After boycotting BBC Radio for two years, Boris Johnson gives an interview to the Today programme. It’s safe to say he won’t be back for at least another two years.
Boris Johnson was interviewed on BBC radio 4, the Today programme, this morning. Johnson has not been on the BBC radio’s flagship news programme for two years since he started a boycott of it, allegedly due to it’s pro-remain, anti-Tory bias. Robinson did not let him forget this fact.
The interview was quite tetchy due to this and perhaps due to the contrasting styles of the two interlocutors. Robinson, the interviewer, frequently interrupts his guests, often mid-sentence, and doesn’t endure equivocation from politicians. Johnson has a somewhat rambling, bombastic style and likes space in the discourse to finish his points.
I have transcribed twelve turn transitions which are the most interesting points. These represents fights for control of the floor and the direction of the discourse. At one point, Robinson even lectures the Prime Minister to ‘stop talking’ as if he were a pupil in class. Listen to the audio below and read the transcript at the same time to see which of these two battle-hardened conversationalists wins the day. It is probably fair to say that Johnson won’t be back on the Today programme for at least another two years!
Transcript
PM = Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)
NR = Nick Robinson (interviewer)
===1===
PM: er stresses and strains
there er stre-
there clearly stresses and strains
people people
NR: let me tell what the stress and strains might be
Lord Wolfson
PM: go on
NR: just have to pause a second
and then I give the question to you
PM: sorry
NR: so Lord Wolfson...
===2===
PM: coming to this country
I want to er
I want to see that
but what I-
NR: so should we listen to businesses
business leaders
let me just make this point
PM: yes go on
NR: who say
let us decide...
===3===
PM: of of pay
but also of conditions
so take the road haulage
NR: so British
n- n- n- no no
PM: can I just can I just
can I just finish this point
NR: no prime minister you made that point
you made it at length in a series of interviews
in the run up to this conference
PM: hang on I wa-
I haven't had a chance to make this point
on your show for two years
by your own account
NR: that was your choice not our
now you want British workers...
===4===
PM: er which I think is what you're talking about
marked uncontrolled immigration
NR: no nobody is suggesting that prime minister
PM: yes they are
NR: (indistinct)
nobody wants
PM: no well they are
NR: (indistinct ) visas
PM: so what Lord what Lord what Lord
what Lord Wolfson is is saying...
===5===
PM: and I think and I
and I think the problem with
that's exactly what you just said
NR: yes
PM: so I think the problem
NR: let's be (indistinct)
you're telling what someone else thinks
and I wanna know what you think
PM: well you well you
NR: no prime minister (indistinct)
PM: and I don't I don't think
and I don't think that is the way forward
I seriously don't
this country is at a turning point nick...
===6===
PM: of young people in this country
who frankly at the moment
are thinking of becoming truck drivers
[that is going that is going
NR: [you have made that point very clearly
PM: that is going to change
NR: and prime minister you are going to pause
PM: that is going to change
and and that is going to be a good thing
NR: prime minister
stop talking
we are gonna have questions and answers
not where you merely talk if you wouldn't mind
now the question I now want to ask you
BJ: well I'd be happy to stop talking
NR: is about the cost of living if you would...
===7===
PM: er to enable them to invest
in capital and equipment and
NR: my question to you is who pays it
isn't it the consumer that always pays
corporate taxes
it will add in other words
to the cost of living crisis
PM: no it's business that pays it...
===8===
PM: er their business more efficient
[and that is and that is why
NR: [er I'm sorry the tories are always arguing
BJ: [and that is why
NR: [that (corporate taxes) are paid for by consumers
and I want to ask you about the cost of living
in general if I can
this week you said...
===9===
PM: and I think that is a fantastic thing
NR: forgive me forgive me
PM: and and there'll be many
(indistinct)
there will be many (indistinct)
NR: I want you to talk about some other subjects
that I know that you care passionately about
of course we wanna hear you talk
but wanna hear you talk on a range of subjects
not just one
let's turn to a subject...
===10===
PM: er domestic violence
and se- sexual violence
and all that [all that all that
NR: [(indistinct) prime minister
because the tories have been in power for eleven years
and cut the budget of the courts
and so we've now got five hundred
violent crime or sexual abuse victims
have been waiting two or more years
before their...
===11===
PM: er the sentences for serious sexual and
[mhm] and violent offences
and that's the right thing
NR: you have a woman's minister
PM: but but it needs to be accelerated
NR: she is also the foreign secretary at the minis-
at the moment
if you really want to...
===12===
PM: so if captain hindsight
had been in charge
we'd still be in lockdown
NR: prime minister
PM: don't forget
NR: thank you for coming here
thank you for talking to the today programme
PM: very kind of you to let me talk
NR: allowing the occasional question as well
PM: very kind to let me talk
NR: do come again
that was the point of inviting me on your show
anyway lovely to see you
(1.5)
AN: the time now is twenty seven minutes past eight
END OF INTERVIEW
This is a quick transcription which does not indicate all the overlap.
BBC Radio 4 – Today programme, 5th October 2021 (2hr 10min approx.)
