Peter Hitchens speaks to Ruth Wishart at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

That woman was a gem interviewer. Should be far more Scottish Grannies in such roles.

“The wars of democracies are much crueller (not speaking about doughnuts here, damn I love doughnuts!) than the wars of kings.” How true is that?! Peter’s perspective is so needed in this trigger happy age. What a great video.

To that old Scot in the audience. I love Britain too, but it doesn't mean I don't want to know everything. I want to see it, the good, warts and all. To love one's country doesn't mean that you ignore the injustices or the wrongs it has done. "Oh stop being negative" is such a redundant thing to say and it is fundamentally against the truth. I love Britain but truth must come first or else we're just being dishonest and what's that worth?

Yes...Peter H is getting to the truth. Today I ordered all his books from an original bookshop

When will he narrate an audiobook of great poetry?

I reckon the only person in that room who's ever actually been in a war-zone is The Scottish Grannie.

Refreshing take on official narrative. Thank-you, Peter.

My grandfather was from Keith (Cameron), and was an RSM stationed in London during the blitz. He would have wholeheartedly agreed with Mr. Hitchens...

As a german, I found this to be quite an interesting and nuanced talk. Stating some of Peter Hitchens' points in Germany is - ironic it might seem - highly frowned upon and you'll find yourself accused at least of revisionism if not being a right-wing extremist or even neonazi. This debate seems to be as difficult and heated to conduct in Germany as it is in Britain.

THE MAN SPEAKS THE TRUTH THANKS PETER

Never always agreed with him but Hitchens has gone up steeply in my estimation.

Always enjoy Peter Hitchens. 'The Abolition of Britain' was a great book.

"In fifteen years that have followed this resolve, he has succeeded in restoring Germany to the most powerful position in Europe, and not only has he restored the position of his country, but he has even, to a very great extent, reversed the results of The Great War. The vanquished are in the process of becoming the victors and the victors the vanquished. Whatever else might be thought about these exploits, they are certainly among the most remarkable in the whole history of the world." - Winston Churchill, 1935

I can come up with several, more or less minor, disagreements with Peter Hitchins 'The Phoney Victory' (2018) after reading it, but I differ with him on very few major points, especially as he specifically points out, in this interview at any rate, that the Royal Navy in WWII were the best, most successful and best led British Armed Force. The most important point is that Chamberlain knew Britain could not win a short war militarily, and could not afford a long war. Churchill, half American, did not think bankrupting Britain and making her dependent on on the USA, really mattered, FFS. It is well worth watching this interview. One point to make is that after WWI, while Britain did default on debts to the USA, France and Belgium and Italy, etc, did exactly the same thing to Britain after WWI.

Legend thinker/talker.

Amazing how often Polish and British contribution into starting WW2 is overlooked.

Great session, really loved it.

Peter Hitchens is a great moral force in the world. God bless.

Peter please stick around.

41:00 In defence to Lord Palmerstone. The UK had agreed to help Denmark in case of Prussia breaking the London protocol of 1852. However it was Denmark who broke the treaty by trying to incorporate Slesvig directly into their country, so public opinion in the UK was greatly against helping them, and it provided London with a perfectly valid excuse not to.