How can politicians restore trust and confidence in politics? — BBC Question Time

[0:00] how can politicians restore the public's trust and confidence in them given these scandals [0:08] uton and broken promises all right well also i'm going to come to all of you on the panel [0:13] make sure you get a fair shout uh andy let's start with you it's by changing the way we do politics [0:21] i can't give you any other answer and i mean fundamental change i was in westminster as you [0:26] may remember i did represent part of this constituency it was in the old league constituency [0:33] hindley green bickashaw hindley was in and i found that i went down there and i was speaking in to [0:41] parliament and in the end it took me a long time to realize that the system just simply was not set up [0:48] to support places like ours and it treated us as the bottom of the list rather than the top of the list [0:54] and it's the point scoring isn't it you know the kind of whole setup of westminster people go to [1:00] point scoring before they go to problem solving it's party first rather than place first and people [1:06] collaborating and it took me a long time to realize it but i did realize it and that's why i left [1:12] in 2010. i just felt i sorry 2017 i just felt i couldn't do my best for the northwest and for this [1:20] part of the world that i care about so much in that in that system as mayor of greater manchester [1:25] i pioneered a new politics place first not party first long term not short term problem solving not [1:33] point scoring pro business working with the community and voluntary sector getting everybody [1:38] together unifying people behind the drive to make great amounts of what we all want it to be and look [1:43] at us the fastest growing city region in the country we've developed a new public transport system [1:49] you know it's amazing what you can achieve if you start to work like that and actually i felt my [1:54] connection with people has improved and what i would say is that approach a more collaborative [2:01] politics a more uh if you like long-term approach to solving the country's problems needs to be taken [2:08] from here greater manchester and taken down there okay fundamental change in westminster to restore the [2:14] public's trust now we're restoring the public's trust we might as well address this head-on because [2:24] we had a lot of questions about it in fact the most questions about you personally were about this [2:29] which is that we are having this by-election this is not a usual by-election someone has stood down [2:35] specifically so that you can stand and should you win have a go at getting inside the door of number [2:40] 10. let's make no bones about it now a number of you a lot of you asked but let's hear from some of [2:45] you who asked asked about exactly that yes you asked about that did you the man in the in the blue [2:52] top there at the back me yes i i if he's going to get into number 10 what would you do oh i'll rephrase [2:59] the question um you just said then if as an mp for lee you didn't really have you couldn't make much [3:07] change because of the party politics so what are you actually going to do for the people who make a [3:12] feel themselves if you if what i mean you have to be hidden under a rock to think maybe you aren't [3:18] going to go for the leadership against kia what changes are you going to make to make that labour [3:23] party great again well i'm making no assumptions about this election i'm not because you all know [3:29] it's tight you know that because you speak to people in your communities this is why you're [3:34] running and let's be clear about that answer the question i mean it's an important question it's [3:39] not a given and i don't see it as such i'm fighting hard because to me it is about trying to rebuild [3:46] politics and make it work for people here when i was in the cabinet i had influence and i used it for [3:52] people here i've got the lee sports village built we got bickershaw marina i got a young girl who'd been [3:58] abducted and taken to libya i got back with her mum in hindley green i have always used my political [4:03] influence for people here hillsborough was another another example i've never abandoned this place at all on [4:09] sunday it's the 25th anniversary of me being an elected great manchester representative but i know [4:14] i can't do everything within the system as it currently is so all i can say to you is i would [4:20] take the fight to change politics and change this country as high as i could so that it works for [4:27] here and it doesn't work for here right now look at the flooding okay let me all right andy let me [4:33] bring in the rest of the time okay top of the list not where west i will come to you mike but let me [4:39] bring in the rest of the panel so rob let's let's address this question to you how can politicians [4:44] restore the public's trust just go back to billy's question about restoring trust i think a big move [4:48] away from career politicians would certainly help and having normal people involved in politics [4:57] andy touches on us being the fastest growing economy doing it does anybody in maker feel like [5:02] feel that we've got the fastest growing economy or is it all just kept in manchester we keep giving [5:07] our council tax there's a bigger percentage every year being taken by manchester while manchester thrives [5:13] we're struggling to survive in wiggin we've been left behind so my my point would be get normal people [5:20] in politics people who care about the place people who live in the place and people who want to stay here [5:25] and not use as a stepping stone for other things so look in the interest of fairness i put to andy the [5:33] thing that so many of you said which is basically you're doing this election in order to try and get [5:38] into number 10. the question asked most by the audience about you personally rob was about comments [5:45] you've made in particular about women now a number of you put that point are any of you can i see from [5:51] those of you who who have said yes the woman with the did you ask about that yes let's hear what you've got to say [5:58] um i'd rather have a career politician than a plumber who's a sexist [6:04] so rob i want to give you a chance to answer that you know i want to give you a measure [6:09] so just for those you you may not all be aware of things that rob has said in the past [6:13] you you described yourself as a sexist allegedly what you're denying that that was some of the [6:20] things not okay you you described yourself as a sexist you have made offensive comments about [6:26] women you've admitted that you've also said that abortion is the cowardly act of women murdering [6:33] defenseless baby and that women do it so they can shag anyone they want that's your phrase not mine [6:38] yeah as i say i'm raising it because lots of people in the audience raise it and want to give [6:44] you a chance that that's okay i'll address those questions so i won't accept that label i mean a lot [6:49] of the things have been said 15 years ago i owe me hands up i've made mistakes and said one about [6:54] abortion was just two yeah i'm just addressing the first point where she said um where i was given a [6:59] label that i won't accept i was brought up by a single parent and my grandma who was a widow and an [7:05] older sister so i was brought up by women i've got nothing but respect for women you know so i think [7:10] something that said you know 15 years ago dragged up from uh an old rugby forum you know it's it's [7:16] completely taken out of context and like say i've made mistakes i said things years ago that i wouldn't [7:21] say now and i definitely don't believe that uh on that point you know it's yeah so i hope that addresses [7:28] that issue um and it's like i say i've got nothing but respect for women can i just come on on this [7:34] point though because i actually spoke to um carol warderman this morning she called me because she [7:40] is really distressed that you have failed to apologize for any of these comments so about her [7:48] specifically her specifically and she is watching at home tonight and i wonder if you can look down [7:54] that camera and say to carol you know what i'm sorry can you do that you know what you know people [8:04] would probably assume what's been said but i never actually said anything to carol i commented on a [8:10] comment don't get me wrong it was a disgusting comment that somebody else had written but i [8:14] commented on the comments with approval okay with approval no it was a crash joke and it's not [8:21] something i'd say now can i all right i need every woman in this room and at home has been subject to [8:29] shaming whether in person or online that's disgusting it's horrible yeah yeah i think [8:36] you're just proving my point can you believe this i honestly we have all been subjected to it [8:43] and the fact that men cannot a man like you cannot sit and do a simple apology i think is disgraceful but [8:51] on top of that reform's policies on women are shocking reform on day one want to repeal the [8:58] equality act i can't believe as a mum of a young daughter i'm having to sit here in 2026 and make [9:09] the case for me and my daughter to have the right for equal pay no this is what the reform party stand [9:15] for they are a party that has a problem with women and they need to sort it out this is not all about [9:22] you different i'll let you answer of course and then i must come around that's not a problem so we [9:27] will replace the equalities act with the workplace furnace act and a lot of those all those women's [9:32] protections will carry over into the new act no women's hard fought women's protections will suffer [9:38] or be scrapped they'll all go over especially with maternity and pregnancy given that you can't [9:43] apologize okay i'm going to ring in the rest of the panel because i must give you all a fair shout [9:46] to answer this question michael how can politicians restore the public's trust and confidence in them [9:52] i think the way that they can do that is by judging them on their actions so when they say things when [9:59] they make promises they actually deliver them and that's how we hold them to account but that's a [10:05] great bit about democracy because actually you have got the right every single one of you to vote [10:11] people out when they don't do what they have said to do now just to come on to andy's point about [10:18] how we restore faith in politics it's not that long ago andy that you were telling everybody that this [10:24] was the greatest job in the world and that you was going to see out your full term but we're here [10:30] halfway through it's it's only two it's less than two years since josh was elected as my member of [10:37] parliament here in makerfield and i'm actually quite disgusted really and sad that we're having this [10:44] by-election foisted upon us and you said about putting party first you are putting your party first [10:54] could i just just end that one because actually we will get rid of kia sterma whichever politician is [11:02] elected in this in this by-election and actually if you vote for me it'll speed it up straight away [11:11] okay quickly andy yeah i mean you've been in politics a long time you and i know each other [11:17] because we've worked together over a long period of time you cannot control events in politics i can't [11:23] control what happened in parliament and let's not forget in this country in this borough 25 council [11:32] seats went away uh from the party and and you just can't ignore those things the public here are saying [11:39] quite loudly to all of us we need something very different here than what's being served up and you [11:45] can't just say oh well i you know i can't i don't hear that i don't see it and i'm just going to [11:50] sort of sit where i sit where i am i mean that's just the reality of politics michael and you have [11:55] to sort of react to those things as they as they happen it is but what we're getting served up is [12:00] more labour party we need a radical chair michael let's talk about the conservatives for a minute [12:07] because the question is about restoring trust and it's quite clear the conservatives have lost trust [12:11] after a series of prime ministers how on earth do you begin to restore trust in the audience here [12:17] after the previous administration yeah there's there's no two ways about it that we had a massive [12:23] defeat in 2024 and part of that process now of of going back and this is what uh kemi as leader [12:32] has started to do it's only about restoring trust you've got to accept and own that we made mistakes [12:38] and that's what she has done but now what we're doing is looking forward to make sure that we can [12:43] oppose what this labour government is doing to address the things like cost of living but also [12:48] setting out a plan about how we're going to deal with things like migration cost of living getting [12:54] things moving again and that's what i want to talk about at this by-election i want to talk about the [12:58] high streets crime anti-social behavior and getting rid of congestion across makerfield because it's about [13:04] electing your member of parliament and as someone that lives here i care about it and i want to deliver [13:09] on that plan all right i'm going to come to you both as well to answer this question but i'm just [13:13] going to hear a little bit from the audience first we're at the back with the glasses right at the very [13:16] back yes um hi um so i watch the program um all the time every week oh good i'm glad to hear it thank [13:26] you very much and i just find that politicians can never answer a question straight you ask them a [13:31] question you never get an answer it is so disappointing when fiona asks you will you stand [13:41] you know uh to challenge care star whether you cannot say yes that you will we all know that [13:45] you will so why can't you just say it i'll come back to you i will come back to you yourself you [13:53] raised a really valid point about as a community we want a normal person a real person stepping in [13:59] and taking charge to make sure the people of our constituency go can get ahead in life the best they [14:05] can and i would rather have a community made up of diversity of women of lgbt people of young [14:14] people of people with disabilities then someone like yourself who is sexist and shows and has shown [14:22] on more than one occasion an opposition to diversity just as your party does woman here in the jacket [14:29] um my question is why as reform the it's close between both of you in the polls and i want you [14:40] to win so what you want andy burnham i do right i want the sooner the better that keir starmer walks [14:48] out of downey street the the the better for me that's on everybody else we want him to go [14:53] everybody wants him to go we can't stand him actually but he's not for the people just say what [14:59] you really think yeah well yeah because he's not for the people he doesn't listen that's his downfall [15:06] um but what my question is reform having their manifesto they're going to raise the tax threshold [15:15] why is that not in your manifesto because if you put that in your manifesto you'll walk this by [15:21] election easy you're right okay you need to put that in your if not if not for everybody here for [15:29] man at the front in the glass this by-election has just been called because basically keir starmer [15:35] is collateral damage because of the epstein files because mandelson was in the epstein files [15:40] keir starmer knew what he'd done he'd lied to parliament he lied to all the mps and that's why [15:46] everybody everybody in the country knew knew he'd lied right he was on tv he was all over when he was [15:53] in common okay all right i mean he obviously kiss them yeah clearly he's not here to answer for [15:58] himself uh he may take a different just just so you're aware i mean robbie you could say this [16:02] about it but in terms of raising the trash tax threshold i think it's for 20 000 pounds that was [16:06] a reform policy it's not currently a reform policy but we uh it's a name isn't it but not a current [16:11] policy yeah yeah it was in 2024 but i mentioned this is getting poorer you know just think about what [16:18] what happened all right let me bring the winter fuel alone let me bring the rest of the panel in [16:22] because you need to answer these points so jake let's come to you let's answer the question billy's [16:26] question how can politicians restore the public's trust and confidence in them given scandals u-turns [16:31] broken promises it come i think i think it comes back to so much of what has already been asked in [16:36] this room tonight so to answer your question directly about why isn't there a manifesto in this [16:41] it's because this isn't a general election this is an election for a potential future prime minister [16:46] via the back door and that's not the right way to be doing politics [16:54] so but but let's let him answer so andy's not releasing a manifesto for this because he's not [16:59] saying the quiet part out loud um and coming back to what somebody earlier said about [17:07] all right let's let's you're going to be on the panel let's let let you're gagging to me let's let the [17:15] panel answer coming back to what somebody mentioned earlier about honesty being an integral part of [17:20] politics now andy has consistently we've fought against each other in the 2024 greater manchester [17:26] merrill he's consistently talked a good game about politicians working together to restore trust in [17:32] politics but fundamental to that is being honest being honest with residents and constituents yet he [17:38] refuses to say the quiet part out loud that the reason he asked his mate to step down so he could [17:43] run in this by-election is not so we could become mp for makerfield it's so that he could become the [17:48] prime minister instead and listen just i am i'm going to let you answer and also because it was a question [17:55] from the one on the back listen let's just talk about the lib dems for a minute because it is well [18:00] known that the lib dems wish to rejoin the eu that is clearly your policy as well as a liberal democrat you [18:07] are here in makerfield campaigning for people's trust but i think it was 67 something like that [18:12] people in makerfield voted to 65 voted to leave so how can you represent these people look when i'm [18:20] knocking on doors in makerfield and i'm talking to voters they are not bringing up brexit or rejoining [18:25] the eu or revisiting a vote that we held 10 years ago that's not what i'm about and the liberal democrat [18:30] plan isn't about rejoining the european union yes we want clearly stated aim no our aims as liberal [18:37] democrats is to have a closer tie to the european union in the forms of a customs union because that [18:43] brings an extra 25 billion pounds back into the economy on a yearly basis generated through revenue [18:48] by having those closer ties with the european union that 25 billion pounds could do a hell of a lot [18:55] of good stuff in our constituency could revitalize our high streets it could help us cut the cost of [18:59] living it could help with building flooding infrastructure which is desperately needed in [19:03] places like hindley and across the makerfield constituency the reason that we want as liberal [19:08] democrats closer ties with the european union not to rejoin but a customs union is because we know the [19:14] economic benefits that would bring back to makerfield and places like this that frankly so far have been [19:19] left behind by westminster okay sarah your turn how can politicians restore the public's trust and [19:25] confidence in them so i only really recently got involved in politics in this way i'm actually on [19:31] maternity leave at the moment and we're very glad to have you here thank you um and it was actually the [19:38] the last by-election that was called in greater manchester that got me involved and i realized that that [19:43] there is no one else coming to save us if you have an opinion about what we should do as a country you [19:48] have to get involved and i think we've just seen on the panel here exactly the problem that people [19:55] have with trust and confidence because we're all knocking points off each other um trying to say that [20:00] we're more honest than that person when actually the fundamental problem we have in this country is [20:07] that we're building on 40 years of de-industrialization topped off by 15 years of austerity which to be [20:14] perfectly honest the labor government haven't done enough to address and we're all feeling it and [20:20] we're all feeling the squeeze we're all feeling the pinch but you know what we should be really [20:24] looking at is the massive inequality in this country 50 of the wealthiest families in this country [20:31] hold more wealth than 50 percent that's 34 million people that cannot be right and so it's the green [20:41] party one of the things we want to say it's not just about changing culture in westminster because [20:45] i'm afraid if we just change westminster culture we're not going to change the country we need to [20:51] start having serious conversations about who is contributing for a better future for our children [20:57] to solve the climate crisis to get our high streets going to make sure that we can have the money [21:02] back in towns and villages so that our young people stay here and work hard and have better lives [21:09] so that's what we're all about is going let's not just think about westminster culture that [21:15] politicians are obsessed with but think properly about the solutions that we need in this country [21:21] so the question being from billy about restoring trust and public confidence let's just talk about [21:27] the green party record for a minute so there was a candidate who was going to be it's part of the [21:30] reason why you've had to jump in on your maternity leave there was another candidate who would do [21:34] after 12 hours and initially we were told it was for family and personal reasons lo and behold [21:41] journalists found out the next day that entirely unacceptable comments had been made about the [21:47] attack on gold is green on ambulances where the candidate described it as a false flag attack i.e. [21:53] done by either israel or jewish people to try and make it look like it was done by somebody else [21:58] and there have been numerous anti-semitic comments made by green candidates how does that restore [22:03] trust and confidence we have to be really clear that anti-semitism has absolutely no part and no [22:12] place in the green party or in our country and zach has been extremely clear about that as well and we [22:20] have to make sure that those few handful of people are dealt with that our vetting process is improved [22:28] and that we ensure that people can trust the people that we are putting in front of them [22:33] so i just want to come back to rob i know you want to come in but i'm i'm going to try and get other [22:37] questions in as well but lots of people have talked about andy you talked about at the back and i want [22:42] to make sure your question gets answered which is why don't you just say it straight out i am [22:49] campaigning this election okay you want to be mp for makefield but you want to get into number 10. [22:54] this is your moment just quickly because i want to move on well come on this is the time i'm not [22:59] somebody who gets ahead of myself i can't do anything unless i'm lucky enough to get the support of [23:05] people here but if i get your support i would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and [23:11] give this constituency maximum power and influence i think west streeting seems to have launched a [23:17] leadership uh contest so if that is running i would seek to join it but i'd have to persuade [23:22] members of the parliament and on the personal allowance i've heard it on so many doorsteps and [23:31] i've said to my team let's have a proper look at this and let's develop a policy all right i'm going [23:36] to move on but before i do i just want to say that of course there are other candidates you've heard [23:42] from five candidates on this panel there are 14 candidates in total and there is a full list of [23:49] of them on the screen for everyone to see [23:58] you