Lib Dems Lodge Complaint Over Party Leaders' General Election Debate

[naomi24]

//The Lib Dems have made a formal complaint after ITV said its head-to-head election debate would only include Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

Party president Sal Brinton said leader Jo Swinson should appear alongside the Tory prime minister and the Labour leader in the 19 November debate.

Baroness Brinton said Ms Swinson's exclusion risks "misrepresenting the current political reality".//

For Baroness Brinton's information the current political reality is that the Conservatives have 298 seats, Labour 244, Scottish Nationals 35, Independents 25, and Liberal Democrats (oooo - 'Democrats' - that lie sticks in the craw!) just 19.

Jo Swinson's party is pretty low down in the pecking order. Is her feather bristling and cage rattling and to be taken seriously - or is she just falling off her perch?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50276679

[Cloverjo]

I think a lot of both Conservative and Labour supporters are thinking of switching their allegiance to the LibDems for at least this election. Me included. It would make sense to have Swinson in the debate too.

[pixie374]

I think they are just being realistic.

[shoota]

I'm more and more convinced people enter politics these days for self aggrandisement rather than altruistic reasons.

[Buenchico]

Our (pathetic) 'first past the post' system means that a party which can attract plenty of votes ends up with very few seats (or even none at all).

Using the current number of seats (as in your post) might seem to suggest that support for the Lib Dems is under 10% of that for either of the two leading parties, whereas looking at the current voting intentions of the electorate (as measured across several polls) shows that support for the Lib Dems is actually much higher, with one person in six intending to vote for them. (Labour has about 1 in 4 on their side, with the Conservatives doing slightly better than 1 in 3):
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2019/oct/31/uk-general-election-2019-poll-tracker

[pixie374]

//Liberal Democrats are the strongest national party of Remain.//

As we have already ruled that out, it looks more as though they are obsolete.

[pixie374]

I don't think that has ever changed, shoots.

[pixie374]

I agree, Chris... but because everyone knows this, they vote tactically instead, which means we never get a true answer of what people really want.

[Jackdaw33]

Head to head is a conversation between two people. If they wish to widen it bring in the lot: Swinson, Farage, the nutty Green, Braveheart, the Plaid Cymru woman et al.

[THECORBYLOON]

If there at more than a couple in a debate it tends to get out of hand with folk talking over each other and the presenter losing control.

[cassa333]

There is no doubt that people will vote with Brexit in mind but as this is a GE other issues are as important and shouldn’t be overlooked.

I think it is absolutely wrong of the Jo Swinson to say they will cancel Brexit on day one if they get in power. Because if they do they should all resign immediately after that because if that is the only thing they think people will be voting for them for they have no other reason to be in power.

[Ken4155]

Think it's totally up to the powers that be at ITV just who they want on this debate. Isn't there a similar sort of programme planned for later (maybe not on ITV) which woud include some sort of audience participation and involve all the main parties? Sure i've read/heard about it somewhere.

[THECORBYLOON]

CASSA, do you not think the Lib Dems will have other policies in their manifesto?

[Jackdaw33]

"If they get into power"

You're having a laugh.

[Mozz71]

Sorry Jo, you can't play with the big kids because if you do, Nigel will also want a slice of that pie, and you don't want to be responsible for the Bullsh... I mean Brexit Party spouting their mouths off do you now?

[Jackdaw33]

A very gopd point, Mozz, as I indicated in my post.

[Mozz71]

Indeed you did JD. Although it never hurts for multiple posts reminding the good people of the interwebs that Nige is an utter tool.

[naomi24]

Stop press! It’s just occurred to me that the LibDems only won 12 seats at the last election. The other 7 are held by defectors. Even less reason they should be given special consideration.

[jno]

leaders of all parties currently in Parliament shuold be able to appear. Independents probably not, since they don't need nationwide coverage anyway.

[naomi24]

Jno, fair enough if that was what they wanted - but they don’t. They want to be singled out for ‘promotion’.