Barocci, Hugo Chávez, David Blunkett on compassion

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Since recent revelations surfaced about neglect and abuse at Stafford Hospital, nurses have been accused of lacking compassion. Night Waves explores whether re-focusing arguments on compassion inhibits a rational discourse of political issues. The MP David Blunkett, Nick Pearce Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, and Lecturer in International Relations and Radio 3 New Generation Thinker Adriana Sinclair, discuss the conflicts and contradictions that arise when compassion is used to inform political debate. As a new exhibition opens which assembles the greatest altarpieces of Federico Barocci, Sarah Dunant introduces the late 16th century Italian artist. As well as ruling Venezuela, Hugo Chávez directed, produced and starred in a weekly TV programme, 'Hello President' - which he used as a platform for his political agenda. Does this make him a new kind of politician, or is he just the latest in a long tradition of South American dictators? Rory Carroll was director of The Guardian's South America bureau in Caracus, he joins Philip to discuss his new book 'Comandante: Inside Hugo Chávez's Venezuela'. Produced by Ella-mai Robey.