Has the Left Stopped Thinking? Part 1: Matthew Parris

To mark the announcement of the 2008 Shortlists, the Orwell Prize hosted a debate (sponsored by Reuters) entitled 'Has the Left Stopped Thinking?'. The panellists were Matthew Parris (former Conservative MP, Times columnist and former Orwell Prize winner), Jean Seaton (Chair of the Orwell Prize, professor of media history at the University of Westminster), Greg Clark MP (Conservative, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister), Dr Denis MacShane MP (Labour, former Europe Minister), Peter Hitchens (columnist, The Mail on Sunday) and Will Hutton (chief executive of the Work Foundation, and Observer columnist and former editor). The debate was chaired by Sean Maguire (Editor -- Political and General News, Reuters). Filmed by Jack Lancaster, edited by Jack Lancaster and Amy Downes. Further editing by Gavin Freeguard.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• George
• Orwell
• Prize
• Matthew
• Parris
• Reuters
• commentary
• analysis
• left
• right
• british
• politics

[joecassara]

I suppose what "normal" society needs is more magazine covers chock-full of T&A in the checkout isle, adverts for hamburger joints with leggy women suckling the patty and licking at stray sauce, and bikinibots selling ale? I say, here's an idea: keep sex -- gay, straight, bi -- in the bedroom or in appropriate forums of discourse. I don't want to hear about gay rimming anymore than I'd like to see your girlfriend give you a hummer in the kitchen, Pete.

[dragonlee90]

Matthew Paris is one of the most formidable journalists at the moment. He is exceptionally intelligent, independent minded, witty and he knows how to construct a coherent argument. He is the reason I buy the Times newspaper. He's great.

[MrSalamander7]

@PeteGeeza86 Fuck you.

[Ironzealot7531]

The audio quality is just too poor. I can't make out a word they're saying.

[kvonribbenburg]

According to wikipedia its a form of oral sex.

[Zakdayak]

I agree, where's the mike??

[PeteGeeza86]

What does hummer mean?

[kat1989]

I duno, I think sex in general is a big topic of discussion, you probably notice the gay stuff more because it repulses you, which will obviously stick in your memory more. And btw that it repulses you is your problem, so get over it, people just like to talk about their sex lives these days.

[PeteGeeza86]

Makes a change don't it? A gay dude not forcing their unusual love making acts on a normal society.Suprised Parris didn't start banging on about how often he engages in rimming or gay shower fun.Gays love talking about gay sex,constantly.Gay sex is unusual and takes some watching for straight men.We personally find it,well 84% of straight men find it "stomach turning and vile".

The close nature/sweatyness/kissing of gay sex betweeen 2 men is disturbing.

[doobiesmoke15]

Matthew Paris is a pompous ares hole!