5 great walk-outs

In honour of Her Majesty, here are five great British walk-outs.

1. John Nott walks out of his interview with Robin Day. In October 1982 while asking about cuts in defence expenditure, Robin Day posed the question: "But why should the public, on this issue, as regards the future of the Royal Navy, believe you, a transient, here-today and, if I may say so, gone-tomorrow politician, rather than a senior officer of many years?" John Nott promptly rose from his seat, removed his microphone, said "I'm sorry, I'm fed up with this interview. Really, it's ridiculous" and walked out. Nott's memoirs are called "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow".

2. Michael Heseltine walks out of the Cabinet. On 9 January 1986 another Defence Secretary walks out. This time Hezza left the Cabinet. His colleagues sat around for a while unsure what had happened. Had he resigned or merely gone to the toilet? After a while, they realised that he wasn't coming back.

3. Peter Mandelson walks out on Tony Blair. It is Saturday February 1995 in Brighton and Tony Blair is writing a speech with Alastair Campbell at his side. Mandelson arrives to discuss a photocall. But then a critical discussion of new Labour policy turned into an argument. Writes Campbell: "I was strongly of the view he should wear a shirt and tie, if not a suit. Peter M thought he should wear cords and an open-necked shirt". The two start rowing and Mandelson exclaims that he is sick of being rubbished and wants out. "Get out then and we can finish the speech," responded Campbell tactfully. Mandelson started to leave, then turned and threw a punch at Campbell. The latter grabbed Mandelson's lapels and the Leader of the Opposition moved to separate them. Mandelson lunged at Blair, and then, shouting "I hate this I'm going back to London", walked out. Later these people formed a Government together and Mr Mandelson was made a Secretary of State.

4. The Bee Gees walk out on Clive Anderson. October 30th 1998. Five minutes after saying "I think we're much more mature now", Maurice Gibb led his brothers in a walkout from the Clive Anderson chat show. He was irritated that when he told the host that the band used to be called "Les Tosseurs", Anderson replied "you'll always be Les Tosseurs to me".

5. Eric Heffer walks out of Neil Kinnock's conference speech. The Liverpool MP stormed off the platform and out of the party conference when his leader, Neil Kinnock turned on Militant and the Labour council in Liverpool. He didn't much like the Militant group ruling the city, but there was something he disliked more - Kinnock. A few years earlier, when right-wing Labour MP (later SDP) Tom McNally was arguing with Heffer, the hot-headed MP esclaimed "Come the revolution Tom, they'll shoot you." "Wrong," replied Tom. "Come the revolution, they'll shoot you Eric. I'll be sent to America to negotiate a loan." 

Comments

[michael]

But she didn't walk out. Apparently it was edited to look that way. Our media are chumps. Alistair Campbell has a point.

[Tom]

That goon from Big Brother, walking out of Simon Amstel-era Buzzcocks.

[arnoldo]

My recollection is that the Bee Gees walked out after this exchange;-
Anderson;-"When Robin Gibb left the group he had a big hit with "Saved By The Bell" didn't he?"
Barry Gibb (bristling): Yes but we had one with "Don't Forget to Remember Me" as well."
Anderson (mischievously) "Oh, I'd forgotten that one."

[Brit Twit]

Maybe british people have to stop being passive agressive twits and actually argue their point.

[Mandarin Orange]

I've had enough of this - I'm off to 'comment is free'

So, a non-story fiddled with and dressed up as truth by Auntie. The spirit of Blue Peter 'phone-ins lives on!

[Geoffrey Smith]

You've missed the best one - Michael Heseltine walking out of his interview with Jonathan Dimbleby.

[Sandy Finley]

The queen should be able to take advantage of free speech just like everyone else in the U.K. She is after all head of the U.K. I think its endearing to see her interact with people in such a sincere manner. Very human indeed.

[Carlyle Braden]

If I were the Queen, I would have walked out, too. She still may suffer temperature changes that plague some of us of a certain age. Asked the doc when they would finish, he said it could be never. It all depends on your body's own unique make up. It's been hot and close: those gowns etc. are heavy and hot. Several years back, the husband and I went to see "Murder in the Cathedral" in the basement of the Barbican. It was one of the hottest days of the year. The cast must have been wearing frozen long underwear beneath their heavy church vestments. The play is a bit of a snore and in the interval, I suggested we walk out. Husband wouldn't allow it: we stayed to see "the good bit" - the Murder and on until the bitter end! I walked out of "The usual Suspects" and got my money back. I wanted to walk out of "the Lord of the Rings". Husband would have followed had he known it was in 3 parts! We never bothered with the other 2, fantasy for "grown ups" not being our thing!

[Fergal Noone]

Come on the greatest of them all has to be Henry Kissenger walking out on Paxman.

[T. J. Cassidy]

In 1989 America's-Cup yachtsman Dennis Conner walked out of an interview with New Zealand telejournalist Paul Holmes after the latter asked insulting questions. Conner didn't huff or rage; he said, "thank you very much for having me on your show, and I wish you luck in the future."