Can’t quite believe tonight is the last #C4News anchored by @jonsnowC4 - who would require a very long thread to properly do justice to. He’s an extraordinary human being, who’s been there at some of the most amazing moments of history. (1)
He’s always been the most energetic, enthusiastic, committed and questioning TV journalist - who has brought compassion and humanity to his reporting wherever he goes. Viewers love him. And even those politicians who disagree and get angry with him respect him. (2)
He’s been an example to generations of journalists and while being the star, he’s also a team player - he still insists on carrying the tripod, he still goes and buys the coffee. He still has more to say in the meeting than anyone.
Basically, even though he may drive you nuts, talk and talk across the desk in booming voice, try to organise and tidy everything away all the time, he’s a great man. I’m going to miss him a lot. (4)
I’m sorry to be on the other side of the world for his last show tonight but will hopefully pop in to say bye bye by the magic of television. These photos are amusingly misleading but I like them.
P.S. Of course couldn’t let the man go without interviewing him for #WaysToChangeTheWorld - and it’s a fascinating listen about him and what shaped him. Released tomorrow.
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Extraordinary thread additions from Cummings ahead of evidence. Suggests if only he, No10 and DHSC paid attention to people such as @devisridhar and had actually watched programmes like #C4News et al they might have prevented tens of thousands deaths, economic disaster and more.
Several experts who were derided as lockdown obsessives had wanted to avoid lockdowns, had explained how they might be avoided if Test, Trace and Isolate had ever been actually sorted and pointed to places that had. ‘It’ll never work in UK’ they were told.
I used to interview her all the time. Then things changed and it became normal for senior politicians to refuse to account for their actions and defend themselves more often than not. As Ken Clarke told me recently it’s one reason so many voters despise politicians
But it’s also why I respect those like Jacob Rees-Mogg who don’t run away from the argument. It’s easier - and kind of your job - as a backbencher without executive power but I think instinctively he’s one of those who will always take questions.
It started under Labour, got worse under the coalition (who would often just put the Lib Dems out for interviews), and now is worse than anytime I can remember. But I’ve always felt voters want to see their politicians - even those they support - facing the hard questions.