened to politicians who consistently told it straight and whether that always leads to failure and/or admonition. (There are plenty of examples of the disingenuous and assumptions about the gullibility of the audience). In this book, for example, Thatcher (R) and Corbin (L) were both complimented on their partial directness but ultimately it seems that misleading parts of the electorate all of the time may be unavoidable to stay in the lead.

If you read these reviews, Rob, sincere best wishes for the future.

[Jack Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

First audiobook of the year.

Great insight into the world of political television and interviews from Rob Burley, who has worked with Neil, Marr, Paxman, Dimbleby, Maitlis et al.

The running theme, in my opinion, is the importance of our political leaders being accountable to the public they serve by facing the long form interview on TV. The cowardice of Johnson and Truss in recent years has put that at risk, as have the routine pre-prepared lines that are reeled out at every opportunity.

It also shines a light on the challenges faced by impartial public broadcasters in a populist, post-truth climate: a reason why, in essence, good BBC journalists have walked away from the corporation.

Worth reading/listening to just for the anecdotes on how excruciatingly painful any interaction with Theresa May is.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher chapters are very good, the Rob Burley chapters not so much. Got a little bored with the fawning opinions of anyone who has helped the author’s career, and was glad to put it down in the end. Far from being the man who saved the political interview he may well have been responsible (in his own small way) to the decline in the long-form interrogation of our leaders.

James Graham did. a superb job of turning the Walden/Thatcher section into very good television. He’d have a heck of a job turning the rest of the book into worthwhile tv drama.

One for the charity shop I’m afraid. Hopefully it will find a more appreciative readership. It isn’t bad it just isn’t very good and it ought to be better; just like UK political programming 1997 to the present.

[Simon Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burley treats the reader to a history and analysis of the TV political interview from Thatcher to Truss (described, hysterically, as the Trussterfuck). Having read many political memoirs, it's fascinating to discover the perspectives of those involved on the 'other side' of the interview. It's witty, easy to read, and illuminating. I had no idea how much thought and preparation goes into an interview, nor did I fully appreciate the different focuses and purposes of political programming. Burley explores the relative strengths and aims of the likes of Paxman, Neill, Maitlis, Marr and Ridge. There are also prescient comments about the impact of the Johnson/Truss era and breaking political norms, and of both his love of and concerns about the BBC. A brilliant read.

[Simon Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Rob Burley’s account of his 25-year-long career making political television programmes, mostly for the BBC. He starts with the political interviews that he watched as a child between Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher, and concludes with thoughts on the start of Rishi Sunak’s term as Prime Minister. There were some great insights into the work that goes into making such programmes, with a particular focus on long-form interviews. Burley’s views on many of the topics he discusses are almost diametrically opposed to my own, and his passionate arguments were therefore interesting to read, although didn't change my mind.

More at: https://sjhoward.co.uk/ive-been-readi...

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid critique of political interviewing

I started this book without really knowing what to expect. Strange title, strange topic. Fairly soon, I found it hard to put down. I have never rated many politicians over the past 20 years. Reading Rob's insights and observations, I now regard most of them as self-seeking, narcissistic liars with little insight. To top it all, they were mostly incompetent at their jobs. It's hard to understand how the country keeps going with this lot 'in charge'. It's worrying that a number of them are still around.

Well written and engaging and makes me want to read more by this and similar authors/ commentators. On a personal level, I was touched by his description of the impact of a life changing medical diagnosis - one that I share.

[spektre · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Honest Account of Decades of Lies - and the need for scrutiny

Loved this book. Read it, as well as listened to the audio book following an interesting episode on the Adam Buxton podcast. Such an interesting account of how political interviews evolved and how they were affected by culture, technology, and, of course, politicians' behaviours. It outlines the importance of the continued existence of the forensic political interview as a keystone to the democratic process with excellent examples of the consequences of pivotal performances across the decades. Mr Burley's honesty, humour and objectivity (albeit laced with a few thinly veiled widely shared opinions) was refreshing and entertaining from start to finish.

[Zahida Zahoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing ground breaking, but an important book to read to understand the extend of lying that politicians do to the public. How the media really needs to improve holding them accountable and not let senior government officials dodge accountability. It’s scary how much avoiding, or plain lying politicians are willing to do publicly and believe there will be no consequences. This book does a good job showing the media and public are not stupid and history will unravel all there lies.

The book is funny, witty, entertaining but at times I thought the book side tracked too much on Rob career, which I didn’t find interesting or too relevant

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confirming many of my (our?) worst suspicions.

Whilst I don’t necessarily question the parentage of our politicians (or its relevance to anything) their honesty is a different matter.
An interesting read. I note also that it highlights in a few places the tendency of the BBC (and its author) to follow the lead of the printed media despite the greater decline in subscribers of the latter.
Thought provoking regarding our troubled political situation though offering no actionable answers.

[Michael Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simultaneously a love letter to, and forensic analysis of, the art of the long-form TV political interview. Burley charts the continually evolving tactics of both interviewers and interviewees through a series of significant interviews with our political class over the last 45 years - many of which he was directly involved in arranging and devising. It is an urgent and important book from a thoughtful, insightful and very witty storyteller who nonetheless has important things to say about the essential place of truth in our democracy.
A solid five stars.

[Philip Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutally Honest

A good read with a balanced style. Rob tries to play centre politics but tends to come over quite left of centre but he does a good job and roasts all parties. Towards the end of the book he describes or outlines a brief view of the media and the public in making politicians look through an honesty filter.
Rob also praise a variety of Jedi personalities and is very balanced. A good book with a good message but mostly a very accurate and authentic title.
I need to watch the Channel 4 drama Brian and Maggie when it plays.

[Brian Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and insightful look at the Politics TV interview as through the yes of Rob Burley , who has produced the main programmes and presenters over the last 50+years. The author has an unrivalled pedigree and offers an irreverent but objective view of how the politicians try different techniques to deal with the difficult questions or questions they don't want to answer. Very enjoyable writing style .

[Thomas Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me a little too long especially in the early setting out of the background, minutely examining an intererview with Thatcher over many many pages. Progressed well from there, certainly an important topic written in a critical, reflective way.

Some limited acknowledgement of media complicity in the terrible political discourse, but light on insight there. Also indulges in admirable but unmerited optimism for the future.