YouSaid · the spoken record

Oliver Dowden

lines on the record: 53
first: 2021-06-25
most recent: 2021-06-25
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“First one, you know that reshuffles don't work like that. You don't get a choice. You're told where you're going and not, and that's entirely at the Prime Minister's discretion. But I'm genuinely looking forward to 2022 when we have the Platinum Jubilee, where we're working very closely with the palace in planning that marking 70 years of Her Majesty the Queen of the Throne. We've got the Festival 2022, we've got the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. I always think if 2020 was the miserable year, 2021 is the year of recovery. I really think 2022 is a fantastic moment of national renewal. And I want to be right at the heart of it.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Into the studio No, so we had something called the Watford Youth Theatre. So it was kind of a theatre group that I was in when I was at school and sometimes during the holidays I come back and do it again.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Kabuki on the Japanese stage. There is a photograph somewhere which perhaps I'll share with you. And I don't know whether I should say the final one. I remember I've played the headmistress in St. Trinian's. Yes, yes. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any photographic evidence. No, take.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It was taken very seriously, and they had the sort of national broadcaster there to film. It was in this village, I taught in this village in very rural Japan. I remember it was a terribly sweltering sort of orchest day. And then the other one. No Chinese.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I really can't remember it. It was something quite complex, which I literally just sat to someone else learn them. It's quite bold and people.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The two parts I always remember three, I should say, so I lived in Japan and I performed kabuki in Japan. I had this very traditional theatre there and I performed the man from overseas in full kimono with sword and everything else. I had one line in a Japanese. Oh, can you?”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, that certainly isn't the case, and I value both of them exactly the same. If anything, my kind of background has been more in theatre. Let's put it this way, I've performed on more stages than pitches that I've played on.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I certainly personally haven't fallen out with Andrew Live Weber, and I get him very well with him, and I know how passionate he is about the theatre. I understand.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Genuinely generating revenue for this country. So I certainly marshalled the arguments as to why there was benefit from that. And as a result of it, actually, we haven't lost any significant institution. I certainly, and I hope this will continue to be the case, feel a sense of pride that we have managed to stop that happening to our culture.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think in terms of convincing the Chancellor and the wider Treasury team about to fund our cultural institutions is about explaining the value of them and that if we had lost them. And when I first came to office and department for culture in this crisis hit, we were being warned, I was being warned by officials, we could lose 50, 60, 70% of our theatres, museums and everything else. And I knew that not only would that rip apart a huge part of our culture, destroy things that we love so much, it would also damage the economy because those same people that are doing the lighting rigging and the makeup and the hair and all the other stuff are working on our world leading film and TV industry which is exporting billions of pounds. You take something like an Andrew Loyber is always reminding me of this rightly, the shows that he produced gross far more than any Hollywood blockbuster.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Of course, and I despise the fact that we can't have theatres open at forecast. And actually, I was in the West End earlier this week, Michael Ball and his team gave a fantastic performances really moving to see them up on stage. And I want that to happen. Actually, I should say that everyone's subject to the same restrictions. So that football club will have the same social distancing that you have in a theatre. Now, clearly that's not going to work financially for theatres, which is why I'm determined that come the 19th of July we get them back without any of those restrictions because they are as innate to our sense of identity and cultural values as all the other things that we've been discussing in this interview.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I certainly think it's an argument worth considering and how we empower fans in that area. And Tracy Crouch is really actively engaging that. And I'm sure she'll come up with some great proposals on that.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Of course. And when you visit these clubs and you talk to me, I have clubs in my constituency who are exactly the same, not the lofty heights of the club you support in terms of how well they've done in competitions, but they are supporting their communities. They're educating kids. They're giving opportunities for kids there. There's real local pride and local sense of history. And those sort of values bring richness to our nation.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Precisely the same reasons I've set out on all these other issues because I think our football and the clubs are as much part of our national heritage and our history and our cultural values as the great stately homes of England or our great theatres and opera houses and everything else. They are deeply rooted in communities and the proposal was an anathema to British football. It's kind of based on the American model whereby you've got a brand and American football clubs can kind of move from Detroit to Tampa or whatever and they carry the brand with them. That would have been deeply, deeply damaging.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, first of all, I wouldn't say that Netflix and others were the enemy. They invested in this country and they produce good quality content. For precisely the reasons I set out why I think the BBC still has a valuable role to play and public service broadcasters has a valuable role to play is in ensuring that we have distinctive British content and that it supports the creative industries in this country where we're genuinely a global leader.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Line of duty. I know it sells. I checked if you could do the other day. It doesn't sell. Yes, and that is the value, and also the value of the BBC as being as a genuinely impartial broadcast. But the BBC does have to change. I do worry that the BBC risks getting out of touch, or not risk, has become out of touch with many people.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, but I do think there is still value for the BBC in reflecting a British values. Now, I'm not saying this is the sort of, I'm going to say what is British, but I think something like... I don't know anything from I May Destroy You through to Vera on ITV. I think those could only be produced by in this country. And I think Netflix content is great and I consume plenty of it myself. But I think we do need to retain that distinct cultural identity. I think that is one of the big values.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“And I think this is one of the questions that the BBC has to be able to answer. How does it keep up with the new age? When you and I got home from school, we turn on and see what was on the box. I can't really remember three channels. I certainly grew up with four channels. Now I'm sure we go home and choose between Netflix and Amazon and BBC iPlayer. Kids are looking at user generated content nutrients. They have to be able to...”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“You represent now And I think that there's almost something sort of pejorative about saying that the suburbs, I'd say all parts of our United Kingdom. I think to be a genuine national institution, it does have to connect with all parts of the country. I think we saw that during, for example, the Brexit referendum. I say that as somebody that was a remainer, frankly, I misjudged where the country was on this. So I think it's important that they address that. I also think they should have a rigorous approach to impartiality. I think there's a huge opportunity for the BBC to be a genuine trusted, impartial broadcaster. And if they seize that opportunity, I think they can rebuild trust with the British people. But also, I think it's a tremendously powerful global brand as well.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, in broad terms I should start off by saying that I came as a conservative, I believe in institutions and I believe in the public service broadcasting and in the BBC as an institution. I do though think that there are a couple of pretty big problems with the BBC. I think that it has allowed itself not to represent the whole of the United Kingdom. So not to represent too much the views of people who live in Bristol, Manchester and say Hackney and not enough somebody living in a councillor state outside Newcastle or in Dudley or Aberdeen and I think that the BBC should be a national broadcaster reflecting all of those attitudes you mean.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“To express their anger at that kind of racism. And I respect that. But I'm not sort of getting into a judgment on this. If they wish to do that, I completely respect their decision to do that.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I mean, the first thing, as you know, I've said previously that I wouldn't personally take them. The reason why I don't think I should be taking them is I think people expect me as a politician to be dealing with the underlying problems. That's why I've had countless engagements and meetings with leading black football players and others. And frankly, I've been absolutely shocked and appalled by the kind of racist abuse that they're subject to, particularly on social media. First thing in the morning, last thing at night. That's why I'm determined through our online harms legislation to actually hold social media companies to account for dealing with this. And ultimately, if they fail to do so facing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue, I think that's the correct action for me. In terms of what individual football players want to do, I very much say live and let live. I understand, I genuinely understand that those players want to.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I suppose I could turn the assertion on its head and say, would it be authentic for me as an elected representative, as a member of the cabinet, to put aside my personal innate concerns about this and say actually... Don't want to have an argument on this. Let's say I think people elect politicians because they expect them to uphold principles and values. I've always been clear about those. I think those values certainly resonate with the constituents that I represent and many, many people in this country. I've actually been surprised since I've said some of these things about the wide spectrum of people that are broadly sympathetic to this approach.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think when you talk about the sanctions on, we're not the ones that without meaning to be sort of too. I'm not in the government minister, is not the person who is proposing to remove the statue. I'm the person that is raising an objection to it, which I think is”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, but those are things that have been in place for a long time. Why are those in place? Because it is important that we preserve heritage and we don't allow it to be subject to the immediate snap judgments of the day. We take a longer term view of it.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I mean, again, I think there is a danger that we get drawn too much into one example, but I understand in that example that the college decided not to remove the constraints that they're under are not things that I have.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, and I think that is a perfectly acceptable viewpoint, which, by the way, of course, I would subscribe to. Nobody is disputing the deep evil of slavery. But my argument would be that I think confident nations, rather than trying to pretend that thing didn't happen and take it away, we confront it, and we should be telling the story of these people. I have absolutely no objections to very clear signage saying that this person did these things and he also did these things and these were the terrible consequences for those people whose lives were Destroyed and had generational impacts from Savior, but surely the better thing to do is actually to embrace and engage with that history and use it as a way to learn from the past.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Short term decisions have long-term consequences. You only have to look at the landscape of a London or other major cities. Where was the most damage done? It wasn't done by the Luftwaffe bombers. It was done by the misplaced ideology of socialist planners after the war. And so I'd often say to institutions, I want to ensure that those are genuinely independent institutions that take a long-term view and don't get pushed around by a noisy minority.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“So, I think as an overwhelming disposition, we should have an exceptionally high bar for removing things. And I'll tell you why I think that is the case, because what I worry about is that...”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I'm not going to get into sort of running commentary on every single instance I'm saying as an example, isn't it, that there are a broader principle.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“It's very interesting you say that because it's who is they, so for example, I think it was policy exchange that did a poll chain that 84% of black Britons support retaining. They oppose the removal of statues. And this is what I worry about. I worry that there is a small minority of people who are running active aggressive political campaigns claiming that they speak for a wider community when they don't actually speak for a wider community. And all I'm saying.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Africa, the same regiment, it's that kind of rich diversity and history that I think is wonderful to draw it. And I certainly think about my education. And I think we kind of skipped from the Tudors to the Second World War, and that was all a bit much looking at, but maybe with a little bit of wolf in Quebec, but there wasn't a genuine sort of examination of our history.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, and I think back to your point about the sort of provoking a sort of war and woke or culture wars. I'm not the person that is encouraging a mob to tear down a statue. I'm not the person saying take this piece of heritage out of its place. And I will stand up against that because I think it is the right thing to do. But at the same time, the explain past, I think we have a tremendously rich and diverse history. And we should use these things to tell our history. For example, I was at the National Army Museum just at the beginning of this week, who in this country knows the story of the West Indian Regiment, which is actually a proper regiment of the British Army that was both recruited in the Caribbean to begin with. They bought slaves into this regiment. Years later, they were fighting slave traders.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, first of all, I should say I genuinely believe in equality of opportunity and I think that diverse societies are very strong societies. What I see as being the sort of the unacceptable face of woke, shall we put it that way, is that sort of really aggressively Campaigning on issues and virtue signaling and the whole cancel culture, which I just think is kind of alien to this country and it really saddens me if we are going to be in the situation where things that have brought so much joy and unity to our country are suddenly sort of propelled into aggressive political debate.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, first of all, I don't want to have a war. I certainly don't see it as a war. I suppose what I have done perhaps differently to my predecessor's culture secretary, I do take the culture part of my job title seriously. And I do think it's important to stand up when there is a small and vocal minority who purport to represent a wise. I believe are endowed by the British people. British people pay their taxes to conserve their heritage. Now that's not to preserve it in aspic. Of course we need to look at our past, but it is that sort of aggressive politicization, hyper-politicization in some cases, which as a sort of natural conservative, I look asconced at. And I've not been shy to call it out when I think that it's people have gone too far.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I've always viewed myself as a sort of one nation liberal conservative. I also think that, and maybe it's not so fashionable, I mean, everyone sort of comes on, not necessarily this show, but likes to say how I wanted to change the world. I think there's an awful lot of this country that is great. And I'm actually quite motivated by defending the sort of 80 plus percent, which is good. And I think we often overlook that. And I actually think each of those people are, in essence, one nation conservatives as well. Of course, we came to it from different backgrounds, but I think there is a common thread of a love of country, but also a basic sort of liberal tolerance. And that is, for me, the wonderful thing about the conservative party in conservatism is that we both have this sort of sense of aspiration getting on.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I think the expenses scandal was a profound moment in British politics, and of course, you, Nick, you're covering it a lot. And I think it did a real impact in terms of trust on politics. I actually smile and laugh about it now. I think it was a very, very difficult period for everyone involved, myself included. I didn't like the fact that politicians that I knew and Respected, many of whom did end up being introduced in a way I think perhaps if we look back with hindsight wasn't entirely fair on them.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, this was at the height of the expenses scandal, and I was dealing with a lot of this as it came in, and I would have to sort of come and tell him what was going to come in the news the next day. And he used to say to me, you're the undertaker, so you should have the black hat and coat on because you're telling me about the latest things that are going to appear in the telegraph tomorrow morning.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“The olive story was when I was working in the Conservative Research Department and we sent out, this was during an election camp, I think it was in the run-up to the 2005 election campaign, and we asked for election literature to be sent. And the person sending it, rather than saying, please send literature to Oliver Dowden at the Conservative Party missed the R off. So I got lots of letters saying, Dear Miss Dowden, please find enclosed, and it stuck from there on.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, I was very impressed by all of them, and I think they have tremendous abilities, which has subsequently proved to be the case.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well yes, there were occasions when we were preparing Michael Halb for Prime Minister's questions. They had just entered Parliament, so George Osborne, David Cameron and Boris Johnson. And yes, all three of them did help him at one stage. With a better joke team.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes, it's been a huge privilege. I think I sometimes discuss this with George Osborne. We're competing with one another who actually spent longer preparing. I still prepare Boris Johnson for Prime Minister's questions. And it's a huge privilege to have done it. And I've enjoyed it immensely.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Wonderful. And against all the odds at every stage, by the way, you know, in a sort of very male dominated society and so on.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, certainly, going back to grandparents, the dad's mum, my nan, the moment Mrs. T came on the telly, that was it. Switch it off that expletive woman. My other mum was sort of, most children have bedtime stories from their grandparents. She sat on the end of my bed saying how this country was going to the dogs in the sort of a few years ago in the 70s. Margaret Thatcher restored our pride in nation. I'm sure that sort of germinated a bit of my concern. But it was, I also think, and I know many politicians of my generation have this view of Margaret Thatcher, but I really did relate to the Margaret Thatcher life story and story of working hard and getting on in life. And that certainly is a strong part of my conservative beliefs. That sense of aspiration.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“No, I don't think I did. I think. If you sort of get into the sort of detail of it, I think my dad probably definitely saw himself as working class and certainly his parents very much did. My mom was always very sort of aspirational for us. She was the one encouraging me and my two sisters to work hard and do well and get on in life. So she definitely wasn't from the, you know, your working class, you know your place in life sort of stick to it.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Well, there wasn't a picture of the queen hanging out our three bedroom family home. I didn't think there was much room for it there. I always love watching the last night of the problems. I used to watch it with my gran. And I'm sure I got some of that love of history from her as well. So we weren't a political family in any way. We were ordinary in the sort of normal sense of the word it's not in any way extraordinary perhaps apart from being in Westminster. I went to my local state school. I came for a very loving family and had a perfectly, what I say, normal upbringing.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“I think most people in this country feel a pride in both those things and want to see them flown over government buildings. And I don't think there's anything wrong in that. I think there is something good about that. But of course, in this country, we don't sort of wear it on our sleeve. But I think that flying flags over government buildings is just quite a nice thing to do. I think it sort of, I think a building looks nicer with a union jack flag flying over it. And I think it instills that sort of sense of pride. It's not really designed as a sort of active political statement. And I think that's part of British patriotism. It's a sort of innate thing. It's not something we shout about.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yeah, and I would say to those people I just advise them to get in a car or on a train and get a few miles from SW1 and urban centres and see that I think those are the values that most people have in this country. They have a pride in this country. They have a pride in the Union Jack. They have a pride in the Queen and a pride in the nation. And it's not being done as an affectation. It's a perfectly natural thing. And I think most people, me included, look asconced people that say that that could be an affectation.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“Yes. Well, I had, if you want to go to the intercine of it, I did see what John said. I put Queen Victoria in my office when I was in Downing Street when I became a minister long before actually it became a fashion. I had a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen put in my office”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source
“John the Hayes is not allegedly a friend of mine. He's most definitely a friend of mine. Yes, we're very fortunate with the government art collection that there is some very good historical art and is often not the sort of thing that people immediately reach for. So yes, I did install a painting of our current queen.”
2021-06-25 · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · The Oliver Dowden One · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT · source