completely not. i was completely mystified by what the government were up to. i have been predicting they would let it all pass because that's what has always happened in the past with every single report from a committee finding that a member of parliament has been up to no good so i was mystified that jacob rees—mogg gave this 45 minute speech in which he basically told about the rules at the 11th hour in what is meant to be an independent disciplinary process so no, i thought i'm still going to try and persuade people in the chamber and sometimes as mp5 we go, right, i'm just going to rant and get it off my chest and deliver my single transferable speech, but sometimes you do actuallyjust want transferable speech, but sometimes you do actually just want to persuade everybody you possibly can. it's interesting to see you are mystified. ifelt uber it's interesting to see you are mystified. i felt uber angry, it's interesting to see you are mystified. ifelt uber angry, very much in control. you talked about what the government was doing as being immoral. you talked about it being immoral. you talked about it being the polar opposite of the rule of law. you were pretty cross. i didn't feel cross, i'm going to stick with the word mystified. it perplexed me that somebody could make an argument that owen paterson had not had a fair hearing and therefore we had to completely throw therefore we had to completely throw the whole process up in the air. he was the former cabinet minister at the centre of this, we're not going get into this case because you've done that elsewhere but you felt that all the rules were effectively being torn up for the sake of one man. ., , y being torn up for the sake of one man. ., , , ., ., �*, ., , man. completely and that's what they do in russia- — man. completely and that's what they do in russia. you _ man. completely and that's what they do in russia. you raised _ man. completely and that's what they do in russia. you raised an _ man. completely and that's what they do in russia. you raised an eyebrow. do in russia. you raised an eyebrow on the today programme when i raised the word russia but it's true, when you suddenly change the rules three quarters of the way through a disciplinary process solely to benefit or to harm a named individual. that's bonkers. i didn't raise an eyebrow _ individual. that's bonkers. i didn't raise an eyebrow and _ individual. that's bonkers. i didn't raise an eyebrow and i'm - individual. that's bonkers. i didn't raise an eyebrow and i'm not - individual. that's bonkers. i didn't l raise an eyebrow and i'm not raising 2—mac now —— i'm not raising two now but the prime minister said we are not fundamentally corrupt country and you are making us when you compare us. if a and you are making us when you compare m— and you are making us when you comare us. . ~ , .,, compare us. if a prime minister has to announce — compare us. if a prime minister has to announce we _ compare us. if a prime minister has to announce we are _ compare us. if a prime minister has to announce we are not _ compare us. if a prime minister has to announce we are not a _ compare us. if a prime minister has to announce we are not a corrupt i to announce we are not a corrupt country, you start to think, what's going on here? i care about parliament because you can change people's life. when i was born, homosexuality was illegal and when i entered parliament, there was no such thing as a civil partnership and i was able to sit next to you at and i was able to sit next to you at a dinner with my husband. that's because parliament changed the law. i desperately care about making parliament work. it’s i desperately care about making parliament work.— i desperately care about making parliament work. it's tricky, if we have a standards _ parliament work. it's tricky, if we have a standards process - parliament work. it's tricky, if we have a standards process based l parliament work. it's tricky, if we l have a standards process based on house of commons because you are elected and it is your constituents that put you there, it's quite tricky if you are having to work with someone as this parliamentary policeman, as a leader who doesn't believe in rules and allure of the house of commons who doesn't seem keen on the rules —— a leader of the house of commons. i keen on the rules -- a leader of the house of commons.— keen on the rules -- a leader of the house of commons. i think we are in a better place _ house of commons. i think we are in a better place now. _ house of commons. i think we are in a better place now. we _ house of commons. i think we are in a better place now. we in _ house of commons. i think we are in a better place now. we in the - a better place now. we in the standards committee are advising the government. there is a bit of an irony about me being the chair of the committee on standards because i've been loads of —— i've been in loads of scrapes of my own over the years. i thought if i said then, we wouldn't come back to it, whatever it is. but i'm not veryjudgmental. i think mps should have a fair hearing. i think mps should have a fair hearinu. ., . ., ., _, hearing. your chair of the committee on standards — hearing. your chair of the committee on standards for _ hearing. your chair of the committee on standards for some _ hearing. your chair of the committee on standards for some reasons - hearing. your chair of the committee on standards for some reasons but . hearing. your chair of the committee on standards for some reasons but i | on standards for some reasons but i listed the way in which you may be seen as an establishment figure, oxford, the church of england, but a conservative student. how do you knock back on that? i conservative student. how do you knock back on that?— conservative student. how do you knock back on that? i was brought up as a conservative. _ knock back on that? i was brought up as a conservative. my _ knock back on that? i was brought up as a conservative. my mother- knock back on that? i was brought up as a conservative. my mother ended | as a conservative. my mother ended up as a conservative. my mother ended up not voting conservative but my dad certainly would have done. right now he would say the conservatives are too left—wing and lily livered. it was only at university i started thinking about these things myself. first term i wanted to —— i met some people who wanted to make sure that william hague did not get into power so i got elected into the student body which was very weird. i'm a very different person from the person who arrived at oxford back in 1980 in hundreds of different regards, not least because of the time i thought i was heterosexual. when i went to theological college i had a girlfriend and it was she who told me that i was gay one morning when we woke up together and i suppose at theological college you're not supposed to be sleeping with your girlfriend! but i was quite late in working out that i was gay, around 24. quite late in working out that i was gay. around 24-— gay, around 24. let's dwell on the church for— gay, around 24. let's dwell on the church for a _ gay, around 24. let's dwell on the church for a second. _ gay, around 24. let's dwell on the church for a second. you've - gay, around 24. let's dwell on the church for a second. you've said . gay, around 24. let's dwell on the j church for a second. you've said in the past that one of the reasons you were drawn into the church is the support they gave you, it gave you when you wear, despite on the surface this very comfortable background, very, very tough upbringing. background, very, very tough upbringing-— background, very, very tough u-uabrinin. ., ., , background, very, very tough u-uabrinin. . ., ,., upbringing. there are two parts of my childhood- _ upbringing. there are two parts of my childhood. my _ upbringing. there are two parts of my childhood. my parents - upbringing. there are two parts of my childhood. my parents met - upbringing. there are two parts of - my childhood. my parents met because dad left school with relatively few qualifications and went to work in spain in the summer to work in a hotel in the 19505 and played rugby backin hotel in the 19505 and played rugby back in cardiff and ponty in the winter and my mother went on holiday and was doing make up for the bbc and was doing make up for the bbc and that's how they met. spain became a very important part of my childhood, we lived there for five years, i speak fluent spanish and there is a little bit of me that is forever in spain. phase two was we were living in cheltenham and i remember mum coming into my bedroom on my 13th birthday and telling me that she drank too much and the next few years at home where a version of hell really because mum was drunk every night and they were all sorts of horrible, difficult times and there was a period when my mum and dad got divorced when i was 18 during my a—levels and i had to look after my mum for quite a while. and i needed a lot of help and support and sam and his wife margaret looked after me and my family and their daughter rebecca is my sort of surrogate sister, she's the first woman president of the royal academy. let woman president of the royal academ . ., ., academy. let me dwell for a little time without _ academy. let me dwell for a little time without being _ academy. let me dwell for a little time without being too _ academy. let me dwell for a little time without being too painful, i l time without being too painful, i hope, to have your mother tell you effectively she is an alcoholic even though i guess at 13 you might not have known what that were really meant, how was that? it have known what that were really meant, how was that?— have known what that were really meant, how was that? it was “ust a terrible time. i meant, how was that? it was “ust a terrible time. it i meant, how was that? it was “ust a terrible time. it meant * meant, how was that? it was “ust a terrible time. it meant i h meant, how was that? it was just a terrible time. it meant i learned i meant, how was that? it was just a terrible time. it meant i learned to | terrible time. it meant i learned to cook and to iron because mum was not able to do that. i think it was terrible for my father as well, mum was a very unhappy woman. i took her through withdrawal, very dangerously now i know, she had terrible seizures and fits and was in and out of various different institutions. i felt very angry about it a lot of the time because there were so many lies. i can't tell you how many bottles of vodka i poured down the drain and when mum and dad finally split up, she flooded the flat and got into really bad company which was pretty violent and abusive and she flooded the flat twice, she ended up in a mobile home. then we don't really know whether she took her own life or she had just taken too much alcohol and paracetamol together. it’s too much alcohol and paracetamol touether. �* , . too much alcohol and paracetamol touether. �*, ., , ., , too much alcohol and paracetamol touether. �*, ., , .,, together. it's a grim story. do you find there is _ together. it's a grim story. do you find there is value _ together. it's a grim story. do you find there is value in _ together. it's a grim story. do you find there is value in telling i together. it's a grim story. do you find there is value in telling it? i find there is value in telling it? do you use your experience is to try and help other people? did you when you moved into the church of england when you started at theological couege when you started at theological college and went on to be a vicar? i suppose the thing i thought was that after all of that i could have come out as a mess and i wasn't a mess. there's all sorts of bad things about me, i know my feelings better than anybody —— failings, but i must have strength of character and i had three elderly relatives, my mother's mother's cousin's, three spinsters who were very wealthy and lived in edinburgh and aviemore and they were lovely and supportive of me. i remember going back after an oxford term to the house we lived in cheltenham and mum had not got out of bed for three months for anything, literally for anything, so it was a medical disaster zone and very, very upsetting and she was in a terrible state, i had to get her to hospital. i sought another place out and i had to go and stay with these three sisters who were wonderful and it was a completely different world from today. i remember getting on the train from cheltenham to aviemore, it took hours and hours and just collapsing when i got there. you hours and hours and “ust collapsing when i got there.— hours and hours and “ust collapsing when i got there. you were changed clearly because _ when i got there. you were changed clearly because not _ when i got there. you were changed clearly because notjust _ when i got there. you were changed clearly because not just your - clearly because notjust your politics which we will come unto, but you give your life for a period to the church. was that one of the things that changed your politics as well? ~ , , ., , things that changed your politics as well? absolutely because this was the time of _ well? absolutely because this was the time of thatcher _ well? absolutely because this was the time of thatcher and - well? absolutely because this was the time of thatcher and you i well? absolutely because this was the time of thatcher and you did l the time of thatcher and you did placements in local churches so i had three monthsworking in newcastle in an inner—city parish which was different to me. i've been infected with the socialist virus by the national youth theatre because i was in that for quite a while and i was the only public schoolboy. so i had seen a completely different world. so you are forced to confront a world you didn't really know existed but is there. it world you didn't really know existed but is there-— but is there. it was a culmination ofthat but is there. it was a culmination of that and _ but is there. it was a culmination of that and my — but is there. it was a culmination of that and my mum _ but is there. it was a culmination of that and my mum because i but is there. it was a culmination of that and my mum because in i but is there. it was a culmination i of that and my mum because in all of these things i knew what it was like to be on the tough end—of—life way things were just not working out or everything was completely chaotic. it wasn't a question of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, that wasn't the option, you had to have a world that could support people. then as part of my training i lived in a shanty town in peru and six months working for human rights organisation in argentina. then you not thrown organisation in argentina. then you got thrown out _ organisation in argentina. then you got thrown out of _ organisation in argentina. then you got thrown out of chile. _ organisation in argentina. then you got thrown out of chile. yes! i i organisation in argentina. then you got thrown out of chile. yes! i wasl got thrown out of chile. yes! i was meant to be _ got thrown out of chile. yes! i was meant to be there _ got thrown out of chile. yes! i was meant to be there for _ got thrown out of chile. yes! i was meant to be there for three i got thrown out of chile. yes! i wasl meant to be there for three months but the day after i arrived, to young chileans —— two young chileans had been set on fire by the chilean police and one of them died and i took part in the funeral, i was asked to say prayers that it because i was staying with roman catholic priests. it was in a big cathedral in the middle of santiago and we were all singing and wonderful protest song of the period. the police came in and the army with tear gas and water cannons, sprayed the bishop and all that kind of stuff and i saw all the tear gas canisters were made in britain. literally, the words?— literally, the words? made in britain. literally, the words? made in britain- we — literally, the words? made in britain. we were _ literally, the words? made in britain. we were not - literally, the words? made in i britain. we were not supporting chile theoretically but margaret thatcher was. you chile theoretically but margaret thatcher was.— thatcher was. you took those canisters _ thatcher was. you took those canisters and _ thatcher was. you took those canisters and drew _ thatcher was. you took those canisters and drew them i thatcher was. you took those canisters and drew them to i thatcher was. you took those l canisters and drew them to the attention of politicians. the labour erson attention of politicians. the labour person brought _ attention of politicians. the labour person brought me _ attention of politicians. the labour person brought me into _ attention of politicians. the labour person brought me into the - attention of politicians. the labour person brought me into the house| attention of politicians. the labour. person brought me into the house of commons and we asked questions and we had the sale of tear gas canisters stopped. i was reliably on the left by that time i got back to the left by that time i got back to the uk. ., , ., the uk. you partly on the left because of— the uk. you partly on the left because of your _ the uk. you partly on the left because of your sexuality i the uk. you partly on the left because of your sexuality in l the uk. you partly on the left l because of your sexuality in the sense that when you were at oxford and you were a student tory, you couldn't be in the phrase of the time which i know many gay people eight now —— hate now, openly gay. the age of consent was 21 when i was at university and there had been an amendment, section 28 to the local government finance act, which treated homosexuality is worse than dirt. it treated homosexuality is worse than dirt. ., , ., ., treated homosexuality is worse than dirt. ., ., . , dirt. it was in order that councils could not teach _ dirt. it was in order that councils could not teach homosexuality. l could not teach homosexuality. undoubtedly that added to it but it wasn't the bits that got me there first. ~ . �* , wasn't the bits that got me there first. ~ ., �* , , , wasn't the bits that got me there first. ~ ., �*, , , ., first. what's interesting is that ou have first. what's interesting is that you have become, _ first. what's interesting is that you have become, since i first. what's interesting is that i you have become, since becoming an mp, know what i guess you would call a house of commons man. you have been a shadow minister. you refer to good and bad ambition in the past. did you want to have what you call bad ambition? i did you want to have what you call bad ambition?— bad ambition? i think i wanted everybody _ bad ambition? i think i wanted everybody to _ bad ambition? i think i wanted everybody to see _ bad ambition? i think i wanted everybody to see me - bad ambition? i think i wanted everybody to see me when i i bad ambition? i think i wanted l everybody to see me when i first arrived in parliament, in particular the prime minister so he would make me ministerfor tiddlywinks the prime minister so he would make me minister for tiddlywinks or whatever. did me minister for tiddlywinks or whatever-— me minister for tiddlywinks or whatever. , , ., ~ , ., _, me minister for tiddlywinks or whatever. , , ., ~ , ., , whatever. did you think you could be prime minister? _ whatever. did you think you could be prime minister? i _ whatever. did you think you could be prime minister? i never _ whatever. did you think you could be prime minister? i never ever- whatever. did you think you could be prime minister? i never ever wanted | prime minister? i never ever wanted to or thought — prime minister? i never ever wanted to or thought i _ prime minister? i never ever wanted to or thought i could. _ prime minister? i never ever wanted to or thought i could. i _ prime minister? i never ever wanted to or thought i could. i remember i to or thought i could. i remember telling james pernell that i thought i was of middling talent and i might knock at the outside of the cabinet door one day. knock at the outside of the cabinet door one day-— knock at the outside of the cabinet door one day. that's extraordinarily modest for — door one day. that's extraordinarily modest for someone _ door one day. that's extraordinarily modest for someone who _ door one day. that's extraordinarily modest for someone who wants i door one day. that's extraordinarily modest for someone who wants to | door one day. that's extraordinarily l modest for someone who wants to be seen. , �* modest for someone who wants to be seen. , ~ , , seen. the thing is... and this is where i would _ seen. the thing is... and this is where i would draw _ seen. the thing is... and this is where i would draw a _ seen. the thing is... and this is| where i would draw a distinction with the kind of good ambition because i think there are things i much prefer, i prefer getting things done. i've had a battle for the last eight years about acquired brain injury. i really care about the rugby players on my patch we have suffered from concussion and dementia and depression in people who have had road traffic accidents and many of their lives are safe today but they don't get the support they want and i'm hopeful that by they want and i'm hopeful that by the end of the week the government will have announced a fully fledged strategy for dealing with acquired brain injury. that is the good ambition, getting things done. in a wa , it's a ambition, getting things done. in a way, it's a surprise for someone who is still driven, albeit not being driven by getting to the top of the greasy pole, that so much of your time and energy is dealt with through what people would think is boring, procedures, standards, rules. i boring, procedures, standards, rules. ~ ., boring, procedures, standards, rules. ~' ., , boring, procedures, standards, rules. ~ ., , �*, ., rules. i know but there's quite a lot of “o rules. i know but there's quite a lot of joy in _ rules. i know but there's quite a lot of joy in working _ rules. i know but there's quite a lot ofjoy in working out - rules. i know but there's quite a lot ofjoy in working out a i rules. i know but there's quite a lot of joy in working out a clever lot ofjoy in working out a clever way of getting something on the order paper. what's the first rule of politics? turn up. don't leave until the vote is taken and make sure you remember to vote. knowing all the rules is just sure you remember to vote. knowing all the rules isjust a really important part of being able to pursue the things that really do matter. my pursue the things that really do matter. ~ , , ., pursue the things that really do matter. g ,., ., , pursue the things that really do matter. ~ , ,., ., , ., matter. my point was, given all the ener: matter. my point was, given all the energy and — matter. my point was, given all the energy and passion _ matter. my point was, given all the energy and passion you _ matter. my point was, given all the energy and passion you have, i matter. my point was, given all the energy and passion you have, is i matter. my point was, given all the. energy and passion you have, is that the best use of it?— the best use of it? well, i'd prefer to -la the best use of it? well, i'd prefer to play doctor _ the best use of it? well, i'd prefer to play doctor who _ the best use of it? well, i'd prefer to play doctor who but _ the best use of it? well, i'd prefer to play doctor who but nobody i the best use of it? well, i'd prefer| to play doctor who but nobody has called me up and asked if i was available! , ., ., , , ., available! they made after this, you read in the national _ available! they made after this, you read in the national youth _ available! they made after this, you read in the national youth theatre! | read in the national youth theatre! in terms of that standard committee —— standards committee, there are some who know look at our politics and the conclusion is you cannot leave mp5 to deal with this any more, they are not mature enough, that you have to have an independent standards body to do this adjudication. why not? i standards body to do this adjudication. why not? i think on some issues _ adjudication. why not? i think on some issues it's _ adjudication. why not? i think on some issues it's right _ adjudication. why not? i think on some issues it's right that i adjudication. why not? i think on some issues it's right that we i some issues it's right that we should have a completely independent body which is what we have for sexual harassment and bullying cases but on questions like whether you have used your stationery inappropriately or electoral purpose —— for electoral purposes when it should only be used for parliamentary purposes, is quite valuable to have a mixture of lay people, we have seven laypeople from the public, and mp5 on it. you are a labour mp, the public, and mp5 on it. you are a labourmp, but the public, and mp5 on it. you are a labour mp, but you are opposing keir starmer�*s plan for dealing with this independent commission. one of the things about being the chair and standards as you have to be nonpartisan and god knows i can be nonpartisan and god knows i can be partisan. i think david cameron told me once that he used to hate the fact that i regularly got called on prime minister's questions because i would always be so sharp towards him but i think that sometimes persistence is the most important thing. sometimes with a bit of a cheeky smile because a special at the moment, they've got an 80 seat majority, if i want to get anything done i got to get tories to do it.— get anything done i got to get tories to do it. how is that to get that done? _ tories to do it. how is that to get that done? you _ tories to do it. how is that to get that done? you were _ tories to do it. how is that to get that done? you were at - tories to do it. how is that to get| that done? you were at university with borisjohnson. i that done? you were at university with boris johnson.— with boris johnson. i remember it will, nothing _ with boris johnson. i remember it will, nothing has _ with boris johnson. i remember it will, nothing has changed. -- i i will, nothing has changed. —— i remember it very well. i now feel more nervous as a gay man in britain than i have for 30 years.— more nervous as a gay man in britain than i have for 30 years. hailing? i've than i have for 30 years. why? i've discussed this _ than i have for 30 years. why? i've discussed this with _ than i have for 30 years. why? i've discussed this with people - than i have for 30 years. why? i've discussed this with people who work in downing street, it's because i think they are very happy to have culture wars because they have learned this trick from america, from trump, and in the end culture wars will always pick on those who are slightly different and that means the gays, thejewish, the blacks, that's always a list that p°p5 up blacks, that's always a list that pops up when any populist government gets into power. i think the place they have taken the debate about trans—has contributed to that. the fact they are not ready to implement a proper ban on conversion therapy. borisjohnson's comments, saying boris johnson's comments, saying that borisjohnson's comments, saying that if you are allowed gay marriage, why not allow two men and a dog to marry? it fills me with a great deal of unease. d0 a dog to marry? it fills me with a great deal of unease.— a dog to marry? it fills me with a great deal of unease. do you think boris great deal of unease. do you think lztoris johnson _ great deal of unease. do you think boris johnson is _ great deal of unease. do you think boris johnson is guilty _ great deal of unease. do you think boris johnson is guilty of - great deal of unease. do you think boris johnson is guilty of those i borisjohnson is guilty of those attitudes are willing to exploit them? . ., them? somewhere in that mix i think there is a world of people _ them? somewhere in that mix i think there is a world of people who - there is a world of people who think... it makes me genuinely fearful because i don't think margaret thatcher was homophobic but she still introduced section 28 because it was necessary politically. i think if borisjohnson it was necessary politically. i think if boris johnson was it was necessary politically. i think if borisjohnson was here... he would say, i was mayor of london. and what was the first thing he cut? money for lgbt events. but and what was the first thing he cut? money for lgbt events.— money for lgbt events. but he celebrated _ money for lgbt events. but he celebrated them. _ money for lgbt events. but he celebrated them. of _ money for lgbt events. but he celebrated them. of course. i. money for lgbt events. but he i celebrated them. of course. i don't want to overstate _ celebrated them. of course. i don't want to overstate this, _ celebrated them. of course. i don't want to overstate this, i'm - celebrated them. of course. i don't want to overstate this, i'm not i want to overstate this, i'm not accusing the prime minister of being homophobic, but i do feel less safe, physically safe, than i did 30 years ago as a gay man, as an openly gay man. i'mjust ago as a gay man, as an openly gay man. i'm just describing an emotion ifeel at the moment. i don't wake up ifeel at the moment. i don't wake up every morning and think i am going to be gay bashed but it is a strong part of people's experience of modern britain and i worry about some of the language.— of modern britain and i worry about some of the language. we've talked about some — some of the language. we've talked about some of _ some of the language. we've talked about some of the _ some of the language. we've talked about some of the anger— some of the language. we've talked about some of the anger you - some of the language. we've talked about some of the anger you feel. about some of the anger you feel with conservatives but it's clear that you build relationships with conservatives to get things done and at the beginning of this conversation, you said you were not judgmental. is that crucial to your politics? it’s judgmental. is that crucial to your olitics? �*, . . ., ., , politics? it's crucialto me being me. i'm politics? it's crucialto me being me- i'm not _ politics? it's crucialto me being me- i'm not a — politics? it's crucialto me being me. i'm not a fundamentalist i politics? it's crucial to me being i me. i'm not a fundamentalist either so i have lots of friends on the conservative benches, genuine friends, people i would go for a drink with and we will have a good old row and barny, i don't take it personally and i think that's important about recognising the nature of representative democracy. people have sat in that chair and boasted notjust in their slogan, "never kissed a tory" but could never have a friendship with someone on the other side of politics. i was at a by-election _ on the other side of politics. i was at a by-election and _ on the other side of politics. i was at a by-election and one - on the other side of politics. i was at a by-election and one of- on the other side of politics. i was at a by-election and one of the i at a by—election and one of the researchers was driving me and i said, are you on the right road? he said, are you on the right road? he said, i'm100% certain. i said, said, are you on the right road? he said, i'm100% certain. isaid, i wish you had said 95% certain because that would mean you had checked. and he was wrong. so i prefer people to be 95%. it's the absolutism that leads to vladimir putin and donald trump and xi jinping. i hated it in religion, in iran are in the uk, and i hate it politics as well. ii i iran are in the uk, and i hate it politics as well.— politics as well. if i could introduce _ politics as well. if i could introduce you _ politics as well. if i could introduce you to - politics as well. if i could introduce you to the i politics as well. if i could i introduce you to the young politics as well. if i could - introduce you to the young chris bryant, would you say, carry on, boy. go on and be a member of parliament. or do you think you would say, be careful, i'm not sure if this is right for you? i would say, be careful, i'm not sure if this is right for you?— if this is right for you? i think i miaht if this is right for you? i think i might have — if this is right for you? i think i might have been _ if this is right for you? i think i might have been a _ if this is right for you? i think i might have been a lawyer- if this is right for you? i think i might have been a lawyer in i if this is right for you? i think i might have been a lawyer in a| might have been a lawyer in a different world.— might have been a lawyer in a different world. ., , ., ., , different world. could you have been an actor? you _ different world. could you have been an actor? you mentioned _ different world. could you have been an actor? you mentioned you - different world. could you have been an actor? you mentioned you went l different world. could you have been | an actor? you mentioned you went to the national youth theatre alongside some reasonably distinguished people. some reasonably distinguished ”eole. , some reasonably distinguished --eole. , , . people. some very distinct people. dou~las people. some very distinct people. douglas hodge _ people. some very distinct people. douglas hodge is _ people. some very distinct people. douglas hodge is my _ people. some very distinct people. douglas hodge is my best - people. some very distinct people. douglas hodge is my best friend i people. some very distinct people. i douglas hodge is my best friend from that time, we went on tour playing richard the second and various other shows. doug is in nearly everything you watch these days. daniel craig and i, ishouldn't you watch these days. daniel craig and i, i shouldn't speakfor him but i was having a difficult time and we both had a very close friendship with ed and brian who ran the national youth theatre and they were very helpful towards us so we ended up very helpful towards us so we ended up becoming friends for a while as well. but could i be an actor? it got wrong when i had glandularfever and was in romeo and juliet and we realised that in our production, juliet is meant to wake up and turn to tybalt and say in a bloody shroud, but i had died in act three and i had to put on his costume but unfortunately i fell asleep every night. i'm meant to be a dead body and sometimes i turned over. i couldn't even play a dead body. but presumably if that hadn't happened, it would be usjames bond and not daniel craig! == it would be us james bond and not daniel craig!— daniel craig! -- it would be you as james bond- _ james bond. a few of us went to see it in the cinema and we are dressed in black tie and at the moment where he comes out of the sea, everybody applauded and i don't think anybody would have applauded for me. ilhrirs and i don't think anybody would have applauded for me— applauded for me. chris bryant, thank ou applauded for me. chris bryant, thank you so — applauded for me. chris bryant, thank you so much _ applauded for me. chris bryant, thank you so much for— applauded for me. chris bryant, thank you so much forjoining i applauded for me. chris bryant, l thank you so much forjoining me applauded for me. chris bryant, i thank you so much forjoining me on political thinking. thank you so much for “oining me on political thinking.— political thinking. thank you. chris bryant _ political thinking. thank you. chris bryant is _ political thinking. thank you. chris bryant is one _ political thinking. thank you. chris bryant is one of- political thinking. thank you. chris bryant is one of those i politicalthinking. thank you. i chris bryant is one of those who believes, who proves that there is a whole lot more to being a member of parliament than simply being someone who peddles the party line, exactly what i hope this broadcast helps to show week in, week out. thanks for watching. hello there. it's been a cold day today but good spells of sunshine across the south. tomorrow look similar but there could be more in the way of sunshine along northern and western areas. most showers will be further east. this low pressure has been bringing the unsettled weather through today, sitting to the northeast of the country where we have seen the wettest weather and also some snow but the blue colours to show that that cold there has been in place right across the uk, strong northwesterly winds have accentuated the cold feel right across the odd. this evening and overnight stays quite went through central, northern and eastern areas with some snow over the hills. further west, a bit drier, clearerspells, lighter over the hills. further west, a bit drier, clearer spells, lighter winds so it could turn cold with a touch of frost and even i swear we've had the rain through today. tomorrow it looks like we will see a bit of a difference, this area of low pressure will affect the eastern side, a ridge of high pressure will bring drier weather to the west. it will cool off most of the showers. there will still be a few showers in wales, southwest england, but further east quite wet, southeast scotland, parts of eastern england, a few showers getting towards the midlands and winds will be stronger as well, closest further west. many parts of scotland and northern ireland will have a better day, cold with plenty of sunshine around, further east it's also going to feel cold with showers and that strong northeasterly breeze. through sunday, the showers fizzle away and turn cold and clear for a while than the next frontal system sweeps and a brand of rain —— band of rain with snow across the hills and pennines. temperatures will be coming up towards the end of the night so that will mostly refer back to rain. —— revert. this frontal system across us the country on monday and another cold air mass behind it, brisk north winds and plenty of showers. the rain it spreads its way a spots. it could be heavy and persistent for a time, eventually the snow cleared away from the northern hills. then it is brighter into the afternoon the sunshine and showers, the show and turning increasingly wintry once again as it turns colder, still fairly mild across then for tuesday, wednesday, it could turn very unsettled, it could be a very deep area of low pressure moving on from the atlantic which could bring us a speu the atlantic which could bring us a spell of very, very windy weather. this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the uk becomes the latest country to tighten its travel rules as the omicron variant spreads. from tuesday, all arrivals will need a pre—departure covid test. we're seeing an increasing number of cases linked with travel. and, again, we have always said we would act swiftly if we need to, if the changing data requires that, and that's why we have decided to bring in this change on predeparture tests. the parents of a teenager accused of shooting dead four us high school students have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. and president biden and president putin will hold talks on tuesday as russia's military build up on the ukrainian border sends tensions soaring. and advantage lewis hamilton as he sits on pole