9 things we learned from Russell Brand's Newsnight interview

Has it really been almost a year since Russell Brand’s interview with Jeremy Paxman? Time flies when plotting the revolution.

Brand appeared on Newsnight again last night to have a chinwag with Paxman’s replacement, Evan Davis, about his new book, Revolution.

Here’s what we learned:

1. Brand is "open minded" to 9/11 conspiracy theories

He told Davis: “I think it is interesting at this time where we have so little trust in our political figures, where ordinary people have so little trust in their media, we have to remain open-minded to any kind of possibility

"Do you trust the American government? Do you trust the British government? What I do think is very interesting is the relationship that the Bush family have had for a long time with the bin Laden family.”

When Davis then later said: “But you’re not suggesting the Bush family were involved in the destruction on 9/11?” Brand replied, “I don’t want to talk about daft conspiracy theories here on Newsnight.”

2. He wants revolution, but doesn’t necessarily want to overthrow John Lewis

Brand’s main theme was that he wanted to use his status in the media to amplify the just causes of ordinary people and help overthrow capitalist structures. Does that mean the downfall of institutions like John Lewis, Davis asked? Not really, Brand replied:

“If there’s someone that has a campaign to overthrow John Lewis for some reason which I believe that is to a degree collectivised and gives its workers representative on the board, if someone wants that, then perhaps I will support them.”

3. He thinks there is anti-Islamic bias in the media

Responding to the recent shootings in Ottawa, Brand said, “What I do think is interesting is that the way that even the BBC reports events in Ottawa to subtly build an anti-Islamic narrative, I think that’s very interesting. I think it’s interesting the way these tragic events are used to enforce further controls on us.”

4. And he believes the BBC doesn’t represent ordinary people

“The BBC gives enough of a voice to conventional wisdom. I’m here to give a voice to ordinary people,” Brand said.

5. He also thinks the Hong Kong protestors have it better than those in London

When asked for his views on the democracy protests in Hong Kong, Brand said, “The protestors in Hong Kong are allowed sleeping bags under a Communist Chinese government and the protestors in Parliament Square right now can’t have tarpaulin, can’t have sleeping bags.”

6. Evan Davis is more tactile than Jeremy Paxman

Brand and Davis held hands for a brief yet lingering moment. “You’re much more tactile than the Jeremy geezer,” Brand quips. “He hated it when I touched his legs”.

7. We still don't know whether he will run for office

Brand managed to wriggle out of Davis’ question of whether he would run for office next year or beyond, suggesting that his energies were best spent elsewhere right now.

“I’m very happy to amplify the thousands, the millions of people that are dissatisfied with the current regime…I think my energies and efforts are best spent supporting people who are working very hard and doing great work in important issues like housing and having some control over their own work.”

8. He doesn’t like graphs

During the interview, Davis unveils a graphic depicting the historic change in UK real wages. Brand was having none of it.

“I don’t want to look at a graph, mate. I ain’t got time for a bloody graph….This is the kind of stuff that people like you use to confuse people like us.”

9. Or car companies

Brand suggested companies build cars that have a limited shelf life so that they can ensure long-term sales volumes.

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