The Two Tories Rule

Writing in The Spectator, the neocon poster-boy that is Douglas Murray professes himself a member of the Conservative Party, but confides that he felt moved to vote Labour in the Ealing Southall by-election after his appearance on Question Time alongside Sayeeda Warsi.

Well, in addition to apparently picking many panellists at random from David Dimbleby’s high society address book (which might well be how super-posh Murray found himself on the air), Question Time, like Any Questions?, has always observed the Two Tories Rule. However, at least that observance normally consists of a Tory politician and a Tory journalist of some note, rather than a Tory politician and a Tory ... well, what, exactly? Murray claims to be “Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion”, but this “Centre” seems to have little or no existence beyond his own person.

Perhaps we should all try the same trick. Just declare yourself to be a think tank, called something appropriate, and then write to the BBC offering to appear on the panel of Any Questions? or Question Time. Do let me know how you get on: davidaslindsay@hotmail.com