Archive for April, 2010

« Older Entries

AIB Restructuring Speech Reveals Structure Deficit

Friday, April 30th, 2010
Dan O'Connor, Chairman AIB

Dan O'Connor, AIB Chairman

Leading a financial institution right now can’t be much fun, what with all the financial re-structuring. And the Allied Irish Banks EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), held on Wednesday in Dublin, proved no exception.

In the chair was Dan O’Connor; and it was his speech that got the proceedings underway. The speech was not unusual for the sector right now. Most Chairmen echo the same “mea culpa” words of Mr O’Connor.

This speech made clear just how wrong AIB had got its calculations leading up to the financial crisis of 2008.

Relatively short, his speech made a series of points about the bank’s re-structuring and the re-structuring of its debts.

In contrast to the re-structuring exercises, the speech itself lacked structure. Point followed point. Fact followed fact. And plans followed in quick succession. That was a pity because there was plenty of substance here;  substance that needed some coherent structure.

The sentences were too long…probably prepared for the written word and not considered as speech material. Editing would have worked wonders on them:

“We are also taking action to ensure we have both the pricing and lending structures in place that will enable us to successfully meet two of our key objectives – returning to profitability and supporting our customers through these difficult times.”

A sound technical Chairman’s speech, but an opportunity wasted for setting out a vision for the future of AIB.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Speeches | 5 Comments »

Alex Salmond’s Balancing Act

Friday, April 23rd, 2010
Alex Salmond Speech

Alex Salmond Launches SNP Manifesto, Election 2010

Alex Salmond launched the SNP’s election 2010 Manifesto in Glasgow this week with a comparatively quiet speech. Sharing the platform with colleagues John Mason and Nicola Sturgeon his introduction noted how the possibility of a hung Parliament had become a near probability.

This note then became a substantial theme for his speech. “Hung parliament” became “Balanced Parliament.” And a balanced Parliament meant opportunities for Scottish and Welsh Nationalists.

He built on this theme when he reminded his audience of the dangers of large Parliamentary majorities. Citing the examples of earlier Thatcher and Blair Parliamentary majorities he referred to their respective social wastelands and the Iraq war.

Working harder, he noted that a “Balanced Parliament” would be a “People’s Parliament.”

His speech was not bursting with the rhetorical devices of previous public events. But he neatly referenced his Spring Conference speech with asides about “Tweedledee,” “Tweedledum” and the “Tweedledems.” A topical touch.

His theme from that Spring Conference Speech, Rage Against the Machine, was also brought into play in this manifesto speech. The Westminster machine; a London-based system of politics that does the Scots no favours.

His biggest cheer came with his words on ceasing the Trident missile programme.

This was far from a barnstorming performance. Subdued, measured and short. Not dissimilar to the manifesto that he brandished.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Speeches | 3 Comments »

Brown Speech Looks To The Future

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

A better fairer Britain. That was the theme of Gordon Brown’s speech at the launch of the Labour Party’s 2010 election manifesto. Speaking at a nearly-commissioned NHS hospital in the Edgbaston constituency Gordon Brown outlined three fundamental questions that needed answers: the economy, public services and trust in politics.

These questions and his answers became the main structure of the speech.

Before a selected audience of Party stalwarts and most of the Cabinet, Gordon Brown read his prepared speech with little deviation. A few reading stumbles were easily overcome.

The theme of fairness was carried through the whole speech: 20 mentions of the word “fair.”

The speech made excellent use of repetition. The best example was in the second half of the speech:

“This is the Britain of our commitment and vision.

A Britain…

A Britain…

It’s a Britain…

It’s a Britain…

It’s a Britain…

A Britain…”

This use of repetition was combined at the close with a rhetorical questioning technique that worked well:

“Which is the party of the family…?

Which is the party of making work pay…?

Which is the party of the NHS…?

Which is the party of growth and jobs…?

And which is the party of political reform…?

The answer is New Labour – the party with the plan for the future.”

His speech made sensible use of position takers, without referring to other political parties. This one worked with a reference to the Edgbaston NHS hospital in which Gordon Brown was speaking:

“For for those who say…Look at what, together, we have built – we didn’t just fix the roof – we built the entire hospital.”

A good well-delivered speech. But sentence lengths have a habit of running away in a Gordon Brown speech. This one was no exception:

“And that’s why we must build a Britain where no unemployed person can have a life time on the dole, but will have to accept work and where those who come here contribute to our country – but those who can’t or won’t don’t come, a Britain where anti-social behaviour and crime are dealt with quickly, where those who break the rules pay the price; and where, if you don’t get action, you can take out an injunction at the authority’s expense to secure the justice you need.”

These passages mark him out from his contenders for office and also from his predecessor in number 10. Shorter sentences typically work better. They are easier to read. And an audience can grasp them more readily.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Speeches | 1 Comment »

Clegg’s Manifesto Speech: Fair Enough?

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Speaking at the launch of the Liberal Democrats manifesto Nick Clegg used his speech to outline his approach to a fairer Britain.

The speech was structurally sound. His introduction outlined his ideas for people to achieve their own potential without over interference. He labeled this “fairness.”

With this label he then laid out a four step plan. A plan, not a promise. Four steps that he described as, “specific, concrete, tangible.”

His speech made use of contrasts…a favourite device. For instance:

“Not to tell people how to live their lives.

But to make their choices possible.”

Speaking animatedly he made good use of his step structure, explaining each step as “fair.” And he finished the middle part of his speech with a series of forward looking contrasts:

“If we learn from the mistakes of the past and try something new…

We can turn anger into hope.

Frustration into ambition.

Recession into opportunity for everyone.”

His direct appeal to his audience came with a 3-part repetitive list of  “if you want” sentences:

“If you want practical help instead of empty words: this is a manifesto for you.

If you want a government that helps where it can and gets out of the way when it should: this is a manifesto for you.

If you want promises you can trust: this is a manifesto for you.”

His position taking finale reinforced the point that this was an election 2010 manifesto speech. No doubts:

“The two old parties have taught us to expect little from politicians and get less.

They have taught us to expect that elections are four weeks of being fobbed off with promises you know will be broken, and in the end you vote for the red team or the blue team, whichever you dislike the least.

Our manifesto says an emphatic No to that kind of politics.”

A well constructed speech that made good use of a simple 4-part structure. His audience was left in no doubt that his theme was “fairness.”

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Speeches | No Comments »

Cameron New Society Speech

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
David Cameron speech

David Cameron's Speech Launches 2010 Manifesto

David Cameron launched the Tory Party’s 2010 election manifesto yesterday at the less than inspiring, derelict Battersea power station. The assumption has to be that it was cheap and convenient. Much like the jibes that he threw at his contenders for electoral success.

His speech took the theme of the “New Society.” A theme that’s been developed over several years with speeches by Oliver Letwin and Iain Duncan Smith.

David Cameron’s inspiration is the new society but he’s not afraid to borrow from other societies. His use of “we can,” is distinctively attributed to President Obama’s successful election campaign of 2008:

“We can deal with our debts. We can mend our broken society. We can restore faith in our shattered political system.”

Thankfully he didn’t follow up with a “Yes, we can.”

He borrowed from the inauguration speech of President John Kennedy in 1961:

“As a great American President once said: ‘ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country’.”

Empire-builder Cecil Rhodes also got in on the act, though without an attribution:

“So much to do. So little time…”

Not dissimilar to many other leading politicians Mr Cameron favours the position taker as a rhetorical device. And he used these well at yesterday’s manifesto launch:

“Labour say the economy will collapse unless they keep on wasting your money.

We say: this jobs tax will kill the recovery.”

A clever use of the repetitive phrase, “Instead of…” was effective. Used five times in succession, it worked well. Here’s an example:

“Instead of the rules that stop teachers keeping order in the classroom…

…let’s give them the power to do it.”

So much to do, so little time to do it in. That’s the challenge for David Cameron’s Conservative party. This speech set out the scope for that challenge.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Speeches | No Comments »

« Older Entries