Nick Robinson 'irritated' by politicians providing 'oven-ready soundbites' instead of difficult answers

‘Today’ programme host says he craves being treated ‘like a grown-up’

Nick Robinson in the studio on his first day presenting BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He withdrew from his second day presenting the programme, raising concerns over his voice (PA)

Nick Robinson has urged politicians to be more open with the “uncomfortable truth” rather than relying on “oven-ready soundbites”.

The host of BBC’s Today programme admitted he sounded a “tad irritated” when ministers and their opposite numbers use phrases to “obfuscate” and “deflect”, and said interviewees should say the “three most truthful words in politics: I don’t know” when they are unsure of the answers.

Speaking after cabinet ministers returned to the Radio 4 show following a boycott, Mr Robinson, 56, said he craves being treated “like a grown-up” by guests, but that more and more politicians see interviews as a hostile environment.

“Sadly, a growing number on all sides now see broadcast interviews as something to be endured and survived,” the BBC’s former political editor told the Radio Times magazine.

“That’s why all too many interviewees sit in front of the microphone with pages of carefully typed and highlighted ‘lines to take’, whatever questions they’re asked.”

Mr Robinson said he was not a fan of interviews designed to elicit “gotcha moments”, but called for the “more uncomfortable truth” instead of politicians promising “world-beating” policies.

He told the magazine: “Whether it was the coronavirus app, the test-and-trace regime or buying millions of antibody tests, no one knew.

“No one could know because no one had tried these things before.”

On the exams fiasco, he said Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, should have started a “conversation with the public by pointing out that there was no trouble-free way to give grades to students who hadn’t sat exams” instead of delivering “oven-ready” soundbites.

Boris Johnson attracted comparisons to Donald Trump after he banned ministers from appearing on Today following his election win in December 2019.

Sarah Sands, the then-editor of the flagship programme, said at the time: “What’s happened is that you can see the government won a big majority.

“It sees Labour in disarray and it thinks it’s a pretty good time to put the foot on the windpipe of an independent broadcaster.

“So the strategy is quite Trumpian: to delegitimise the BBC.”

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was the first minister to appear on Today since the election in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Additional reporting by Press Association