A Clear Conscience | Yes, Prime Minister | BBC Comedy Greats

yes bennett have you got a left he has been uh i've got a problem yes bennett you know yes vernon ah because you've just told me bernie i mean uh do you know what my problem is your problem is bernard that you don't ever come to the point yes sorry well the prime minister has just had lunch with derek burnham the editor of yes i know he is bannon yes and the prime minister told him that the minutes of cabinet committee confirm that he didn't try to suppress chapter eight of the book and that he would publish them if necessary to prove that he didn't so what is your problem well uh the minutes aren't written yet i see what should i do write them dear banner yes well the problem is the prime minister did try to suppress the chapter didn't he i don't know did he didn't he don't you remember what i remember is irrelevant bernard if the minutes don't say that he did then he didn't so you want me to falsify the minutes i want nothing at the salt it's up to you bernard what do you want i want to have a clear conscience a clear conscience yes when did you acquire this taste for luxuries consciences are for politicians bernard we are humble functionaries whose duty it is to implement the commands of our democratically elected representatives how could we possibly be doing anything wrong if it has been commanded by those who represent the people well i can't accept that so humbly no man is an island i agree bernard no man is an island entire of itself and therefore never sinned to know for whom the bill tolls it tolls for the bernard so what do you suggest sam bernard the minutes do not record everything that was said at a meeting do they well no of course not and people change their minds during a meeting don't they well yes sir the actual meeting is a massive ingredients for you to choose from oh like cooking like no not like cooking better not to use that word in connection with books or minutes you choose from a jumble of ill-digested ideas aversion which represents the prime minister's views as he would on reflection have liked them to emerge but if it's not a true record the purpose of minutes is not to record events it is to protect people you do not take notes if the prime minister says something he did not mean to say particularly if it contradicts something he has said publicly you try to improve on what has been said to put it in a better order you are tactful but how do i justify that you are his servant oh yes a minute is a note for the records and a statement of action if any that was agreed upon now what happened at the meeting in question well the book was discussed and the solicitor general advised there were no legal grounds for suppressing it and did the prime minister accept what the solicitor general had said well he accepted the fact there were no legal grounds for suppression but he accepted the fact that there were no legal grounds for suppression museum oh is that a lie look can you write it in the minutes yes how's your conscience much better thank you you

Channel: BBC Comedy Greats

Views: 332,990

Keywords: bbc, bbc comedy greats, bbc comedy, comedy greats, british comedy, stand up, Sitcom, Comedian, Comic, Sketch show

Id: MF-Qnv2Srfs

Length: 4min 2sec (242 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 17 2022

Reddit Comments

[u/marinesciencedude]

Bernard is afflicted by his conscience, but a trip to the office of Sir Humphrey soon puts him at ease.