Should Cameron Bottle The TV Election Debates 2015? Clegg & Miliband Seem Up For It

DecentLivingWage

Rumours going around that David Cameron is nervous of debating the Cons record so far - so is going to change the format! Can't quite believe it as it would look bad for him to be a cowardy custard cameron, but I think his idea is to change the rules so that each leader just gives a speech instead! Has anyone else heard anything? Not having that - I've already got the pizzas, lagers and pocorn booked for a good argy-bargy night!

lvader

What he actually said...

"I think TV debates are good. I enjoyed them last time – particularly the last one," he said.

"We have a fixed-term parliament now, so we can think about it in a slightly different way. I haven't made my mind up exactly what we should do but I am in favour of these debates.

"My reflection on last time was that they did take all the life out of the campaign.

"The press and all of us were interested in the runup to the debate, the debate and the post-debate analysis, not the rest of the campaign, which I really enjoy.

"I like campaigning, I like being out there, the public meetings, the awkward moments, the difficulties – it is an incredibly exciting time, trying to explain what you are about and what you are trying to do.

"I found the TV debates took all the life out of it."

DecentLivingWage

Wasn't he a PR man for TV before? Slippery!

lvader

I don't think he has anything to worry about while Ed is head of Labour, especially in a TV debate. The nose op hasn't really helped.

Generali

A political truism is that these debates are far more helpful to challengers than incumbents. Incumbents have a platform due to having power and their policies are widely known already.

DecentLivingWage

Cameron's Conservative campaign team disagrees with you:


The Financial Times is saying Cameron accused of being “chicken” and jeered by Labour when saying he might refuse to participate in the TV debates in the last stretch of the election campaign of 2015.
Dave's lukewarm efforts in the first TVleaders debates in 2010 sparked a storm among the Con campaign directors over his judgement in accepting the invite in the first place - perhaps it cost him the majority they all craved.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7c9a41a8-42dd-11e2-a3d2-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2EgYiXANb
'

Fella

I think he'd love a showdown between him & Miliband. He eats Miliband for breakfast in PMQS.

The problem is that with Clegg there as well he'd be in the impossible position of having to defend against both the opposition and the (supposed) partner. Could easily be a disaster.

BertieUK

Could someone enlighten me as to what is a fixed-term parliament and why was it brought about in the first place and what are the negative / positive issues involved.

thanks...

DecentLivingWage

Fella wrote: »

I think he'd love a showdown between him & Miliband. He eats Miliband for breakfast in PMQS.

The problem is that with Clegg there as well he'd be in the impossible position of having to defend against both the opposition and the (supposed) partner. Could easily be a disaster.

Do you mean the PMQs where Ed Miliband made 'toast' out of him instead of Cowardy Custard Cameron lol ? Cracker that ! :T

Masomnia

Unfortunately Ed can't answer return questions at PMQs.

So maybe we'll eventually get an answer about which cuts will be reversed, whether they will reinstate the 50p rate and so on... Unless Labour get their act together they could have a lot to lose.

DecentLivingWage

Masomnia wrote: »

Unfortunately Ed can't answer return questions at PMQs.

So maybe we'll eventually get an answer about which cuts will be reversed, whether they will reinstate the 50p rate and so on... Unless Labour get their act together they could have a lot to lose.

Cameron obviously doesn't agree with you -otherwise he'd be gagging to get into a debate with Ed M , not trying to weasel out of it! Knows Ed will catch him out...