Looking Ahead To Next General Election.

[pdq1]

With UKIP making leaps and bounds and a poll showing 17% of voting intentions can we see TV broadcasts with the leaders Cameron, Miliband and Fararge taking the podium?

[jake-the-peg]

I take it you mean inclusion in debates as they've already had party political broadcasts.


Because the PR referendum was turned down UKIP are not in as strong a position as they might appear

They would get 8 seats behind the lib dems on 11

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/

Plaid Cymru and the SNP appealed their exclusion last time but that was turned down - the criteria being that only those who could become prime-minister could be included.

(Exactly how Clegg met that I'm not sure)

Farage has already admitted he can't realistically expect that which may have undermined his inclusion and it's certainly not in Cameron's interests to speak up for him.

I think Farage would be well advised not to mix it with the big boys in debate.

[ichkeria]

UKIP will presumably get extra party election broadcasts as they intend - very rashly - to stand in every seat at the next election. I'm not a fan of live TV debates between leaders but at least participation is not decided by opinion poll ratings and certainly not opinion poll ratings two years before an election campaign.

[pdq1]

Yes Jake I did mean debates as happened before with Cameron, Brown and Clegg. The Liberals diminishing voting intentions should surely recieve no representation.

[jno]

I can't see why a party currently in the government should be banned from debates. Opinion polls are no basis for democracy.

[youngmafbog]

It's a mid term poll, so I wouldn't put too much on the results. I strongly suspect many voters are using UKIP to express their anger to Cameron.

Whether or not they actually put a cross in the UKIP box come polling day is another matter.

so no, I dont see why he should, but then neither should Clegg, but I also suspect Clegg is already getting ready to stick his snout deep into the EU trough as we speak.

[Gromit]

All the leaders have to agree for the debates to proceed. There is no obligation to do so, so we should not take for granted it will be repeated next time.

I am not sure the last one was a good thing. It resulted in a the LibDems punching above their weight and holding the balance of power. That would not have happened if it wasn't for the tv debates.

[brionon]

I apologise abjectly-I left England to live abroad and that dick head party UKIP appeared. Please forgive me !!

[modeller]

Gromit you are right Brown and Cameron were stupid to debate with a party who had no chance of forming a government.

In coalition the mini partner can always blame their coalition partner.
Had the Lib/Dems gone in with Labour which would have been a more natural partner , it would have been the same excuse.

One thing is certain neither of the main parties will ever again debate with the Lib/Dems let alone with any of the other no hopers. Certainly not since PR or AV was squashed at birth.

I suppose that was the one good thing that the coalition did bring about.