Has the Left Stopped Thinking?

On 26th March 2008, to mark the announcement of the 2008 Shortlists, the Orwell Prize held a debate (sponsored by Reuters) entitled 'Has the Left Stopped Thinking?'. 

• Watch the shortlist announcement
• Visit our YouTube Channel

The panellists were Matthew Parris (former Conservative MP, Times columnist and former Orwell Prize winner), Jean Seaton (Director of the Orwell Prize, Professor of Media History at the University of Westminster), Greg Clark MP (Conservative, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister), Dr Denis MacShane MP (Labour, former Europe Minister), Peter Hitchens (columnist, The Mail on Sunday) and Will Hutton (chief executive of the Work Foundation, and Observer columnist and former editor). The debate was chaired by Sean Maguire (Editor – Political and General News, Reuters).

The event was filmed by Jack Lancaster (jack_inthebox@hotmail.com), and edited by Jack Lancaster and Amy Downes (amydownes84@hotmail.com). Further editing by Gavin Freeguard (gavin.freeguard@mediastandardstrust.org).

Part 1 - Introduction and Matthew Parris

Part 2 - Jean Seaton

Part 3 - Greg Clark MP

Part 4 - Dr Denis MacShane MP

Part 5 - Peter Hitchens

Part 6 - Will Hutton (1/2)

Part 7 - Will Hutton (2/2)

Part 8 - Debate