The Wardman Wire

This is a Guest Post from Mathew Hulbert, who is a journalist based in the Midlands.

AS A journalist in the regions, away from the Westminster village, it’s not very often that the most powerful political figure in the country heads our way.

But, last week, that all changed.

I’m a Broadcast Journalist with a radio station in South East Staffordshire and, on Thursday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown came to Tamworth electioneering ahead of the June 4th local and European polls.

He visited the impressive town campus of South Staffordshire College and I was fortunate to be permitted to be there and to get two or three minutes face to face time with the PM.

He seemed quite personable but the answers he gave to my questions were no doubt the same as those he gives to other journalists who ask about similar issues.

I guess when you reach that level of political power you’re used to having set lines, rhetorical devices, which you use-almost no matter what the question asked was.

As it happens I asked about a local education matter and about whether or not the Government would do more to help the ailing motor industry.

This past Saturday I was at the wedding of one of my best mates and as I regaled my encounter with the Prime Minister (hey, can you blame me?…I’m going to be dining out on that for as long as possible!) the question I kept being asked was “Did you like him?”

That’s really difficult, indeed almost impossible, to answer.

Firstly, because it’s not my job to like these politicians. I respect the office he holds, but it’s not in my remit to decide on whether I like these people.

As with when I interviewed David Cameron in person last year, any personal judgements I make are not important.

What is important is that I ask pertinent questions about the local issues that matter to my listeners-and I always endeavour to do that. But regardless of who the holder of the post is, it can only ever be an honour to interview the Prime Minister.

I certainly consider it to be the high point of my career.

So far, at least.