Quote ="Him"I don't particularly care whether there are tv debates or not to be honest however here's what I think about the whole thing:
- there has to be some kind of reasoning behind who/which parties are involved. Either you have the top 2 parties as they're the only ones capable of forming a majority government or will be the major player in a coalition. Or you have all the parties who are represented nationwide. Or you include ALL the parties with MP's/MSP's etc but that would have to include the Northern Irish parties too, including Sinn Fein. Or you include all parties and independents (obviously not reasonable).
But just picking 7 random parties isn't acceptable or fair.
- I don't like the way the broadcasters seem to set themselves up as "the voice of the people" in terms of saying that what they propose is what the people. They're like a lot of journalists in that respect, they're way too far up their own s. No-one at the BBC or Sky or Channel 4 (or for that matter the Mail, Mirror etc) represents me. Nor is it their job to. It's their job to tell me what's happened and then I represent myself every few years at the voting booth or through direct correspondence with my MP. Some arrogant ex-public school lover who only got the opportunity to work for these institutions at such a level because of said public school definitely does not represent me. '"
Well I think they should happen even though I don't care about them myself (to watch) because a lot of people watched them last time so they are part of the election. Also because things change and once Cameron let this cat out of the bag there ought to be no way to put it back. He was the one who said even Mongolia has these TV debates so we should as well.
As to the broadcasters dictating things I really don't think they are. I think they have bent over backwards to get these things aired.
As to Sinn Fein etc , err no! This is a UK wide election so unless a party has an ambition to stand UK wide (even if they don't/can't like say the Greens who won't have a candidate in every constituency) then no they should not be in a UK TV debate. Plaid, SNP, Sinn Fein, DUP, SDLP should be able to have debates v the main parties in their countries separately if the main parties are standing. So in Wales and Scotland where Lib/Lab/Con will stand v Plaid/SNP for example.
Quote - Cameron has backed himself into a corner and I have no sympathy with him. He wanted it when he thought it benefitted him 5 years ago but doesn't now.
Going a little bit OT (and this isn't aimed directly at Cameron, it's just one of the most notable recent examples) but this kind of hypocrisy is at least part of the reason why people are increasingly not getting involved with politics. Nobody knows where anyone really stands on any issue. No politician ever gives a straight answer and none of our pathetic, disgraceful, utterly woeful, monumentally overpaid media elite have the ability to actually question our politicians properly.
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Has Cameron ever given a straight answer in PMQ's? THE big reason for the TV debates in my view is he would have to do so. Any flannel and that would do him no good. Which is why he doesn't want them.
