I was invited onto Hard Talk. I was told I would have 24 minutes to set out some of the views from the Economic Policy Review. It sounded like a long period of TV when perhaps we could get beyond the soundbites and the elementary misunderstandings onto some of the meat, so I accepted. I was quite happy to have “tough” questions - ideas should be tested out, and TV should not be too bland.

I told the researcher in response to preparatory questions that I supported David Cameron, and gave background to the wide ranging proposals on managing the economy, transport, universities, vocational training, energy, pensions, government efficiency,deregulation and taxation.

The interviewer was an intelligent man in suit and tie. It looked promising.

He then spent the entire interview telling me that George Osborne and I thoroughly disagree about taxation, based on one selective quote from George. I had to spend the interview repeating endlessly that both George and I think we can learn from the Irish example, both of us believe you can pay for tax cuts from the proceeds of growth, and both of us think economic stability matters. We both know that economies with lower tax rates on enterprise have more jobs, better paid jobs, and more money to spend on public services.

It completely wasted the time of the interview, and I felt it was very boring. If anyone wants to know what is in the Report, then forget that interview, because there was no single question on the Report. The BBC have still run virtually nothing on the transport, energy,skills, or education plans, and have completely ignored the critique of Brown’s economic policy framework and the very topical comments on the financial crisis.

Once the pre record was complete and we had shaken hands for the cameras, the interviewer told me the camera had been switched off. He then told me I had “played with a straighter bat than he had expected” and invited me to tell him what I really thought. I explained again that I do think economic stability matters, that there should be no upfront unfunded tax cuts,and that sharing the proceeds of growth will allow lower tax rates and a more successful economy.

I do not know whether I was more bemused by the BBC’s assumption that I was a lair, or that I am stupid!

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