John Redwood wins Newsnight

Finally the BBC invites John Redwood onto Newsnight.

We had some ex-member of the MPC, followed by Angela Eagle and the ever BBC present Red Vince Cable - giving variations on how wonderful things are - but not explaining the problem to the public.

Then came an quietly angry John Redwood.

First he explained that he was the only one of the 4 people being interviewed to take a different line from the govt ( good side swipe at the BBC there John ) and how where we are today is a result of people like him not being listened to. Kirsty Walk tried to give Angela Eagle a chance to knock that down, but John was having none of that - he wanted to make his point.

And his point was the banks aren't lending because another branch of the government - the regulator - is telling them not to.

A point of such power that immediately everyone else had to agree with it - although Red Vince did his best to distance himself from the brand of John Redwood.

What struck me about this was:

1) At last an angry right win commentator wins through by being forceful.
2) A basic and key point about the crisis was being hidden by the BBC film introduction and all three left of centre commentators. A point they all had to acknowledge once it had been made.

Well done to John Redwood - I'd like to see more of this sort of aggressive and insightful debating style. Angela Eagle was made to look wooden and Vince Cable out of his depth with the BBC looking complicit in a pro-Govt stitch up.

A good nights work.

Update: A full report is available on John Redwood's blog here.