Media training for politicians- how not to answer the question

Hi there! Yes it's Wat here. Sorry no posts for a bit but I've been resting. Now what prompted me to post was something I heard on Radio 4 tonight- yes I can receive radio signals down 'ere. There was a repeat clip of an interview between John Humphries (yes, him again ) and a Tory politician. Humphries asked him if the Tories would make the same cuts as the Labour Gov't (something like that) and the interviewee would not give a straight answer. Maybe he did eventually I am not sure. It seems that interviewers are now being tougher on politicians due, presumably because they are somewhat weekened (and considered fair game) by the "expenses for MPs fiasco). Why now, I ask? anyway then Humphries interviewed a "interviewee training expert"!!! His job, apparently was to teach politicians how to skillfully evade answering questions. What is the world coming to??
In my last post I mentioned Vanessa Feltz and her excellent interviewing of Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. Recently she interviewed Caroline Flint and really made her squirm. The following day Flint resigned from the Gov't (not because of Vanessa!). As I said why can't the establishment interviewers, like Humphries get tough with these politicians and either get a straight answer or not interview them? You might say thene they would not agree to be interviwed and we would loose what little contact we have with our politicians. But would that be a bad thing?
Good on you Vanessa, I love you!!

Vanessa Feltz and Boris

Not sure I completely like Vanessa's style but I am warming (if you read the blog you will get the irony) to her. Vanessa, on BBC London in the morning, was interviewing Boris Johnson (mayor of London) the other day. OK, so I wasn't listening that attentively, but I think it was during a conversation about the 2-3 day snow blizzards a few weeks ago and the unproportionate effect it had on the Capital's transport system. Firstly Boris spluttered on about x% of bus drivers turning up for work. Vanessa said 'yes, she'd seen them on the telly with their feet up reading newspapers and drinking coffee' or words to that effect.
Then Boris started waffling on about comparisons with New York!!
Instead of listening respectfully, Vanessa completely dissed him and started talking about another subject! That's the way to treat politicians when they start talking rubbish. Take note John Humphries (Radio4).
Why do they (radio presenters) let politicians waste valuable airtime talking utter rubbish. Why not just tell them bluntly to cut the cra*. If they refuse to come back in the future, good riddance. Sometimes the presenter asks the politician maybe three times for a straight answer to a straight question. And three times the politician will give a lengthy, evasive answer. If he or she is interupted during these answers, especially the third one, he/she will say firmly "with respect, John, I am trying to answer your question" or "with respect, John, if you let me just finish". Why not just close the interview if they will not answer truthfully??