Newsnight

Himself - Presenter:
Mr. Lewis says, "I, that is Mr. Lewis, told him what we had decided about Marriott, and why. He, that is you, exploded. Simply moving the governor was unpalatable; it sounded undecisive, it would be seen as a fudge. If I did not change my mind and suspend Marriott, he would have to consider overrulling me". You can't both be right.

Michael Howard:
Mr. Marriott was not suspended. I was entitled to express my views, I was entitled to be consulted.

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
I was not entitled to instruct Derek Lewis, and I did not instruct him... [Did you threaten to overrule him?]... and the truth. Look, the truth of the matter is Mr. Marriott was not suspended. I did not... [Did you threaten to overrule him?] I did not overrule Derek Lewis.

Himself - Presenter:
Did you *threaten* to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
I took advice on what I could and could not do, and I...

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him, Mr. Howard?

Michael Howard:
...acted strictly within that advice. I did not overrule Derek Lewis.

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
Mr. Marriott was not suspended.

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
I have accounted for my decision to dismiss Derek Lewis...

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
...in great detail before the House of Commons.

Himself - Presenter:
I note you're not answering the question, whether you threatened to overrule him.

Michael Howard:
Well the, the important aspect of this, which it's very clear to bare in mind...

Himself - Presenter:
I'm sorry, I'm going to be frightfully rude. It's a quite straight yes or no question with a straight yes or no answer.

Michael Howard:
Yes, you can put the question and I will give you an answer.

Himself - Presenter:
Did you threaten to overrule him?

Michael Howard:
[pause] I discussed this matter with Derek Lewis. I gave him the benefit of my opinion. I gave him the benefit of my opinion in strong language, but I did not instruct him, because I was not entitled to instruct him. I was entitled to express my opinion, and that is what I did.

Himself - Presenter:
With respect, that is not answering the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.

Michael Howard:
It's dealing with the relevant point, which is what I was entitled to do, and what I was not entitled to do. And I have dealt with this in detail before the House of Commons and before the Select Committee.

Himself - Presenter:
With respect, you haven't answered the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.

Michael Howard:
Well, you see, the question is what was I entitled to do and what was I not entitled to do. I was not entitled to instruct him, and I did not do that.

Himself - Presenter:
Right. Uh, we'll leave... we'll leave that aspect there, and move onto this question of your bid for leadership of the party.

: A great doesn't know that a chicken is not a toy. The first time mine grabbed a chicken, what I did, I did exactly what my daughter who read science at Cambridge told me to do. I ran into the garden and I bit his ear, because she said that's what his mother would do.