UKC

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11455986/TV-election-debates-Tories-go-...

Institutionally arrogant! You couldn't make it up!

In reply to Yanis Nayu:
I think it's great that the broadcasters are doing this, if it were my decision I'd have sent all the leaders some dates and told them to turn up if they want their voices heard. No messing about and negotiating. If they try and block the BBC from empty chairing Cameron on the basis that they can't be impartial in such a broadcast then the other commercial broadcasters should host then.

In reply to Yanis Nayu:

"I think the broadcasters have handled it incredibly badly. For them to believe they have the right to demand leaders just turn up on a given day seems to me wholly unacceptable. It's arrogant. " Noooo, the public appear to want the debates to happen now (I myself am not arsed) and YOU work for US. Ta.

In reply to Yanis Nayu:


Which - the BBC or the Tory party?

Personally, I think it's an excellent thing that we live in a country where the ruling élite doesn't own the mass media.

In reply to Yanis Nayu:

shamelessly nicked from the Guardian comments section:

“I absolutely believe in these debates and think they are great.” – David Cameron, Sky news, 14 April 2010

“I think it is great we are having these debates and I hope they go someway to restore some of the faith and some of the trust into our politics because we badly need that once again in this country.” – David Cameron, Leaders Debate, ITV, 15 April 2010

“Look, I’ve been calling for these debates for five years, I challenged Blair, I challenged Brown, I challenged when I was ahead in the polls, and when I was behind in the polls. I just think they are a good thing.” – David Cameron, Daily Telegraph, 17 April 2010

"I’ve always wanted these debates to happen. I mean they happen in every country. They even happen in Mongolia for heaven’s sake and it’s part of the modern age that we should be in.” – David Cameron, BBC3, 21 April 2010

“I think these debates are here to stay. They clearly engage people in politics which is what we need.” – David Cameron, News of the World, 2 May 2010

“If you want the TV debates to go ahead you have got to do it fairly between the main parties and look, having said I want them, having challenged people to have them and quite right, Sky saying let’s have them, it would have been feeble to find some excuse to back out so I thought we’ve got to stick at this, we’ve got to do it. It will be challenging, it was, but I think I came through them.” – David Cameron, Sky News, 3 May 2010

“On TV debates, I’m in favour of them, I think they’re good and we should go on having them and I will certainly play my part in trying to make that happen.” – David Cameron, Coalition mid term review, 7th Jan 2012

“I think TV debates are good. I enjoyed them last time – particularly the last one.” – David Cameron, Press Association, 10th December 2012

“You know we’ve been going on for years about let’s have these debates and I think it really vindicated having that. I think people will be asking themselves why on earth, what was all the fuss about? Why on earth didn’t we have these things before? We should have done and it’s great they’re underway now and I think we’ll have them in every election in the future and I think that’s a really good thing for our democracy.” – David Cameron, BBC Radio Manchester, 16 April 2014

“Blair pulled out against Major and Major pulled out against Kinnock, Thatcher pulled out against Callaghan. I’ve just always believed that these need to happen. It’s good for democracy. It’s good to see.” – David Cameron, BBC Radio Manchester, 16 April 2014

In reply to toad:

Reminds me of Gordon Brown's famous quote, 'no more boom and bust'.
Politicians are always saying things they later regret. There does however seem to be something wrong with broadcasters setting up programme schedules without the written consent of those presumed to be taking part. And yes, the BBC are arrogant and undoubtedly sympathetic towards the Labour party.

In reply to Gone for good:

If Cameron was saying that he couldn't attend because he was busy doing something worthwhile and the BBC wouldn't offer any other options then fair enough, I'd agree with you, but he just doesn't want to get involved.

In reply to Yanis Nayu:
The broadcasters are just posturing, its my opinion that if the PM turns ups they'll all do their damnedest to have him in their line up. As for the PM, i believe its easy to stand up at PMQ with your mates at your back and tell the docile, ignorant public what you please. But in a environment where it perhaps it wont be appropriate to shout your opponent down, i think he's well out if his depth. Cameron is sharp, and quick witted in the commons, but when it comes to hard truths about Tory policy i think he'd struggle. I think he'd do better to dodge it, either way i dont believe its would do his party any favours.
I never watched any of these debates, i'm not sure what you can really learn from them. I wish people wouldn't be so ignorant to how they're country is run, and at least try understand some economics so as to understand how they will be affected by different policies. It baffles me how little people understand of how their local council operates never mind central government!

No gods!
No masters!

Rant over, sorry

In reply to Zoro:

The broadcasters want Cameron on the debates, it's him who says he doesn't want to be involved. If he turns up he'll be on the show.

I struggle to see what he's so scared of, Red Ed? I've found more eloquent life forms living in the back of my fridge.

In reply to gethin_allen: Im sure the PM will see the leader of the shadow cabinet as a threat, i would accuse him of being arrogant, but i don't think for a second David Cameron is naive. It is determined move to not have to debate their(Conservative party) failed policies.
I think it would do the Conservatives less damage if the PM were to dodge these debates entirely, i really don't think either David Cameron or Ed Milliband are particularly good at debating with each other.