The free press

This is a priceless moment from the transcript of Michael White’s interview with Tony Blair. It doesn’t just stand up the virtues of Western democracy, free speech, etc. It makes me proud to be British. In what other culture, in what other country, would a joke like this be cracked in the Prime Minister’s face?

The Guardian:
What is your assessment of the stability of Saddam’s regime now the inspection process is under way, and does that inform whatever form of military conflict you might become involved in?

PM:
The honest answer is you can’t be sure. There is no doubt that there is huge dissatisfaction and revulsion at Saddam’s regime inside Iraq, as I constantly say to people, the people that would be most happy if Saddam goes will be the Iraqi people.
And it was interesting that in their election, I mean they did get a 100% result, but despite everything that they can do, they couldn’t get more than a third of the people to actually turn out and do it.

The Guardian:
A bit like Britain.

PM:
I think you would admit that there is a slightly greater choice, I think you would allow that there is a somewhat greater choice in Britain than there is in Iraq.

Come to that, who else by Mike White would have the nerveless speed of thought to crack it?