What you've said: 19 May 2005

Find out what you had to say about Question Time on Thursday, 19 May, 2005, from Edinburgh.

The topics discussed were:

EU constitution

George Galloway

Energy

Uniforms for young offenders

G8 protestors

General comments on the programme

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

EU constitution

Audience question: Should Britain still have a referendum on the EU constitution if France votes "no" on 29 May?

You said:

Text: If France says "non" there is no need for a referendum.
KK, London

Text: France are bound to vote "no" unless they are running the show.
David, Swinton

Text: The French are already running the show.
John, Chester

Surely it is unreasonable that the electorate should be asked to consider voting on an issue such as the European constitution whilst there are serious doubts about the integrity of the owners of this legislation? I suggest that the vote should be postponed until the accounts of the European Parliament are satisfactorily audited.
Carl Bozicek, Broughton, Nr Kettering

Say "no" to Europe altogether!
Ralph Allison, Gillingham, Kent

It seems that whether the French have the vote or not, those in power are doing all they can to increase uncertainty among the French if they say "no" to the Europe. It is not right that the French are bombarded with pressure, when they seem to have their minds made up! Let the people speak freely. Au-revoir et bonne courage les gens de la France.
Jamie Prouse, Bath

Text: It's ok to have a referendum but we need to know more about it to make an informed choice.
Helen

The fact is, the voting public does not knows or care what goes on in Brussels. It's viewed as a remote and expensive layer of bureaucracy with a mind of its own. Unless the public interest is fed some clear reasons and facts, apathy and rejection can be expected.
Ralph Brandt, London

A prediction. When/if we get a referendum on the EU Constitution the BBC (British Brainwashing Corporation) will push heavily for a yes result because the Corp' is filled with sad little lefties desperate to build their empire in Europe.
George Rolph, Bromley

Text: The same old party political waffle. At least George Galloway is honest.
Terry, Kent

If the constitution was decided by all then we all should vote regardless of who rejects it. What is the alternative? The French reject it so its rewritten for them, then the Germans reject it so its rewritten for them... We either all agree or we all agree to disagree. NB. The UK will survive in a capitalist free market regardless of the European constitution.
Michael Oxley, London

Why is the French referendum so important to you guys, while nothing is heard about ours (Dutch)on 1 June? The latest (RTL4/5 commissioned) polls show a 20% point difference in favour of the "no" campaign.
Driek Eijlders, Amsterdam, Holland

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George Galloway

Audience question: Does the panel salute George Galloway's courage, strength and indefatigability in facing down the US Senate's sub-committee on investigations?

You said:

Text: The Americans are the bullies of the world. He did the right thing standing up to the US Senate.
Terry, Kent

Text: Very slick performance from George.
Chris, Suffolk

Text: Galloway is no hero, nor is he a criminal.
Lizzie, Oxford

Well done to George for his godfather-like scene in the Senators' office. Take them to the cleaners Mr Galloway but watch out for the CIA, be careful. l am a good fan of yours.
David Nicoll, Scotland

Text: That's a funny way to oppose a dictator by shaking his hand and praising him.
David, Surbiton

Text: Galloway put on a wonderful performance in the USA. Bring out the DVD.
John, Paisley

Text: George - what a windbag.
Danny, Glasgow

Text: How can anyone disagree with George's comments re Iraq?
Sally, Warwick

The audience in Edinburgh and the majority of the British public seem to believe that we prosecuted an illegal war in Iraq, that we were lied to by the government and that the real reason for the Iraqi invasion has yet to be revealed. Why then is it that we have yet to see any inquiry ask these specific questions of those involved?
Steve, Notts

Text: George was best thing on TV for ages when he addressed that committee!
Joe, Shrewsbury

Text: Pandering to public opinion isn't brave or original. And making the senate look foolish is hardly difficult.
Mike, Liverpool

Text: George, you have my respect forever. Well done.
Billy Sarn, N. Wales

What is George Galloway doing in Edinburgh? Since his triumphal march down Brick Lane early on 6 May he has been on holiday in Portugal, at his house in Streatham, to Washington and now Edinburgh. When is he actually going to get on with the job he was elected for and represent the people of Bethnal Green & Bow?
Gary Marsh, Bethnal Green

George Galloway for President.
Barry Driscoll, Bromley

With today's news of successful cloning in the UK, will it be possible to produce a copy of George Galloway who could be shipped to the US to shake up their politics?
Piers McGrail, Dublin

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Energy

Audience question: Would the panellists prefer either a wind turbine or a nuclear power station in their back yard?

You said:

Text: What about hydro power? We're an island - surely this would be a better idea?
Stuart, Lincoln

People are only too willing to attach dishes of all sizes to their homes so why not have wind turbines in gardens or on roofs?
Ian Legge, Birkenhead

The fact is, the only way to generate the electricity needs of Britain and generate zero CO2 emissions is to use nuclear energy. Wind farms are great, as is solar energy, geothermal, and all other alternative energy. But it's a numbers situation. Either give up consumer electronics and appliances, or embrace nuclear energy.

Investment in fission now will ultimately lead to fusion reactors in the future, and once the human race cracks the fusion problem, energy on earth is no longer a problem. A few nuclear disasters are small potatoes compared to the predicted effects of the so called green house effect.
John Bengston, London

Text: We should try wind turbines in the House of Commons! The amount of wind in there has to be seen to be believed.
Tony, Bedford

Creating new energy cannot be done with nuclear power plants or wind turbines. We need to integrate the world and use our resources so that in areas of abundant sunshine we use solar energy, in areas with rough waters we use water turbine energy, etc...
Hadi Farra, Edinburgh

Text: It's Scotland's wind - don't export it to England.
Davie, Invergordon

Text: Wind farms are now vital to the environment.
David, Bolton

Even David Bellamy is promoting nuclear power now. There is no alternative to this. Wind power, although best for the environment, cannot give the world what is needed. Each wind station that gets built will take us a step back. Yes, we use a lot of energy, but we need to get real and understand this, accept it and move on. Good luck !
Keith Grey, Bracknell

Could I just ask on the question of energy. How many Kilowatts of lighting are being used in the studio tonight?
Mr M Huson, Stoke-on-Trent

Text: Who will come to Scotland for the scenery now?
SR, Glasgow

Given the amount of off-shore area we own, could we not on a long term basis, land-fill in order to provide massive wind farms well away from areas of annoyance? Cost should not be about immediacy, it should encompass the long term global objective.
John Hussey, Fareham

Text: Wind turbines are more attractive than ugly pylons.
Phil, Yeovil

Homes are one of the biggest contributors to energy use through inefficiency. We put cars through the MOT. Why not a version for all houses, to reduce avoidable heat loss and require adequate energy efficiency measures?
Roger Higgins, Teesside

I think the PM already knows the solution to the problem of nuclear waste. The waste will simply be dumped on whichever country President Bush falls out of favour with next.
Graeme Hinchliffe, Warrington

Text: Wind farms are a really impressive sight on the horizon.
Sooz, Leicester

Wind power, not nuclear power. They look quite beautiful. Take a trip to Manchester city centre - they look like works of art and are equally at home in the country.
Penny Devonshire, Brighton

What is needed is mass investment into nuclear FUSION, not the current FISSION technology. Fusion has almost no pollution implications and is more efficient and much safer.

Wind power is a no-brainer. It takes more resources to build one wind turbine than the total energy which that turbine will ever provide. We used to have a world-class facility for fusion research at JET, Cullom Labs. The UK authorities need to wake up quick and clever. Now.
Paul Grant, Winkleigh, Devon

There is enough energy in Methane hydrate on the sea floor to last for ages - 2 1/2 times as much as in coal, oil and gas etc altogether. Professor Rice late of Arizona University has published a paper showing how the Carbon can be returned to the sea floor as a hydrate and we could all live off the hydrogen - try reading vol 125 No 4 of the Journal of Energy Resources dated Dec 2003.
Savile Burdett, Kilmington, Devon

Has it not already been shown that the Earth is subject to natural swings between heating and cooling? Do the panel really believe that the emissions of our island really affect global climate change? Given the emissions over India etc due to wood burning stoves/fires, should I really feel guilty driving my diesel car on a weekly shopping trip?
Laz, Kings Lynn

We chat about nuclear power or wind farms. What about solar energy? I understand that the sun provides enough energy to the earth to power everything in our world for a year - this power is delivered in one single day! The sun hitting Texas provides enough energy to power the world for a year and a half. Surely we should be investing in the technology to harness this freebie ASAP!
Ray Milverton, Dorchester

Text: Why don't wind turbines have solar panels on the blades?
Den, Essex

Arguing whether you want nuclear power or wind power is like getting ready to go fishing and debating whether to bring a hook or some bait. The only viable solution is to install both, nuclear to provide the bulk of our energy and wind where it is efficient and to minimise the amount of waste that has to be dealt with.

To argue that we will have one or the other is insanity, almost as absurd as the continual delaying of new build nuclear power and wind farms. We must act now, we must build both viable solutions or else we will face a disaster unimagined in modern history.
Thomas Bloxham, Birmingham

Isn't all the debate on nuclear energy or wind turbines missing the point entirely? No matter how expensive and how disruptive mitigated climate change is, unmitigated climate change is infinitely more expensive and nothing short of disastrous. Any attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to be applauded and encouraged, but until a worldwide reduction in emissions of up to 70% is achieved by 2050 (according to EU statistics), they are simply nowhere near enough!
Michael Goulden, Sheffield

Why are there so many cheap flights available now which add to pollution? We appear to be wasting thousands or millions of gallons of jet fuel, polluting the atmosphere, just so we can fly off to Spain or Paris or somewhere else for a quick break. It's not necessary.
Pete Sergent, Leicester

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Uniforms for young offenders

Audience question: Is the wearing of bright orange uniforms by young offenders the way to create more respect in society?

You said:

Text: Orange uniforms - another example of Blair's inability to think independently of Bush.
Rachel, Bristol

Conspicuous uniforms for politicians would also help us identify those charged with "serving the Community".
Richard Leach, Canterbury

Text: Make the young offenders listen to Galloway as a punishment!
Michael, London

Surly the wearing of a uniform is part of the deterrent.
Ardeshir Battye, Oxford

Text: Shame and display the offenders.
Gary, Warrington

I think that National Service should be brought back in order to control young people and give them a sense of responsibility.
Elizabeth Jane Burrell, Hadlow Down, East Sussex

Text: Does that mean our bin men are all on community service?
Chris, Kernow

Will they be tailor-made?
Barry Driscoll, Bromley

If councils vetted those whom it gives free homes to, yobbish behaviour would be vastly reduced. Criminals could be punished by removing their passports for a number of years, banished from using pubs etc.
Irene Spencer, Liverpool

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G8 protestors

Audience question: Should protestors have the right to march on Gleneagles during the G8 summit?

You said:

There is predominantly negative publicity of the G8 Alternatives Gleneagles march and it was right that this was the question chosen on the show. Further, there should be a Question Time G8 special before the summit with both proponents of alternatives to the G8 and supporters of the liberalisation policies of the G8.
Donald Smith, Edinburgh

Text: The world should protest at the same time.
Ken, Huddersfield

As part of the discussion about creating a protest around the G8 summit, it was a pity neither panellists nor members of the audience mentioned that the Make Poverty History campaign has organised a major two-mile march in Edinburgh on 2 July, designed to let politicians know how much the people of Britain care about world poverty, trade justice and better aid.
Alison Walker, Glasgow

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General comments on the programme

You said:

I like the way David chairs the programme. Firm, but with a twinkle in his eye.
Jules, Whitby, England

I was a member of the audience in the Edinburgh show and was thoroughly disappointed with the content of the show. I thought the questions were weak and that there were much more important questions to be discussed - questions that actually affect working class citizens. I can't believe the G8 summit came up but instead of talking about the estimated cost of £100 million, people only seemed to be interested in the protest route. The programme on the whole is very professional and usually great but the last two weeks have thrown up very boring, pea-brained topics.
Priscilla Chan, Edinburgh

Is that the best panel the BBC could conjure this week? I've never heard of half of these people. What is there in this week's line-up that would prompt anyone to stay up and watch? And yet again the BBC present another heavily left-of-centre panel on its "unbiased" topical debate show.
Gareth, Monmouth

I want to thank the organisers of Question Time for the good work. Programmes such as Question Time make me pay my TV licence without much winging. Keep it up. But do it without Anne McGuire.
Nyerho Odje, London

Text: The whole panel is a disgrace to Scotland and they should all resign.
John, Edinburgh

Text: The best panel since the inception of the programme.
John, Belfast

Text: George Galloway is ignorant and offensive.
Kathy, Ealing

Text: Nice to see you on the panel, George - a no-frills, no-nonsense MP.
Gary, Warrington

Frankly, Anne McGuire is embarrassing herself.
Steve, Notts

Text: Galloway you are treacherous rat!! Shook hands with Saddam, you have blood on your hands.
Tim, Winsford

Text: Brilliant. At least one honest politician ie George Galloway. Pity Blair doesn't appreciate truth.
B, Norwich

Anne McGuire's performance must surely qualify as one of the worst seen on Question Time. Not a single question answered directly, not a single opinion voiced. Every response was truly artless. Salmond and Galloway have never had an easier target.
Sanjoy Sen, Aberdeen, Scotland

Fantastic programme tonight, very lively - but when will David Dimbleby ask more Asian and black people to speak and comment? It's really bugging me, especially tonight.
Maggie Farrell

You produce an excellent programme with a great variety of panellists. With so many people to choose from, why have you got George Galloway on twice within as many months?

I have no political affiliations and this is not a particular dig at Mr Galloway, but please don't give anyone an extra chance to speak, just because they happen to have a loud voice and shout a lot! You have created an audience that expects more. Good luck & keep up with the (usually!) great product.
Matt Young

Text: George Galloway has joined Tony Benn as a politician with principle and passion. Don't believe everything you read in the papers!
Tony, Manchester

Text: George should retire to his home in Portugal.
Pete, Oxon

Are the Scots quite so mad! A maniac lover like Galloway praised for being a traitor and Alex S applauded for ignorance and partisanship! I give up if this is fair play then God help us!!!!!
Simon North-Coombes, London

A totally biased audience full of Left wingers, and George Galloway has mentioned Iraq in every single question asked! Change the record George!
Nick, Herts

Text: Georgie Boy - drop the act! You're not fooling anybody!
Steven, Glasgow

Three cheers for George Galloway - a man of true vision and integrity.
Brian, Totnes

George Galloway is very dangerous and it seems he got the audience to consist of all his friends!
Paul, Camberley

Well done Question Time. You've got another honest politician on your panel. That's first time since you last had Mr Galloway on.
Jones, Cardiff

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