What Will Regional Political Parties, In Particular The Dup And Sinn Féin Bring To Any Televised

[sandyRoe]

debate?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30997410

[Old_Geezer]

The usual waffle.

But they can claim to be possible coalition candidates, sop need to be listened to.

[Old_Geezer]

SO !!!!!

[ichkeria]

The real story here, which should be shouted from the rooftops, is here is Cameron - again - trying to wriggle out of the Live TV debates. First he wanted the Greens: his bluff was called, and he got the Greens.
Now he's asking for the DUP. If we got the NI parties he'd be asking for the Monster Raving Loony Party.
The reality is that the Tories have been determined from the word go that they would not go head-to-head with Ed Miliband on live TV, as they consider that there's only one way Ed can go and that's up. As I understand it withdrawing from the debates with all the parties means that they will also withdraw from the head-to-head debate.

Having said all that, I don't believe the regional parties SHOULD be included, but given that the Scottish and Welsh are there, the NI parties should be there too. The broadcasters should not have allowed them in, but at least we now know that the Tories cannot hold the thing to ransom any more.
What will they add? More opinions, more perspective, which would be good were it not for the fact that there will simply be too many people there. And of course the majority of people watching will not be able to vote for all of the parties, so it is unsatisfactory.

[jno]

I thought at first Cameron was doing the decent thing, but I am more and more persuaded that ichkeria is correct.

[Peter Pedant]

erm the regional parties are anticipating holding the balance of power -

dear dear Nicola thingey saying she would vote with Ed M on English issues

And remember those damned tories used to be the Conservative and Unionist party !

so yeah let it rip

[sandyRoe]

The DUP and Sinn Féin are in an unhappy coalition in Stormont. More often than not they're at one anothers throats. Any hope their 8 MPS have of being a tiny part a Parliamentary coalition seem very far fetched. And Sinn Féin don't even bother going, but they do collect their expenses.

[ichkeria]

How far we have come from Mrs Thatcher banning Gerry Adams and co's voices from TV to another Tory PM effectively refusing to do a TV programme unless Sinn Fein are there!