This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/shortcuts/2016/oct/26/question-dodging-theresa-may-slipperiest-politician-equivocation

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
The art of question dodging: is Theresa May the slipperiest politician of them all? The art of question dodging: is Theresa May the slipperiest politician of them all?
(about 3 hours later)
Appearance: Oh, it takes many different forms.Appearance: Oh, it takes many different forms.
Age: It would be wrong to speculate at this stage, but clearly it is very old.Age: It would be wrong to speculate at this stage, but clearly it is very old.
Name: Does it matter what you call it?Name: Does it matter what you call it?
Well, would you agree that “slipperiness” is a good name for what I want to talk about? If that’s what you prefer. I’ve heard “equivocation” used by some researchers.Well, would you agree that “slipperiness” is a good name for what I want to talk about? If that’s what you prefer. I’ve heard “equivocation” used by some researchers.
You mean there are people who actually research slipperiness? I’m surprised this is news to you. Dr Peter Bull at York University, and others, have been working on the subject for a number of years. You mean there are people who actually research slipperiness? I’m surprised this is news to you. Dr Peter Bull at York University, and others, have been working on the subject for a number of years.
And what have they found? I don’t intend to give a running commentary on every aspect of Dr Bull’s research.And what have they found? I don’t intend to give a running commentary on every aspect of Dr Bull’s research.
I didn’t ask for one. I only want to know what he has learned about how politicians avoid answering questions. It’s a very important subject, I agree. That’s why we’re the only party that has committed to protecting university funding over the course of the next …I didn’t ask for one. I only want to know what he has learned about how politicians avoid answering questions. It’s a very important subject, I agree. That’s why we’re the only party that has committed to protecting university funding over the course of the next …
Just tell me what he’s done! He has studied British political interviews going back to the 1980s and devised what he calls an “equivocation typology”.Just tell me what he’s done! He has studied British political interviews going back to the 1980s and devised what he calls an “equivocation typology”.
Can you tell me what that is? I can certainly tell you what a typology is.Can you tell me what that is? I can certainly tell you what a typology is.
Argh! That for instance was a “partial answer”, a subcategory of “intermediate response”. Before Theresa May took power, Dr Bull had compiled a list of 35 similar dodges, and measured politicians’ slipperiness overall, but May has raised the bar. In two interviews Bull studied, she gave explicit replies just 14% and 41% of the time. The average is 46%.Argh! That for instance was a “partial answer”, a subcategory of “intermediate response”. Before Theresa May took power, Dr Bull had compiled a list of 35 similar dodges, and measured politicians’ slipperiness overall, but May has raised the bar. In two interviews Bull studied, she gave explicit replies just 14% and 41% of the time. The average is 46%.
Does this surprise you? In politics, you get surprised every day. Does this surprise you? In politics, you are surprised every day.
I said, does this surprise you? If you’d let me finish, May also has her own technique – the “non-specific response to a specific question” – which Dr Bull has now added to his list.I said, does this surprise you? If you’d let me finish, May also has her own technique – the “non-specific response to a specific question” – which Dr Bull has now added to his list.
What is it? I think it’s clear what it is.What is it? I think it’s clear what it is.
NO IT ISN’T! Well, when asked whether she thinks Britain should have access to the single market, May told Andrew Marr: “What I want to see is the best possible deal for the United Kingdom in trade in goods and services.”NO IT ISN’T! Well, when asked whether she thinks Britain should have access to the single market, May told Andrew Marr: “What I want to see is the best possible deal for the United Kingdom in trade in goods and services.”
That’s so annoying. Let me tell you what people find annoying: it’s this childish Punch-and-Judy journalism. This interview is over.That’s so annoying. Let me tell you what people find annoying: it’s this childish Punch-and-Judy journalism. This interview is over.
Do say: “I will answer your question if you’ll just stop interrupting!”Do say: “I will answer your question if you’ll just stop interrupting!”
Don’t say: “This is getting awkward. Could you interrupt me again?”Don’t say: “This is getting awkward. Could you interrupt me again?”