(Baroness Sureka has successfully returned to the inquiry, and Glenn Cullen is ready to give his testimony.)
Mr. Cullen. I wonder if I could start by taking you back to that time two years ago, you left Nicola Murray and you went to work for Fergus Williams.
Yes, yes I did, that's right.
And then you found yourself, um, in a coalition with the very party that you opposed. That must have been extremely distressing.
Uh, no, not at all, as a matter of fact. I-I was very invigorated by the idea of, uh, trying to forge a new way in politics.
Mmm-hmm, so all was rosy?
Well, um -- I can't think of any negatives.
No friction?
No, the only "F" word was "Fun."
Thank you, Mr. Cullen. Thank you.
Uh, Mr. Cullen, would you say there's a culture of leaking in the government?
Yes, I would. Yes, leaking and lying.
To your knowledge, have any of your colleagues lied to this inquiry?
Well, I mean, that's a bit like asking, you know, um -- "Does a cow drink milk?"
Does it?
Probably. But what I meant to say was, yes, um, my colleagues lie constantly. It's a...professional necessity.
Have you ever leaked, Mr. Cullen?
First of all, may I just say, uh, welcome back, Baroness Sureka. Big hugs. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that we're all thinking of you...
I'd rather you, um, swapped the ham-fisted flattery for actually answering my question, which was, "Have you ever leaked?"
Right. No, it's a very simple question and it's got a very simple answer. No, I haven't.
Um, you'll be aware of Ollie Reeder's testimony to the inquiry where he said that, uh, you were, in fact, responsible for the PFI leak.
Yes I am. (Glenn quickly corrects himself.) By which I mean to say I am aware of, of that. But gosh, you've got to be careful what you say here, haven't you?
You most certainly do, Mr. Cullen. Let's hope we're both up to it. Is there any truth at all to Mr. Reeder's accusations?
Absolutely none whatsoever. He's talking out of hi -- Out of his other cheeks, if you...
Why would Oliver Reeder suggest that you were behind the PFI email leak, then?
I've absolutely no idea. It's very difficult for me to get into the mindset of somebody so entirely self-serving and, um...spiritually ugly. I mean, anyone who's been unfortunate enough to have come across Ollie Reeder will know that he is a genuinely...atrocious person.
Do you believe Mr. Reeder was trying to cover himself, in that case?
Well, I do believe he has the emotional tools for the task. Yes, certainly.
Do you believe that Ollie Reeder was behind the leak?
(after a long pause...) No. You see...a-a leak of this magnitude would require one essential item that Ollie lacks. And that's a spine. He is a man without a spine. He is a man-worm. He's a writhing mollusk without any strategies or convictions. He-he simply slimes his way into the nearest crack every night, and I would like to put on record that I apologize to this committee for being the man who brought him into the world of politics.
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