Torys Running Scared

[retrocop]

Just watched the ITV News and the Prime Minister,apparently, refuses to join a TV debate unless the Green Party are included. I personally believe the Green Party will never be a viable party fit to run this country on the world stage.
I and my family have always voted Tory. Never again will I vote for the Tory party whilst it is led by a gutless chinless wonder. Millipede and Farage have both said that Cameron is running scared to enter into a TV debate. How can I not agree and defend the Prime Minister's capitulation.He bottled out of a previous TV debate. Even Clegg,who I consider a wet had the moral fibre and backbone to stand up to Farage who ran rings round him.At least he had the guts to stand up and state his case.
Rant over.Never felt so badly let down by the Tory Party in my life.

[ichkeria]

"Ichi, why should it be the liblabcon when twice as many people support UKIP as the Liberals? "

I didn't say it should, but I do say that someone needs to come up with firm guidelines one way or the other

[ludwig]

I agree with TTT that the whole thing's a farcical excercise in style over substance anyway. It probably makes some sense in the US where you've basically got two parties - two presidential candidates going head to head.

Over here you've got all these different parties claiming a right to be heard, and there's obviously going to be these stupid squabbles about who should be included and on what criteria.

[Svejk]

An independent body came up with this formula. Cameron knows that he'll be made to look a fool by Farage. That's all there is to it.

[ichkeria]

Actually no such body came up with anything of the sort. Itls based on the whim of the TV companies, which it should not be.
Like I say, there are no rules. So this bickering will continue until either an independent body DOES do this - and there is some sort of obligation associated with it - or the idea is dropped.

[Gromit]

About Cameton's change of mind over debates from 2009.

It is far easier to attack a poor record than to defend a poor record. In 2010 Cameron was giving all the stick. In 2015 he will be on the receiving end.

I personally do not like the debates. Choosing our next Prime Minister should
not be reduced to a TV talent show where you lise points for having big teeth. I believe the tv shows contributed greatly to this parliament being hung and the winners in 2010 were the LibDem.

[ToraToraTora]

If ED has any sense he'll withdraw too. If we must do this then Dave and ED should arrange their own debate with an independent political interviewer in a chat show style setting rather than a stuffy lectern littered series of monologues with Dimbley taking the ***, they can invite the TV mob film it. They should not let ITV/BBC dictate terms.

[Zacs-Master]

'Dave and ED should arrange their own debate with an independent political interviewer in a chat show style setting rather than a stuffy lectern littered series of monologues with Dimbley taking the ***'

Love it.

[ichkeria]

"If ED has any sense he'll withdraw too. If we must do this then Dave and ED should arrange their own debate with an independent political interviewer in a chat show style setting rather than a stuffy lectern littered series of monologues with Dimbley taking the ***, they can invite the TV mob film it. They should not let ITV/BBC dictate terms. "

I agree, as it happens. I am not a big fan of these debates, but I think they did have some worth last time.
And Dave and Ed are further apart on many issues than either of the main parties have been for some time. Dave's been dragged rightwards in spite of himself, while Ed is the nasty, red-blooded commie we all know him to be :-) That in itself should make it more interesting.
Another rule I would have is somehow to stop the ridiculous "exit polls" after the final whistle, when we try to gauge who has "won"

[retrocop]

Zacs-Master
Surprised to see you come creeping back to this post.
At 2304 yesterday you said my personal beliefs are not news
Well my post originated as a result of what was reported on the .....errr...NEWS and it seems to have stimulated some debate from other ABers. (3 pages so far). If you don't agree with the post then why bother to answer to it. Quite a few others have bothered without making a snide remark about my personal beliefs?

[Zacs-Master]

I don't 'creep' anywhere dear boy.
Your words:
'I personally believe the Green Party will never be a viable party fit to run this country on the world stage'

Strange it's taken you so long to reply.

[mikey4444]

TTT...tending to agree with you there (09:48)

But I guess being a bit democratic, is a lot like being a bit pregnant....its either you are or you aren't.

I am not a big fan of these debates either. Its all about lots of front and nothing out back. I want the Party that has the best policies and the best chance of winning to be successful in a few weeks time, not the one whose Leader has the best suit, or tie, or who can do his stand-up routine better than anyone else. We spend far too much time on the cult of celebrity and far too little paying attention to real issues.

[BlackadderV]

I have to agree with the comment that Clegg's performance in the 2010 debates denied the Tories an overall majority. I also concur that that the situation in the US is different; there you are voting for the man, which is not the case here. These debates have no place in British electoral tradition.

[mikey4444]

Blackadder...I am tending to agree with you as well.
Blimey...what day today has been !

[Zacs-Master]

what on earth has 'tradition' to do with elections?

[Svejk]

Miliband and Cameron are sound-bite merchants (sound- bites that have been written by teams of scriptwriters) The only conviction either of them has, is to gain/retain power. Farage will show them up for what they are and I can't wait to see it.

[Gromit]

// Miliband and Cameron are sound-bite merchants //
- Agreed, niether has much substanceT

// Farage will show them up for what they are //
- Farage is a bigger soundbiter than the two of them combined

// I can't wait to see it. //
- You may have a long wait if Cameron won't play ball.