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Strong Message Here

For the Sake of Transparency (with Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove)

2/19/202635 min

Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove to discuss the true meaning of transparency.

With his experience as both a politician and a journalist, Michael Gove gives his insight into how transparency can often mean the opposite. He also explains the perverse incentive for ministers to go out and defend tricky positions, and what it feels like to have your private communications laid bare in an inquiry.

And with Natalie on the show, we look at historical examples of turbulent leadership, and find out who has the dubious honour of being 'the Liz...

Clips

Transparency as a smokescreen
The brutally honest press line
Inside a minister’s mind
Should media teach politics?
Defending policy before a U-turn
Ban this phrase, bring apologies

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 10:00

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  6. Armando Iannucci· Host1:04

    [instrumental music] Hello, and welcome to Strong Message here from BBC Radio 4, a guide to the use and abuse of political language. I'm Armando Iannucci, and I'm joined once again this week by Natalie Haynes.

  7. Natalie Haynes· Host1:19

    Hello, hello.

  8. Armando Iannucci· Host1:20

    Hello. And we're gonna be looking at... Well, the phrase really is, for the sake of transparency.

  9. Natalie Haynes· Host1:24

    Yes.

  10. Armando Iannucci· Host1:25

    You were quite keen on bringing up transparency.

  11. Natalie Haynes· Host1:26

    I know, and yet now you've said it out loud, I feel my spirit sinking terribly

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