Q& A: DEREK O’ BRIEN
Derek O’Brien, on his new book Inside Parliament: Views from the Front Row
Q. You made a career of asking kids difficult questions. Do you ever feel like a quizmaster asking questions inside Parliament?
To be a good quizmaster you need research, research, research. It’s the same in Parliament. But quizzing was yesterday, Parliament is today and tomorrow. I haven’t done a quiz in eight years.
Q. Is elocution important?
No. The two things you need to make a good speech in Parliament are research and conviction.
Q. Your new book is your 53rd publication! How many times do demonetisation and GST come up?
Well, it’s my first real book. It has 50 political essays; about 15 of them on the economy. Others include my take on the Opposition strategy for 2019 and why I think the BJP can be beaten.
Q. As a politician, have you grown fond of giving speeches? Do you have a favourite memory?
In Parliament my favourite was the one I made on demonetisation, because one year after you realise we got it right. And it was eyeball to eyeball with the PM— he was just six seats away.
Q. If you could quiz the PM today, what would be your top question?
We have many tough questions for the PM. But first let him come
# Inside Parliament, not shy away from it.
- with Kai Friese