Cameron and TV debates
-
frankthring
- Posts: 962
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Cameron and TV debates
Apparently David Cameron is willing to appear in only one TV election debate -
a one-on-one with Miliband. Otherwise he deigns to appear. Is this arrogant
of him ? What does the Team think ?
Re: Cameron and TV debates
From what I am aware it is a 1 off debate, with almost all the party leaders, apart from the DUP (I think).
It's a relatively clever strategy, in that if done it reduces the amount of noise time the other leaders will have, while he can trot out his economic plan spiel in the limited time that he has, along with them.
Milliband branding him a coward etc. is just a load of bollocks to hide his real concern of not getting enough time to give his thoughts out, like he would if it was a 1 v 1.
The negative which is looking like a better strategy, is Millibands game in calling out Call Me Dave but I suspect if Cameron does fall into the another u-turn trap, which he will if he finally caves in, he will sadly wipe the floor with most opponents in the same way he did at the last election.
It's a relatively clever strategy, in that if done it reduces the amount of noise time the other leaders will have, while he can trot out his economic plan spiel in the limited time that he has, along with them.
Milliband branding him a coward etc. is just a load of bollocks to hide his real concern of not getting enough time to give his thoughts out, like he would if it was a 1 v 1.
The negative which is looking like a better strategy, is Millibands game in calling out Call Me Dave but I suspect if Cameron does fall into the another u-turn trap, which he will if he finally caves in, he will sadly wipe the floor with most opponents in the same way he did at the last election.
-
David Johnson
- Posts: 7844
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Frank
Cameron is being arrogant and extremely hypocritical given in early 2010 as leader of the opposition he was twittering on about how crucial these TV debates were to the democratic process.
Having said that he is just following the line of Tony Blair in trying to avoid them. When Tony Blair was Prime Minister he refused to have TV debates on the grounds I suspect that he was ahead in the polls and had nothing to gain but everything to lose by attending them. Gordon Brown only agreed to the TV debates because he was way behind in the polls and desperate.
It is clear that Cameron wants to have as little involvement as possible in the debates because he is way ahead of Miliband in terms of who would be a better Prime Minister. So rather than have a one to one with Miliband he just wants to leave the Tory press to carry on character assassinating the Labour leader.
The 7 way debates will be a farce with a series of sound bite squabbles whilst Cameron tries to look prime ministerial.
I hope the broadcasters stick to their guns and go ahead with the three debates as planned even though the Tories will scream and scream and issue threats to the BBC in particular. The bottom line is that it is just like any political debate. The broadcasters want to debate a topic so they invite representatives from different parties. If the government does not provide anyone they tend to say "We asked the government to put someone forward to discuss this, but they said no one was available".
They don't stop the discussion simply because no one is available from the government and it should be the same here. If Cameron doesn't want to show up, which he doesn't, fair enough that is his prerogative. But that is no reason for not having the other leaders questioned about their policies.
Having said that he is just following the line of Tony Blair in trying to avoid them. When Tony Blair was Prime Minister he refused to have TV debates on the grounds I suspect that he was ahead in the polls and had nothing to gain but everything to lose by attending them. Gordon Brown only agreed to the TV debates because he was way behind in the polls and desperate.
It is clear that Cameron wants to have as little involvement as possible in the debates because he is way ahead of Miliband in terms of who would be a better Prime Minister. So rather than have a one to one with Miliband he just wants to leave the Tory press to carry on character assassinating the Labour leader.
The 7 way debates will be a farce with a series of sound bite squabbles whilst Cameron tries to look prime ministerial.
I hope the broadcasters stick to their guns and go ahead with the three debates as planned even though the Tories will scream and scream and issue threats to the BBC in particular. The bottom line is that it is just like any political debate. The broadcasters want to debate a topic so they invite representatives from different parties. If the government does not provide anyone they tend to say "We asked the government to put someone forward to discuss this, but they said no one was available".
They don't stop the discussion simply because no one is available from the government and it should be the same here. If Cameron doesn't want to show up, which he doesn't, fair enough that is his prerogative. But that is no reason for not having the other leaders questioned about their policies.
Re: Cameron and TV debates
Cameron will only do a mass debate..... always knew he was a wanker !
-
Arginald Valleywater
- Posts: 4288
- Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2017 2:40 am
Re: Frank
Why the fuss? We are talking about politics, not the X factor.....if Labour wanted to get viewers attention they should replace Millibland with Gloria de Piero in a see through blouse. Wouldn't get many votes but would liven up the dull as dishwater PR waffles from ALL parties.