I have just recorded an interview with Peter Hain which might be his last formal turn before this week's Cabinet reshuffle. He seemed on good form although I don't imagine the list of questions were what he might have hoped for. After a few openers about nationalist claims of political interference with the DPP over Stevens and Pat Finucane's murder (Hain's response - I didn't know about the DPP's announcement before it was made) the rest of the interview went along the following lines (this is a sharply edited version):
MD The Sun says Gordon is going to sack you - they've had some good leaks before..
PH They've had some bad ones too
MD So is that all?
PH It's up to the PM. I'm not going to speculate..
MD: It must have been disappointing for Gordon Brown to offer Lord Ashdown your job
PH: GB phoned me and told me not to worry about all the froth. A lot of what was in the papers wasn't accurate...
MD: You came 5th in the Deputy Leadership contest. Do you regret getting involved...
PH: Je ne regrette rien...
The SoS will do his last Northern Ireland Questions on Wednesday by which time he will probably find it hard to make himself heard above the hubbub as MPs gather for Tony Blair's last turn. Will the Sun be proven right or will rumours that Mr Hain could get International Development turn out to be correct? All I know is that in his day dreams Mr Hain would have preferred a very different kind of interview today.. .
MD: You won the Deputy Leadership election handsomely - would you prefer to take the job of Deputy Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary?
PH: Mark it's obviously a matter for the PM but I have shown an ability to juggle two jobs in the past and I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do the same in the future...
MD: The Sun says that provided you play a senior role in the Cabinet it will back Labour in the next General Election
PH: They are very astute observers of the Westminster scene
MD: During the week Lord Ashdown indicated his willingness to accept a position as your butler
PH: You shouldn't believe all you read in the papers, but I think this appointment can be seen as an attempt to foster a new kind of politics, using people with unique talents in innovative roles..
Well we can all dream...
We shall be broadcasting NI Questions live on Wednesday at 11.30. But before that, tonight at 11.20 on BBC2 we have a special Stormont (not at all Live) which features Martin McGuinness' first question time. We could not broadcast it live this afternoon because of Wimbledon. I don't think viewers would have forgiven us for replacing Maria Sharapova with the DFM.
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