During the Tory leadership campaign, Boris Johnson was interviewed by Andrew Neil.  Neil was obviously determined to thwart Johnson from diverting the event into one of his rhetorical flights. Indeed, at  one point, the aspiring party leader interjected: “You’re choleric Andrew!” True, the humour and politeness with which Neil normally frames his interview was not much in evidence, but what could Boris have meant?

The dictionary meaning of “choleric” is, “bad tempered or irritable” but in this case, Boris being a scholar of the classics, perhaps the word was a reference to one  of the four temperaments described by the Greek physician  Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC).  Was this allusion perhaps an expression of Boris’s concern for the health of his interlocutor, fearing maybe, that Neil would expire mid-question? This would not have been a good look for the Johnson leadership campaign. At any rate, both survived the experience, with any  damage done to Boris proving of no consequence.

Andrew Neil is a formidable interviewer.  In yesterday’s edition of the Talking Politics podcast, [Tech Election Part 2] there was a suggestion that pre-election party leader interviews with Neil should be written into our constitution.  The conclusion of this amusing fantasy was that all-comers to these interviews would be eviscerated, and the negative impacts equally shared across all parties.   

Andrew Neil is currently engaged in a cycle of interviews of party leaders. Those who have already been through this mill, accepted the test on the understanding that all party leaders would be subject to it.  However, having witnessed the bruising already dealt to Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon, the Conservative leader appears to be losing his nerve and has begun making excuses which will allow him to resile from the commitment. 

Jeremy Corbyn’s particular discomfort in his encounter with Andrew Neil related to Neil’s questioning on anti-semtism in the Labour Party.  Corbyn’s difficulty featured prominently in the newspaper headlines of the following day.   

The Canadian writer and podcaster, Malcolm Gladwell appeared on Politics Live on Wednesday in the wake of this interview.  He offered his perception of the pressure Neil was applying to Corbyn with regard to anti-semitism. “As an outsider with no understanding of this particular issue, beyond what I’ve seen in the first five minutes, his[Corbyn’s] answer seemed thoughtful and well meaning and he was being baited by this other chap into trying to create a media moment…”  [Politics Live 4:57]  Not necessarily in connection with this issue, Malcolm Gladwell had a further concise judgement to make on the  UK media reporting of the election: “England(sic) has the most partisan press I’ve ever seen.” [Politics Live 37:15]  

Should this commentary all seem a little too pro-Labour, it is worth pointing out that Malcolm Gladwell, on the basis of a clearly well informed perspective, went on to make some very challenging points to Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, Barry Gardiner with regard to the Labour Party’s contention that a trade deal with the US  would necessarily increase pharmaceutical costs for the NHS.

Andrew Neil is generally better informed and smarter than his interviewees.  There are times though when his tenacious approach generates more heat than light. My own preferred interviewer is Evan Davis of BBC Radio’s PM, who manages to affect a bemused incredulity when his guests fail to provide a straight answer.  He also has an understanding that the old interview trope of demanding a yes or no answer and denying the opportunity for this to be given context, can lead to a sterile encounter.  

Still, in this particular case, the man who aspires  to lead our nation out of the European Union needs to pull himself together and step into the ring for another round with Andrew Neil.