politics 101 - answering a direct question

As a new politician you must learn how to seem to give an answer after you have been asked a direct question without actually answering the question in any way whatsoever. This is especially important if you should become part of the Government because if you actually respond to a question with a direct answer you might end up being held to whatever it is you have agreed, denied, or suggested.

No-one in politics actually believes in the truth, we leave that fantasy for the uneducated electorate. Please watch this instructional video to see a brilliant example of a senior politician not answering a direct question



Did you see what Ed Balls did there? He deftly swatted the question away with the "our plans don't need a rise in VAT" comment that rendered the question as seemingly immaterial before launching a direct attack at the party he considers to be the main threat against him. Sublime manoeuvring to turn the spotlight of attention away from his party's post-election plans and onto the plans of his rivals and what they have historically done.

The magnificent way he uses the line "our plans add up without a VAT rise" which is close enough to "if we win the election I rule out a post election VAT rise" to make the majority of voters believe he has given an answer while not actually ruling them out shows he has a masterful understanding of the politician's art.

Unlike the representatives from the other parties. Dr Fox began his reply by committing an unconscionable error and giving a one word answer. He quickly covered for this by waffling on about the size of the national debt and attempted to use the "no plans" get out clause but the damage was already done. St Vincent of Cable also attempted a safety in numbers strategy by repeating the Fox-waffle but came out looking weak after the heroic display of Balls-skills that followed.