Nick Robinson: How I’m approaching my party leader interviews

Why don’t they simply reply the query? I am usually requested this by individuals who watch or take heed to the interviews I do.

Consider me, no-one feels the frustration greater than I do once I hear a politician ignore, evade or dodge a query and easily learn out a pre-planned “line to take” offered for them by celebration spin docs. Or launch an assault on their opponents.

However, I passionately imagine within the worth of watching or listening to the individuals who need to lead our nation being quizzed and examined and challenged about their insurance policies, their guarantees and their personalities over an prolonged time period.

Within the Panorama Interviews, I’ll have just below half-hour to ask the prime minister and his opponents the questions which I hope are those you’d need to ask, given the possibility. You possibly can ship in your concepts at Your Voice Your Vote – and use the shape on the finish of this text.

We gained’t, in fact, be capable to cowl every thing and you could be irritated by what’s left unasked or unsaid. However I assure that the politicians gained’t know the questions earlier than I ask them, and what they are saying will probably be broadcast in full. In a studio with no autocue or cell phone or notes from advisers, there will probably be no hiding place.

That’s one motive I like Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey, John Swinney, Nigel Farage, Adrian Ramsay and Rhun ap Iorwerth for agreeing to participate – and so they have, regardless that we haven’t but bought dates for all of them. There are many leaders in loads of international locations who wouldn’t take the danger of claiming the incorrect factor within the incorrect approach at a time when a slip can value votes and, finally, the possibility of energy.

I don’t simply imply leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping who run Russia and China. I additionally imply leaders like Boris Johnson who refused to face interviewer Andrew Neil on the final common election.