PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: I… I… was not entitled to instruct Derek Lewis, and I did not instruct him.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: The truth of the matter is that Mr Marriot was not suspended. I–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: –did not… overrule Derek Lewis.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: I took advice on what I could or could not do–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him Mr Howard ?
HOWARD: –and I acted scrupulously in accordance with that advice, I did not overrule Derek Lewis–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: Mr Marriot was not suspended.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: [pauses]. I have accounted for my decision to dismiss Derek Lewis–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: in great detail, before the House of Commons–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] I note that you’re not answering the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: Well, the important aspect of this which is very clear to bear in mind–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] I’m sorry, I’m going to be frightfully rude, I’m sorry, but it’s a straight yes or no question which requires a straight yes or no answer. Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: I discussed this matter with Derek Lewis. I gave him the benefit of my opinion. I gave him the benefit of my opinion in strong language. But I did not instruct him because I was not entitled to instruct him, I was entitled to express my opinion, and that is what I did.
PAXMAN: With respect, that is not answering the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: It’s dealing with the relevant point, which is what I was entitled to do and what I was not entitled to do, and I have dealt in detail with this before the House of Commons and before the Select Committee.
PAXMAN: With respect, you haven’t answered the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: Well you see– the question is what was I entitled to do and what was I not entitled to do. I was not entitled to instruct him, and I did not do that.
PAXMAN: Uh... we’ll leave that aspect there.
HOWARD: I… I… was not entitled to instruct Derek Lewis, and I did not instruct him.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: The truth of the matter is that Mr Marriot was not suspended. I–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: –did not… overrule Derek Lewis.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: I took advice on what I could or could not do–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him Mr Howard ?
HOWARD: –and I acted scrupulously in accordance with that advice, I did not overrule Derek Lewis–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: Mr Marriot was not suspended.
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: [pauses]. I have accounted for my decision to dismiss Derek Lewis–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: in great detail, before the House of Commons–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] I note that you’re not answering the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: Well, the important aspect of this which is very clear to bear in mind–
PAXMAN: [Interrupting] I’m sorry, I’m going to be frightfully rude, I’m sorry, but it’s a straight yes or no question which requires a straight yes or no answer. Did you threaten to overrule him ?
HOWARD: I discussed this matter with Derek Lewis. I gave him the benefit of my opinion. I gave him the benefit of my opinion in strong language. But I did not instruct him because I was not entitled to instruct him, I was entitled to express my opinion, and that is what I did.
PAXMAN: With respect, that is not answering the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: It’s dealing with the relevant point, which is what I was entitled to do and what I was not entitled to do, and I have dealt in detail with this before the House of Commons and before the Select Committee.
PAXMAN: With respect, you haven’t answered the question of whether you threatened to overrule him.
HOWARD: Well you see– the question is what was I entitled to do and what was I not entitled to do. I was not entitled to instruct him, and I did not do that.
PAXMAN: Uh... we’ll leave that aspect there.
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