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A look behind the scenes at Westminster with Steve Richards of The Independent.

A look behind the scenes at Westminster with Steve Richards of The Independent.

As the gap in the polls closes between Labour and the Conservatives and the general election approaches, there is nervousness in the Conservative camp. How does the present situation compare with the run-up to past elections?

Lord Fowler, closely involved in the elections of the 1980s and early 90s, talks to John Campbell, a biographer of Margaret Thatcher.

The proposed leaders' debates during the election campaign are going to be fraught with rules and regulations which many feel will sanitise the debates. Sir Menzies Campbell talks about the value of this innovation, given his experience of televised debates between ministers and opposition spokesmen in the election of 2001.

Also in the programme, Ian Aitken and Bill Keegan remember their regular lunches with Michael Foot over many years, and Alex Barker, the Financial Times's 'Chilcot Watcher', assesses Gordon Brown's performance before the Iraq inquiry.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Mar 2010 11:00
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Previous

27/02/2010

Next

13/03/2010

See all episodes from The Week in Westminster

Chapters

  • Tories

    Lord Fowler and John Campbell discuss the effect of poll fluctuations on party morale in the run up to past elections.

    Duration: 07:45

  • TV Debates

    Ming Campbell looks back to 2001 when he was a participant in a live election debate.

    Duration: 05:36

  • Brown

    Alex Barker gives his verdict on Brown's performance at the Iraq Inquiry.

    Duration: 05:09

  • Michael Foot

    Bill Keegan and Ian Aitken on Michael Foot and a life well lived.

    Duration: 08:30

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Mar 2010 11:00
    麻豆社 Radio 4

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