We can’t ignore his true mother tongue: Train-ese. The man speaks in signals, timetables, and steam engine numbers. He can tell you the exact gauge of a track in Bolivia while reciting a historical fact about the Spanish Civil War. That’s a skill, people.
Michael Portillo, Minister for Local Government, speaking during the
He also has a secret sixth language: Colour. Those jackets? They communicate “I’m here, I’m loud, I’m not sorry.” Fuchsia, canary yellow, electric blue. It’s a visual tongue only Michael Portillo understands. Yet somehow, we all understand it.
The Verdict: It’s More Than You Think
So, how many? The safe answer is four (English, Spanish, French, and conversational German). But I’d argue he’s a solid four-and-a-half. That half is the railway slang and the jacket colour spectrum.
Let’s be real: you could quiz him in a fifth language, and he’d probably say “Oh, I dabble in Italian” while casually reciting Dante. The man has a brain like a museum. It’s crowded, well-lit, and full of facts you forgot you needed.
