I’ve never claimed to be the greatest interviewee because I’m not.
Practise makes perfect they say but although I’ve done hundreds of interviews over the years, close to a thousand perhaps, it’s very rare that I don’t come away thinking ‘I could and should have done better’.
Arguably one of my better interviews was twelve years ago. It was on the BBC News Channel and I was up against my old foe Deborah Arnott, chief executive of ASH.
It’s a long time since I watched it but this morning I thought I would compare it with another interview, also featuring Arnott, that took place on Sky News this week following the announcement of Javed Khan’s recommendations on tobacco control.
In March 2010 I began by dismissing ASH’s plan to raise tobacco tax by five per cent as “crackpot”, a word that was used again this week to describe Javed Khan’s "insane" report.
You can watch both debates above and below or on the Forest YouTube channel. A full transcript of Thursday’s Sky News debate is also available here.
I couldn’t help noticing that Deborah appeared in a far better mood when interviewed by Jeremy Kyle on TalkTV alongside the IEA’s Chris Snowdon.
It’s been like this for several years. I always thought we got on OK - off air at least - but whenever we’re on air together her manner changes in a way that that doesn’t do her or her cause much good, in my opinion.
Apart from being obsessed by the fact (which we don’t hide) that Forest is supported by tobacco companies - information she insists on shoehorning into every interview regardless of their length - Arnott also seems obsessed by my salary.
On Sky News this week she told presenter Emma Crosby (who handled the whole debate exceptionally well, ensuring that both sides had equal time):
Well, first of all what Simon doesn't tell you is that he is a non-smoker, that he has made a very good living for over 20 years from being paid by the tobacco industry …
In 2010 she said:
Well, to start with, Simon forgets to mention that his organisation is funded by the tobacco industry so his salary is paid out of their profits.
Aside from the yawn-inducing tedium of such comments (which I generally ignore on the grounds that it makes me look better than her!), what’s so hilarious is that I am pretty certain that my salary (which I shall keep private, thank you very much!) has never exceeded that of Deborah’s and has usually lagged a considerable distance behind, by which I mean tens of thousands of pounds.
I could of course retort that Deborah has made a very good living out of tobacco control (and smokers) but I won’t because I’m not that petty.
Anyway, I can’t remember the name of the BBC presenter in 2010 but this was his reaction:
Does that have any material relevance to this debate?
Similarly, on Sky News this week, Emma Crosby was equally pithy:
Let’s not get personal, OK.
The thing is that Arnott does herself or her cause no favours because many viewers will think, ‘What a sourpuss.’
That would certainly be my reaction but perhaps I’m biased. (Perish the thought.)
However one person who saw it told me, “I thought that ASH lady made a fool of herself.” I suspect he’s not alone.
Anyway the Sky News debate ended on a lighter note with this exchange:
Emma Crosby:
Are you a smoker, Mr Clark?
Me:
No, never smoked. I am overweight. I know I want to lose weight and I don’t want the government forcing me to lose weight.
Emma Crosby:
Fair enough. Well, we think you look perfectly fine just the way you are. Thank you so much for joining us.
If you watch the video even Deborah managed a wane smile at that. Crack open the champagne!!
Below: Forest versus ASH, March 2010