Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Natalie Bennett LBC interview: Green Party leader has received media training after 'excruciating' encounter with Nick Ferrari

Ms Bennett was stumped when Nick Ferrari asked her to explain the costing behind a Green Party housing policy

Kashmira Gander
Friday 06 March 2015 19:03 GMT
Comments
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has received media training following an "excruciating" interview
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has received media training following an "excruciating" interview (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett is receiving media training, following a car-crash interview with a London radio station which she has since admitted was “absolutely excruciating”.

Ms Bennett was left floundering during an interview with LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari, after he asked how her party planed to deliver on a pledge to build 500,000 more social rent homes in the UK if it was elected.

Mr Ferrari’s response left Ms Bennett stumped after he asked her “Good lord, where would you get the money for that?” even though she said the policy was “fully costed”.

The incident marked a bumpy start to the Green Party’s pre-election efforts, and came after a difficult interview on Radio 4’s Today programme, in which Ms Bennett appeared to suggest that the West had to let Russia’s Vladimir Putin “walk away with something” from Ukraine if the crisis was to be resolved.

Baroness Jenny Jones, a Green Party Member of the London Assembly, told LBC radio today that Ms Bennett is working on her interview technique ahead of the party’s Spring Conference, which will marker her first public appearance since the infamous interview.

She added that the party received offers of help from people who do media training after the show aired, which Ms Bennett had accepted.

The party did not want to appear like the “slick, glossy insincere politicians that you sometimes see”, she went on, but admitted the party needs to better understand what the media requires.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in