Shadowing Practice: Yes, Prime Minister - The need to know - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Hello.
2
So, I gather you denied that Mr. Halifax's phone had been bugged.
3
Well, obviously.
4
It was the one question today to which I could give a clear, simple, straightforward, honest answer.
5
Yes.
6
Unfortunately, although the answer was indeed clear, simple and straightforward, there is some difficulty in justifiably assigning to it the fourth of the epithets you applied to the statement,
7
inasmuch as the precise correlation between the information you communicated And the facts, insofar as they can be determined and demonstrated,
8
is such as to cause epistemological problems
9
of sufficient magnitude as to lay upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language
10
a heavier burden than they can reasonably be expected to bear.
11
Epistemological?
12
What are you talking about?
13
You told a lie.
14
A lie?
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A lie.
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What do you mean, a lie?
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I mean you.. lied.
18
Yes, I know this is a difficult concept to get across to a politician.
19
You were...
20
I'm sorry.
21
Ah, yes, you did love to tell the truth.
22
You mean, we are bugging you Halifax's telephone?
23
We were.
24
We were?
25
When did we stop?
26
Um, 17 minutes ago.
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Well, you can't call that lying.
28
What would you call the opposite of telling the truth?
29
Well, I mean, there was no intent.
30
I didn't mean to deceive them.
31
I'd never knowingly mislead the house.
32
Nonetheless, you have done so.
33
Well, it wasn't my fault.
34
I didn't know he was being bugged.
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Mr. You are deemed to have known you are ultimately responsible.
36
Why wasn't I told?
37
The Home Secretary might not have felt the need to inform you.
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Why?
39
Perhaps he didn't know either.
40
Or perhaps he'd been advised that you did not need to know.
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Well, I did need to know.
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Apparently the fact that you needed to know was not known at the time
43
that the now known need to know was known.
44
And therefore those that needed to advise and inform the Home Secretary perhaps felt
45
that the information
46
that he needed as to whether to inform the highest authority the highest authority of the known information was not yet known.
47
And therefore there was no authority for the authority to be informed
48
because the need to know was not at that time known or needed.
49
What?
50
We did not know that you would deny it in the House.
51
Well, obviously I would if I didn't know and I were asked.
52
We did not know that you would be asked when you didn't know.
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There's bound to be asked when I didn't know if I didn't know.
54
What?
55
It was thought that it was better not to inform you.
56
You see, Hugh Halifax is one of your government team and as such, it was thought that it was better not to create distrust.
57
We only tell you when you should be aware.
58
When's that?
59
You should now be aware because you've just denied it.
60
Well, it would be rather more helpful if I'd been aware before I denied it.
61
On the contrary, Prime Minister, if you had been aware before you denied it, you wouldn't have denied it.
62
But I needed to know.
63
We do not always tell you about bugging when you need to know.
64
You see, at times, Prime Minister, we need you not to know.
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Why did you decide that I didn't need to know?
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I didn't.
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Well, who did?
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Nobody.
69
It was just that nobody decided to tell you.
70
Well, it's the same thing.
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On the contrary, Prime Minister, to decide to conceal information from you is a heavy burden for any official to shoulder,
72
but to decide not to reveal information to you is routine procedure.
73
Humphrey, I need to know everything.
74
Everything?
75
Everything.
76
Very well.
77
Stationary deliveries this week to the Commonwealth system.
78
Four dozen brackets of size two-paces.
79
Humphrey, don't be silly.
80
I mean important things.
81
Who should decide what is important?
82
Humphrey, how can you possibly defend this cock-up?
83
Well, as you said in the House, we got it wrong.
84
You got it wrong?
85
I, Prime Minister, I am merely a humble servant, a lowly official.
86
The Home Secretary made the decision.
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Can you think of any reason why I shouldn't ask him to resign?
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With respect, Prime Minister, you should only ask him to resign
89
when he has made a mistake which could have been seen at the time and not with the benefit of hindsight.
90
But you see, the trouble today has arisen because of your own error of judgment in making this denial.
91
What?
92
You should not have denied something about which you did not know.
93
That was your fault.
94
You've just admitted keeping secrets from the Prime Minister.
95
Not at all, Prime Minister.
96
The system works perfectly well as long as the Prime Minister tells the civil service everything
97
that he's going to say before he says it.
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But if precipitately he says something without first clearing it with his officials, he has only himself to blame, you must not say anything in public without first clearing it.
99
With respect, Prime Minister, you must learn discretion.
100
I didn't know there was anything to be discreet about.
101
In government, there's always something to be discreet about.
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Understanding the Dialogue: A Window into Political Communication
The video features a tense exchange between a politician and an advisor, highlighting how language can be used to obscure or clarify truth in high-stakes contexts. The conversation is rich with nuanced phrasing and formal vocabulary, making it an excellent resource for english speaking practice—especially for learners aiming to master complex communication.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "inasmuch as": Used to explain a condition or limitation (e.g., "I’ll help, inasmuch as I have time").
- "deemed to have known": A formal way to say someone is considered responsible for information (e.g., "Managers are deemed to have known about workplace policies").
- "ultimately responsible": Indicates final accountability (e.g., "The team leader is ultimately responsible for the project’s success").
- "knowingly mislead": To intentionally give false information (e.g., "She denied knowingly misleading the group").
- "need to know": Information someone must have to perform a task (e.g., "Only staff with a need to know will access the files").
Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video
Shadowing—repeating speech immediately after the speaker—is a powerful technique for improving fluency. Here’s how to use the video for shadowspeak practice:
- Break it down: The dialogue is fast and formal. Pause after 5-10 second clips to mimic the rhythm and intonation. Focus on stressing key words like "epistemological" or "authority."
- Emulate tone: Notice the advisor’s calm, precise delivery versus the politician’s frustration. Practice matching these tones to convey emotion accurately.
- Use a shadowing app: Record yourself and compare it to the video. Apps can help identify gaps in pronunciation or pacing.
- Learn from context: Many phrases (e.g., "need to know") are used idiomatically. Analyze how they fit the conversation to deepen your understanding.
- Repeat daily: Even 10 minutes of shadowing this video will boost your ability to handle complex sentences in real-life conversations.
By working with this dialogue, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also learn to communicate with clarity and confidence—essential skills for learn english with videos and beyond.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | had been bugged · was indeed · can be determined |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have done · you've just denied · has made |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.