Trevor Phillips had his patience tested on Sky News this Sunday during an awkward exchange with Victoria Atkins, the Tory shadow minister for Environment and Rural Affairs. What began as a simple yes-or-no question turned into a masterclass in political evasion, leaving Phillips—and likely the audience—frustrated and bemused.
Yes or No? Not in Atkins’ Playbook
Phillips asked Atkins a straightforward question: would the proposed Conservative cap on migration include seasonal workers, such as fruit pickers vital to British agriculture? A question with two possible answers. But Atkins apparently saw an entire menu of options and decided to sample them all—except for the one Phillips wanted.
A Scenic Route of Irrelevance
Instead of addressing the question, Atkins detoured into discussions about unrelated topics. She lamented the National Insurance hike and its impact on cash-strapped farms, threw in some digs at Labour’s budget, and brought up inheritance tax changes on farmland.
“The National Insurance hike is going to cause cash-poor farms to struggle to employ people,” she declared. “This budget was a nightmare for them. On Wednesday, we are forcing the government to the despatch box to see if they will stand up for our farmers.”
All valid points about farming struggles, perhaps, but none of them answered whether fruit pickers would be exempt from migration caps.
Phillips Has Had Enough
After several attempts to steer Atkins back to the original question, Phillips couldn’t hide his frustration. “That was a spectacular attempt to avoid the question,” he said bluntly. Atkins, undeterred, kept dancing around the issue.
“We want to have a conversation about this,” she said. “The measures will be fair. We will formulate this policy and the details in the coming months. Kemi Badenoch will set out our principles on this matter. This budget shows how little Labour understands about the countryside.”
Cue another round of dodging.
Trevor Calls a Truce
After five tries, Phillips admitted defeat, concluding that the opposition party “was still working it out.” His exasperation was evident, and the segment ended with no clearer understanding of the Tories’ migration policy—but plenty of evidence that Atkins had mastered the art of deflection.
A Lesson in Evasion
Atkins’ performance may not have answered the question, but it certainly showcased her skill in avoiding it. For viewers hoping for clarity on Conservative plans, it was a lesson in frustration. For Phillips, it was a test of endurance. And for Atkins? Well, it seems she’s sticking to the long way round.
You may also like: WATCH: Ian Hislop skewers Kemi Badenoch’s petition hypocrisy on Have I Got News For You
