The host of ‘This Week’ has responded.
Dutch historian Rutger Bregman was a guest on BBC where he was planning on discussing his book Utopia for Realists.
Prior to his discussion with Andrew Neil (host) and the panelists Michael Portillo and Alan Johnson, Bregman pre-recorded a segment where he called for younger generations to realise that the global economy needs to change.
Aside from this, he argued that new ideas need to be discussed. For example, he believes that a universal basic income would eradicate poverty and that an alternate vision for Brexit – one that opposes the ERG – needs to be created.
Essentially, Britain needs to start thinking about the positives that Brexit can bring and how it won’t just be a paradise for rich people.
After this segment aired, the four men discussed a variety of issues including global warming, the need to move to a zero-emissions economy, and the rate of taxation in industrialised economies.
Michael Portillo on Rutger Bregman @rcbregman film: “I thought it was a pretty ill-informed”
But the Dutch historian presses on, saying how excited he was that dismissed ideas are suddenly being discussed#bbctw pic.twitter.com/W4hT9z8xOw
— BBC This Week (@bbcthisweek) March 22, 2019
Since appearing on the show, Bregman has called the show ‘incredibly stupid’ and that nobody had actually read his book.
The historian then discussed the pre-production process that he went through before the show was shown on TV.
According to Bregman, the producers wanted to ask him questions on the EU and the terrorist attack in Utrecht – topics that he had no interest in discussing – and that the the whole show was “the worst experience” he had with the UK press.
Since his tweets were posted, Andrew Neil (host of This Week) replied by saying: “US media fawned over R. Bregman. He should’ve known This Week doesn’t do fawning. We asked some pertinent questions. He didn’t know answers. Embarrassed, he’s now lashing out. Ho hum. But for man who’s made his name with “taxes, taxes, taxes”, his knowledge of taxes seems thin”.
US media fawned over R Bregman. He should’ve known @bbcthisweek doesn’t do fawning. We asked some pertinent questions. He didn’t know answers. Embarrassed, he’s now lashing out. Ho hum. But for man who’s made his name with “taxes, taxes, taxes”, his knowledge of taxes seems thin. https://t.co/QljrL57lXP
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) March 22, 2019
While some viewers felt that Bregman was treated unfairly and wasn’t allowed to discuss the topics that he wanted, Neil states that the interview “reflects the BBC at its very best. Ideas being touted in the public square subjected to rigorous scrutiny on exactly the areas he has been vocal elsewhere, but where there was no scrutiny. ”
It reflects the BBC at its very best. Ideas being touted in the public square subjected to rigorous scrutiny on exactly the areas he has been vocal elsewhere, but where there was no scrutiny. Job done. https://t.co/4qGawEnGM1
— Andrew Neil (@afneil) March 22, 2019
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