Keith Macdougall

For 22 years a BBC Parliamentary journo, now an ex-BBC Parliamentary journo. All views my own.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

In my post-BBC life, I do talks about Parliament to school sixth-formers in Herts. & Bucks. I end with a ‘show of hands’ on lowering the voting age. In all 35 schools out of 35, keeping the age at 18 has won by very clear majority. Seen no evidence 16 & 17 yr olds want the vote.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@steverichards14 And isn’t the split-screen style worth mentioning also? Being able to watch the candidates’ instant reactions to claims and assertions gave added value. Kamala Harris’ highly expressive facial responses were compelling.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@redwards321 You can’t be too careful with butter dishes

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

https://t.co/AzvKmnDKKz via @BBCSport

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@Kevin_Maguire Surely Bone is not exactly fully ‘out’ … or at least not yet. Bone can stand as a candidate at the coming by-election. So he may be back.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@davidcornock Great work David.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@DArcyTiP So the sunset clause has finally happened. Make sure you smuggle out a few statutory instruments on your departure. Best of luck Mark

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@QueensburyAcad Good to come to Queensbury this morning. Great audience. Hope most people found something of interest.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

Remembering Rodders. Many wonderful & whacky Westminster stories exchanged in Essex today, as family and friends gathered at the funeral for former BBC reporter Rodney Foster, one of the finest of the 'old school' of political journos.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@JohnRentoul well, not quite. Andrea Leadsom argued Theresa May lacked full understanding of issues because she'd never brought up children; Ash Regan arguing best if top politician is not mother of young children.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@_Matthew_Price Enjoyed reading your train of thought Matthew. Best of luck with this latest chapter of your life. You'll do it well, I know.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@Peston @MelJStride @jessphillips @DavidDavisMP @joshwiddicombe To ask Curtice, isn’t it fair to say Keir Starmer needs virtually the biggest electoral swing in history just to have a small Commons majority in next Parliament ?

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@MichaelLCrick Had the great privilege of interviewing Sir David in Oxford four years ago for Radio4. At age 94 he was remarkable in way he recalled details from decades past. Mind fizzing with so many thoughts about politics. Wonderful guy.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

Not quite right to say Sunak-Truss are fighting over who gets ‘keys to 10Downing Street’. Apparently the building has no keys - only bolts on the inside. Just saying.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@anandMenon1 Think I’m right in saying Celtic did the ‘quadruple’ in 1967. So from perspective of Glaswegians there’s precious little new to see here.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

Wasn’t it 350 million a week for the NHS by leaving the EU ? Now it’s 350 a month for people taking in refugees. Just wondering. Does BoJo have a thing about 350 ?

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@rachelcbyrne @HouseofCommons Willing to be corrected , but wasn’t PMQs twice a week at 3.15pm Tuesdays & Thursdays in the 1980s and 90s? Blair created the single half-hour Weds. PMQs, 3pm start in 1997. That switched to 12noon start in 2001. Happy new year.

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

Thought Michael Gove was a QPR man. Why’s he supporting Chelsea ?

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

@MichaelLCrick Didn’t John Birt know everything about the Bashir\Diana interview before it went ahead ? He okay-ed the whole thing. Why nothing from him today ?

[Keith Macdougall @KeithMac71]

Debate raging outside Hertfordshire vaccination centre. How would Oliver Cromwell have dealt with #Covid-19 ?