Hi ******,
Thanks for getting in touch.
It is simply not true that the interview lasted an hour. I was in the minister's presence for less than half an hour; we were recording for around fifteen minutes. However, most of the recording time was devoted to the prepared statement that the minister wanted to read out. I think the Minister wanted to do this because she was uncomfortable being interviewed in English. However, her statement did not in any way address the two key issues.
Whether there is likely to be a housing crash.
Whether fifty year mortgages are desirable.
When I attempted to to ask these questions, her press officer stepped in and blocked me on each occasion. As such, the "interview" bit of the recording lasted barely a couple of minutes.
While I would like to be able to provide you with the raw footage, I have a problem.
(a) the cameraman who did the recording, Neil Drake is now working in Dubai. We cut the two antiestéticatures in his hotel room in Madrid, and he took the tape away with him.
(b) I'm fairly sure the BBC has a policy of never handing over the "rushes" (raw footage) of any story, to anyone, under any circumstances. This is because if you do it for one story it sets a precedent. I think a formal request would have to be made to the BBC's Editorial Policy unit.
I am in the office for the rest of the day, and then will be away for two weeks.
Do get in touch if you want to know more.
Alex Ritson.
