The Old Almondburians' Society

‘And now on BBC Radio 4, ‘Any Questions?’ chaired by Eddie Mair, from King James’s School, Almondbury’.

On the evening of Friday, 13th June 2008, an expectant audience of nearly 250 settled in their seats in the school hall as the panel for the BBC ’s long-running topical discussion programme was introduced to Radio 4 listeners around the country: Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of State for Health; Stephen Pollard, political columnist and journalist; Rabbi Dame Julia Neuberger, Liberal-Democrat peer; and Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Chlidren, Schools and Families.

The ’Any Questions?’ visit was at the invitation of the Old Almondburians’ Society and the School, and is one of many activities this year to mark the 400th anniversary of the Roysl Charter. ‘Any Questions’ was first broadcast on Friday 12th October 1948 and is one of BBC Radio’s longest-running current affairs programmes. Broadcast live on Friday evenings with a repeat the following day, it attracts a loyal audience of around 1.5 million each week.

The week of the ‘Any Questions?’ visit saw an extraordinary week of breaking news stories. Ed Balls had, a few days earlier, announced his controversial threats to close ‘under-performing’ schools unless significant improvements were made. David Davis had stunned the nation - and his own party - by resigning as Shadow Home Secretary in protest at Labour ’s determination to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge. There was growing unrest at rapid increases in petrol and diesel prices around the country as Shell ’s tanker drivers staged a four-day walk-out. Just before ‘Any Questions?’ went on air, the news broke that in their referendum the Irish had voted decisively against the Lisbon Treaty. And Alan Sugar shocked the nation by appointing Lee McQueen as his latest ‘apprentice’ despite the revelation that McQueen had lied in his CV.

The Questions - and the answers in brief

1. Does the panel think that David Davis has taken leave of his senses? Questioner: Howard Jennings

EB: It’s a stunt that is fast unravelling.

JN: I agree with his view on 42 days, but I’m not sure that resigning is the most sensible thing to do.

SP: Yes - I do think he’s taken leave of his senses, though I agree with him on the 42-day bill.

AL: No, he hasn’t. David Davis feels very strongly that our liberties should not be taken away lightly.

2. Does the European Union need help understanding the word ‘no’ and if so should we have a referendum in this country to help them do so? Questioner: Andrew Billington

SP: Three cheers for the Irish! One per cent of the EU population has saved the bacon of the other ninety-nine per cent.

EB: Gordon Brown and David Miliband have both said today that we will go on with the ratification process, because we are doing it the British way.

JN: I’m a passionate European, but I feel that it would not be right to proceed with ratification at the present time. I’m not convinced there should be a referendum, though there should be a debate.

AL: The Irish have spoken. When are the British people going to get their opportunity? It’s about time we started to listen to people.

3. Is it ever OK to lie on your CV? Questioner: Michael Robinson

SP: No

JN: No

EB: No

AL: No

[Clearly concerned at the panel’s rare display of unanimity, Eddie Mair bowled a googly by asking a follow-up question of his own: Have the members of the panel never embellished their CVs? The responses were somewhat less clear-cut . . .]

4. Was Ed Balls really right to issue a ‘no excuses’ warning to failing schools? Questioner: Louisa Thompson

JN: No. This doesn’t send a supportive message to the schools or their communities. give the school support.

AL: We’re getting grandstanding from Ed - after eleven years of a labour government! What we need is an action plan for education.

SP: Yes. Why should we excuse failure in education?

EB: Yes.

5. In the light of the oil tanker drivers’ strike, is this an early sign of the trades unions flexing their muscles and can we expect more of the same? Questioner: Andrew Crawshaw

EB: No. There has been a radical transformation in industrial relations in our country over the past twenty years. Nobody wants to go back to those days.

JN: I think we are going to see more of it this summer. Ed is living in something of a fantasy world.

SP: I agree with Julia.

AL: I think we’ll see more strikes, especially in public services.

Footnote: Producer Anne Peacock, wrote after the programme:

Thanks for all your help in organising a successful edition of Any Questions? at King James ’s School last Friday. It was a really good programme – sorry that we didn’t get through more questions but the level of debate on each one was outstanding. Please pass on my thanks to the Head Teacher and Walter Raleigh for all their efforts on the day in hosting the programme.

Listen again

Click here to listen to the broadcast.