i wrote for a number of different politicians — gordon brown, harriet harman, ed miliband.k the mistake that sometimes politicians make is you get a text message from a senior politician going, "can you text me a joke immediately?", that they can just crowbar into their speech. it has to sound like it's something they would say. it has to sound authentic, notjust of their voice, but to their character and to their politics and, also, there has to be a truth behind it. you are not a stand—up comedian in politics, you are notjust standing up making random surreal odd jokes, you are trying to make a political point or score a political win, so i think the bestjokes in politics have got a real sting of truth, so people are laughing because the joke is funny, but it's funny because they think, "yeah, that is on the money with what is happening". you have written for very different politicians. why is it that some politicians can carry it off and others are sarah teather? poor sarah! i have to say, i am very supportive of women in comedy, but even i was, like, "aargh, make it sto