Commons select committee and Huawei

I'm not a fan of Huawei but if I understand this correctly their boss was asked about the new security law in Hong Kong and he said he was a telecoms executive so didn't have a view on it. Not exactly a trap is it?
 
I'm not a fan of Huawei but if I understand this correctly their boss was asked about the new security law in Hong Kong and he said he was a telecoms executive so didn't have a view on it. Not exactly a trap is it?

Read it again and think about it. 😀
 
I'm not a fan of Huawei but if I understand this correctly their boss was asked about the new security law in Hong Kong and he said he was a telecoms executive so didn't have a view on it. Not exactly a trap is it?
I suggest you read it again and think about it. Come back in an hour with your thoughts
 
I'm not a fan of Huawei but if I understand this correctly their boss was asked about the new security law in Hong Kong and he said he was a telecoms executive so didn't have a view on it. Not exactly a trap is it?
I’ll probably bite my tongue for saying this but you do have a point.

For a Tory MP Greg Clark is one of the better ones. But this feels a bit like grandstanding. Possibly for a good cause - keeping the Chinese away from our IT infrastructure- but grandstanding nonetheless.
 
I’ll probably bite my tongue for saying this but you do have a point.

For a Tory MP Greg Clark is one of the better ones. But this feels a bit like grandstanding. Possibly for a good cause - keeping the Chinese away from our IT infrastructure- but grandstanding nonetheless.

I doubt he would have given this stock answer to any other political topic of the day.
 
I doubt he would have given this stock answer to any other political topic of the day.
No. He wouldn’t. Which was why it was the obvious question to ask.

Hence my comment about grandstanding.

That said I don’t have a problem with the question or the op. Or what they are trying to achieve.

It’s just that some goals are easier to score than others is my point.
 
No. Which was why it was the obvious question to ask.

Hence my comment about grandstanding.

That said I don’t have a problem with the question or the op. Or what they are trying to achieve.

It’s just that some goals are easier to score than others is my point.

but I think it raises a vital point doesn’t it?

A board of directors operating a company in the UK which, would like to become part of the UK’s communication network, fearful of how a foreign powers government might react to how they perceive an issue.

For me a point that needed raising, and it was raised in the best way possible.
 
Not exactly a trap is it?

The trap is asking him if he's free to express his views then when he says yes proving that he really isn't.

I don't know what the follow up questions were, mine would've been something like:

LS: as a telecoms executive do factors external to the business feature in your decision making? As an example is the current Covid epidemic something you consider and do you have an opinion on it?

TE: Yes, obviously.

LS: And do political factors enter into consideration as well? Brexit and last year's election being two obvious examples that come to mind.

TE: Yes.

LS: And presumably you have opinions about those two issues, otherwise how would you be able to factor them into your decisions?

TE: Yes.

LS: Would a substantial worsening of Anglo-Chinese relations be likely to have a material impact on your business and is this something you would need to consider when performing your role as a telecoms executive?

TE: Again yes, it's something I would have to consider carefully.

LS: In that event is it not odd that you have no opinion on the new security law in Hong Kong?

TE: Ermmmm.................................
 
but I think it raises a vital point doesn’t it?

A board of directors operating a company in the UK which, would like to become part of the UK’s communication network, fearful of how a foreign powers government might react to how they perceive an issue.

For me a point that needed raising, and it was raised in the best way possible.
Yes I agree with that.

I suppose my point is that the fact Greg Clark asked the question doesn’t make Greg Clark a political genius.

Anyone could have asked the question.

But I don’t begrudge him earning a few brownie points 👍
 
Yes I agree with that.

I suppose my point is that the fact Greg Clark asked the question doesn’t make Greg Clark a political genius.

Anyone could have asked the question.

But I don’t begrudge him earning a few brownie points 👍

Oh yes I get that 👍, but I honestly believe the current crop of politicians across the board are some of the least talented people I’ve seen in my life time. So something like this is a refreshing change.
 
Greg Clark is one of the few politicians that impress me.Always asks good direct questions in the science Select Comittee's
 
Oh yes I get that 👍, but I honestly believe the current crop of politicians across the board are some of the least talented people I’ve seen in my life time. So something like this is a refreshing change.
Well I suspect it has a lot to do with media exposure these days. In times gone by lots of politicians with safe seats (Tory and Labour) could glide along with hefty majorities. In other words they were as crap then as they are now (if not more so), but could get away with it.
 
Well I suspect it has a lot to do with media exposure these days. In times gone by lots of politicians with safe seats (Tory and Labour) could glide along with hefty majorities. In other words they were as crap then as they are now (if not more so), but could get away with it.

yes point taken.
 
Well I suspect it has a lot to do with media exposure these days. In times gone by lots of politicians with safe seats (Tory and Labour) could glide along with hefty majorities. In other words they were as crap then as they are now (if not more so), but could get away with it.

Alternatively is it the nature of the media exposure that makes them look crap?

Hectoring journalists looking to make a name for themselves rather than add anything to our understanding, barking questions at them and cutting them off part way through an answer, forcing them to condence complex issues into simple soundbites before receiving another tirade from the journo's and of course any admission of error is headline news for weeks on end.

I doubt anyone could look good in that environment.
 
Alternatively is it the nature of the media exposure that makes them look crap?

Hectoring journalists looking to make a name for themselves rather than add anything to our understanding, barking questions at them and cutting them off part way through an answer, forcing them to condence complex issues into simple soundbites before receiving another tirade from the journo's and of course any admission of error is headline news for weeks on end.

I doubt anyone could look good in that environment.
Totally agree you just had to watch Andrew Neil destroy Corybn,Swinson and Sturgeon in the GE interviews.
Nature of the beast now politicians are doing the same starting to become a big turn off.
 
You can tell the mood has changed as the standard weekly full page Huawei ad in my weekly Spectator magazine has disappeared literally in the last 3 weeks copies...
 
Totally agree you just had to watch Andrew Neil destroy Corybn,Swinson and Sturgeon in the GE interviews.
Nature of the beast now politicians are doing the same starting to become a big turn off.
So why didn't Andrew Neil destroy Johnson?
What?...Boris refused to be interviewed by him? Now there's a thing.
Back on topic: Greg Clark did a good job on Huawei there.
 
Yes I agree with that.

I suppose my point is that the fact Greg Clark asked the question doesn’t make Greg Clark a political genius.

Anyone could have asked the question.

But I don’t begrudge him earning a few brownie points 👍
I am sure Greg Clark is sleeping more soundly now he knows he has your grudging approval.

No doubt if it was a non Tory MP asking the question, you would be extolling their virtues.

Do you work for the BBC ?
 
Greg Clark seems to be becoming a bit of a rebel - one of the only one nation Conservatives remaining in the parliamentry party. He also seems like a capable politician, good luck to him, at least he is a dissenting voice.
China are becoming a superpower more powerful than any other in history. As well as their military power and industrial strength at home they also own a significant portion of the world's infrastructure.
 
What if you work for a U.K. company that has been taken over by an American one? Now US laws determine which countries you can trade with. And, no, as employees you would not be allowed to express a view about that... in my experience.
 
Back
Top