.. is for an enlightened broadcaster or politician to change the way we broadcast the proceedings of Parliament. The current camera positions have all the glamorous angles of supermarket security, capturing tops of heads, not facial expressions - and the microphones favour baying, not debate.
Now, when we can place good cameras in cricket stumps and intestines, why not stick something in the ferrule of Black Rod's rod ? Wing cameras on the Speaker's chair ? A little swiveller in the parliamentary mace ? At least something that gets to the eye-line of those at the despatch box... And if the main speakers were better mic-ed, with some discreet sound reinforcement around the backbenches, then Ed Balls might not have to turn purple to be heard - and the ridiculous "home" and "away" supporters might eventually modify their unedifying behaviour.
David Dimbleby, who largely manages to keep order in the volatile Question Time, might coach Bercow into developing a presence he clearly lacks.
And then next year, we can start getting rid of some of the parliamentary language that gets in the way of understanding what's left of our democratic process. Do we really need all this "right honourable" palaver, when, demonstrably, most of our MPs are neither ?
No comments:
Post a Comment