A WALTHAM FOREST councillor and parliamentary candidate has become an internet sensation – but for all the wrong reasons.
Cllr Naz Sarkar, who represents Hoe Street ward, has been selected to try and win the seat of Reading West for Labour at the next general election.
But in a stuttering interview for Radio Berkshire, DJ Andrew Peach tests Cllr Sarkar on his local knowledge - and the secondary school teacher fails miserably.
The IDR is a well-known road in Reading but when Cllr Sarkar is asked what the letters stand for, he begins to struggle.
He obviously does not know and attempts to deflect the question by talking about Tory spending cuts.
But Mr Peach does not let up and Cllr Sarkar is made to repeat the words “Inner Distribution Road” after the DJ tells him the correct answer.
An audio clip of the interview has been added to Youtube, and has received thousands of views.
Political blogger Iain Dale described Cllr Sarkar's performance as “the most hapless political interview of the year', while another blog site, playpolitical.com said Cllr Sarkar has been “humiliated.”
Times columnist Oliver Kamm said: “It's excruciating. Sarkar has no idea how to talk on radio.”
But another contributor, named Gustavus, said: “He wasn't that bad, interviewer sounds like the kind of sniggering twit you'd expect to be employed by the BBC.”
The Radio Berkshire interview is not the first time Cllr Sarkar has made an embarrassing mistake.
Two years ago he was criticised after he asked activists for money, lifts and help with his campaign to become Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow.
The mistake is believed to have contributed to a decision to axe him from his post as cabinet member for the arts.
He was also widely criticised for his handling of a decision to cut staff and opening hours at the world-famous William Morris Gallery.
Cllr Sarkar was not available for comment.
Listen to the clip by visiting www.youtube.com and entering Naz Sarkar in the search box.
A TRANSCRIPT OF A SECTION OF THE INTERVIEW
Andrew Peach: What do you know about Reading?
NS: Well I know a lot after, you know, contesting this difficult selection I've got very strong local links, I teach in Denefield the local school I'm a GCSE maths teacher there.
Erm so erm, you know, it is all full steam ahead and I very look, looking forward to contesting the next general election.
AP: I am not disputing that you have got local connections and stuff but no doubt when the election comes you will be putting around leaflets telling us how much you know about the town and how you've always loved it and all of that so what does IDR stand for?
NS: (pause) Well it is the transport road around the...around the...
AP: Yeah but it stands for something, IDR?
NS: Well I think the most important thing is that we think about the issues to do with the election.
AP (sniggering) That is a nice stab at being a politician, I'll give you one last go, you can probably work it out..
NS: Well its the road link around Reading, I know that much, I mean that's the important thing to know isn't it really?
AP: I will give you this one for nothing then, Inner Distribution Road,
NS: Fine, so its a road!
AP: Inner.., say it back to me
NS: Inner Distribution Road, well that's you know the issue is around the IDR, but the other issue towards this general election is the 10 per cent Tory cuts that I thought you would be interested in talking about...
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