Boris And The First Tv Debate

[Paigntonian]

Johnson says he won't take part in the first sky news debate because people have had enough of blue-on-blue. But he will take part in the second debate. So the other four candidates should simply boycott the first debate and Boris will look extremely bad.

[Gromit]

To clarify. He will not take part in the Channel 4 debate on Sunday (ahead of Tuesdays second vote) but he will take part in the BBC debate.
He is being advised by Sir Lynton Cosby who advised May to avoid TV debate in her disastrous 2017 General Election campaign.

[agchristie]

//So the other four candidates should simply boycott the first debate and Boris will look extremely bad.//

How will that the cause of the four aspirants?

[agchristie]

*help*

[ToraToraTora]

he's just gone up in my estimation. Why inflict this tish on the public when the choice is for 160000 party members only? I've never liked any of these US style coconut shies anyway.

[Gromit]

// the other four [it’s 5] candidates should simply boycott the first debate and Boris will look extremely bad. //

No he won’t. They should turn up and say why Johnson would be unsuitable, and why they would be better.

[Paigntonian]

So what's he scared of? Oh, yes, that he might not do well. Why should all other candidates open themselves to scrutiny if he won't?

[Paigntonian]

If U.S. front-runners like Hillary C. or Trump can join debates with other candidates ( in both the primaries and as nominees) why can't Johnson?

[Gromit]

^ Because it is their chance to put the boot into their main opponent, and he has elected to not defend himself.

[Paigntonian]

Gromit: He has elected not to defend himself. Why? Chicken?

[spathiphyllum]

He needs more time to get his speech in order ;)

[Gromit]

// He has elected not to defend himself. Why? Chicken? //

The perceived wisdom is that it is ‘damage limitation’.
He is gaffe prone, so they want to limit his exposure, therefore making a gaffe less likely.

[vulcan42]

It's much easier for the others to say how bad Boris is because the alternative is they have to prove how good they are, which they can't because they're all terrible.

[TonyV]

I thought I heard on the radio earlier that he had now agreed to take part in all the debates.

https://news.sky.com/story/conservative-leadership-field-slims-to-six-as-boris-johnson-agrees-to-tv-debate-11741899

[Old_Geezer]

How would that make him look bad ?
I expect he sees little to gain from a debate, but he should take note of the result that May got from staying away.

[gulliver1]

Boris on a TV Debate ?. Bring Him On . He is a First Class ,Master of The Debating Society

[CrapAtCryptics]

Several of them wont be there for the second one I think - does anyone else think Rory looks like Gollum.

[TonyV]

wouldn't bother to much providing he doesn't make a major error. This what William Hill think for next conservative leader.

Johnson 1/6
Hunt 7/1
Gove 16/1
Stewart 16/1
Javid 33/1
Raab 50/1
So in their view it is literally a one horse race.

[jourdain2]

C A C - well, if you remove the hair...………...

[Khandro]

Hello jourdain! have you been walkabout?