Question Time Analysis: Body language edition

Absolute brevity is my new creed, caused by my wobbly internet connection. Straight to it then.

This week Question Time was from Dewsbury, and in recognition of International Women’s Day had an all women audience and a mostly female panel. No looking back at iPlayer to confirm my thoughts from last night, must trust my memory for reflections and conclusions on the programme.

1. No question, which ever panelist said it, there were no specific women’s issues raised, just plain straightforward questions and audience comments given with engaging honesty and sense. It was a good, non-tribal, audience.
2. The three women MP’s on the panel seemed to me to give graphic and physical representation of their political parties. Jo Swinson swayed, lots of head movement, and arms flailing, pretty much like LibDem policy – all over the place. Caroline Flint, doughty and punchy, plenty of leaning forward in a ‘in-your-face’ manner; lots of pointing hand gestures towards the audience just like Labour’s ‘we know best’ and attitude. Justine Greening, showed controlled aggression, determined and forceful and with little physical movement; funnily, not exactly like the Conservatives who are currently a touch wooly in their presentation. Justine Greening showed the grit that all Conservatives must show if they’re to win the upcoming election.
3. Two members of the audience were revelatory in their comments, a the mother of the young son in the Army having to buy his webbing – truly a real world showstopper moment, and the other woman speaking about her doubts on Gordon Brown’s honesty in relation to soldiers deaths and injuries through lack of kit.
4. The fiery moment, and there’s always one, was from Kelvin Mackenzie, who launched into a tirade about Gordon Brown’s lies to the British people.

Enough. My audience analysis: The all female audience supported the panel’s views that had an emotional or ameliorative aspect over the heavy policy position. Just shows the need for politicians to exhibit emotional intelligence, as well as policy description.

Marks out of 10, not in any way objective, purely my subjective judgement. Jo Swinson – 4, Monty Don – 5, Caroline Flint – 7, Justine Greening - 8, Kelvin MacKenzie – 9 [ You mightn't agree with him, but he's always good value on this sort of show]