John Simpson talks of the 'friendly fire' that killed a colleague

On Sunday May 11, Sir David talked to Air Marshal Brian Burridge, commander of the British forces in the Gulf conflict and to the BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson.

He also interviewed David Ellery, the football referee, he discussed executive remuneration with John Edmonds, General Secretary of the GMB Union and the retired business executive Sir Desmond Pitcher and he interviewed the former leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague.

The Sunday newspapers were reviewed by the journalist and broadcaster Jane Moore and by the former Conservative cabinet minister David Mellor.

William Hague told Sir David that he has no ambition to reclaim the Conservative leadership in the next few years - though he did not rule out a second turn in the party's top job at some point. He argued that his successor Iain Duncn Smith was "doing the right things", and had recorded encouraging results in last week's local elections.

He said:He said "I don't think it will be an attractive scenario in a few years' time. I mean, ask me what I will be doing in 20 years' time, I don't know, and I won't rule anything out, who knows what will happen in politics decades ahead."

In a separate interview the current Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith came under fierce attack from David Mellor. He said his disillusionment with the Conservative Party was such that he had allowed his membership to lapse.

He said: "Iain Duncan Smith is devoid of any real personal distinction whatsoever and that is obvious to the public. I have not ever met a single person who has been really prepared to say to me that Iain Duncan Smith has got the calibre to be Prime Minister except those who have to say so because they are playing for the team.

"The decision of the Tories to select Iain Duncan Smith was a sign that they are becoming a small group talking to themselves, not wanting to communicate with the wider nation.

"I have actually ceased to be a member of the Conservative Party. It didn't seem worth renewing the membership."

Air Marshal Burridge told Sir David that he thought the campaign fought by the Coalition was 'spectacular'.

He said:"It was a spectacular piece of armoured manoevre, that division had been in contact with the enemy on and off for 21 days, by the time they reached Baghdad, which is absolutely outstanding."

---

Send us your comments:

Name:


Your E-mail address:


Country:


Comments:

Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.