MT
I don't think it got off to a shaky start. In fact you were all very complimentary about our manifesto and the way in which we launched it. That was very, very good and then the way which we did our candidate's conference. We always start later because I have believed that it's not right to start until each of us has been adopted and I am never adopted until three weeks before.
Peter Murphy, IRN
There were accusations though that it was a lacklustre campaign?
MT
I think what you said is that the Labour Party's been slick and we've been sound and solid. I think perhaps it's better for a government in power to be sound and solid and positive in its presentation. Had I been packaged in a slick way you'd have been the first to say that this was the, because we hadn't got any policies we had to be packaged like some detergent. You weren't able to say that because we have concentrated on the policies.
Peter Murphy, IRN
Do you think though that you've got over an image of a caring party to the public? If you look at the opinion polls, they don't seem to accept that?
MT
Well, according to what you tell me, apparently we haven't. But you know the view that I take about this all my life: you don't care by saying you care, you don't care by talking about care and compassion. You care by doing and this government has a better record of actually caring in practice, uh &hellip honest policies, than any previous one then when it comes personally and I would be quite prepared to set my own record first in not taking my salary so that falls back into the Treasury, full salary, and then on the things which I personally do. Again we don't talk a lot about it, either Denis or me. But I'd be quite prepared to set my own personal record in caring beside that of anyone else. But you see my father taught me, don't talk about it, just get on and do it. And that's really how I expect other people to judge.
Peter Murphy, IRN
The opinion polls have put you firmly out in the lead consistently. Do you think you're going to win? [end p1]
MT
I hope and believe we shall win. I've always thought it very ironic for the ordinary elector when they hear each party saying, yes, yes, yes I'm absolutely confident we're going to win, and I just think it's a little bit arrogant to say that. I hope and believe we shall win, but no one can be sure until after the votes are counted and we know exactly where we are. And it's absolutely vital there that those who support us come out and vote.
Peter Murphy, IRN
If you are in a position as the largest party but you don't actually have an overall majority, would you be prepared to deal with others to stay in office?
MT
You always ask me this. I do not like coalition governments. What they usually mean is that sometimes … a minute party, for example, one of the Irish parties or one of the Welsh nationalist parties could in fact dominate the whole policy of a government by exacting a price for staying in a coalition. That makes for bad, indecisive government and it's very undemocratic.
Peter Murphy, IRN
But would you do it?
MT
No, I would not myself. If we're the largest party, I believe in going before the House of Commons with a programme because among those who did not vote for you would be many who would agree with a number of your policies and it would be advisable to get those through.
Peter Murphy, IRN
Have you enjoyed this campaign?
MT
You never enjoy a campaign actually while it's on because you know so much is at stake. You always enjoy certain parts about it, you enjoy the wonderful response you get from people, you enjoy meeting them. But there's always, um … a nervous aspect to it. I never lose that, however long I'm doing it, and there's always a feeling of am I doing justice to the cause in which I believe? Because it's that that matters more than oneself, and therefore there's always a worry. And so of course if you win you look back on it with enormous happiness, and if you lose then &hellip you wonder, is there anything I could have done better and you're worried about it because it's the cause you represent that matters more to you than anything else.
Peter Murphy, IRN
Do you want to go through it all again in another four or five years?
MT
Let's, let's get this one over first. Four or five years is quite a long time away. Many, many things can happen to … almost all of us in that time.