Miliband, Clegg and Farage prepared to go ahead with TV debates: with or without PM

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-01-14/miliband-clegg-and-farage-prepared-to-go-ahead-with-tv-debates/

Miliband, Clegg and Farage prepared to go ahead with TV debates: without or without Cameron


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Labour leader Ed Miliband, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Ukip leader Nigel Farage have written to the Prime Minister. Credit: PA Wire


Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage have told the Prime Minister they are prepared to go ahead with the televised leaders' debates - with or without him.

The Labour, Lib Dem and Ukip leaders have informed David Cameron in letters that they will "ask the broadcasters to press ahead with the debates".

Miliband, Clegg and Farage also said they would ask for an empty podium to be provided "should you have a last minute change of heart".

The co-ordinated letters said the debates televised during the 2010 election campaign "were watched by more than 20 million people and enthusiastically endorsed by all those who took part, including yourself".


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David Cameron said it was only 'logical and fair' for the Green Party to be included in TV debates ahead of the General Election. Credit: ITV News


The letters read:


"I hope you will agree that the decision as to who should take part in the televised debates should not be in the hands of any party leader, each of whom inevitably has their own political interests to defend.

It must be a decision independently and objectively arrived at.

It would be unacceptable if the political self-interest of one party leader were to deny the public the opportunity to see their leaders debate in public.

These debates are not the property of the politicians and I do not believe the public will accept lightly the prospect of any politician seeking to block them."

– Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage

HAHAHAHA this is great, call his bluff as I said.

Thoughts? Do you think Cameron will now retreat?

[Kyle]

An empty podium would be brilliant, just to symbolise his desertion if he didn't decide to turn up. Do tv debates serve much of a purpose these days? There seem to be too many parties arguing for points to be properly made.

I reckon Cameron will just join the debates, he has a lot to lose if he doesn't and his sudden care for the Green Party will be short lives.


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[Chippiewill]

Is that letter meant to be deliberately ironic?

[AgnesIO]

Wait, did anyone think they WOULDN'T do the TV Debates? And does anyone seriously think he wouldn't join in?

Can't wait for the debates - going to be brilliant.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Is that letter meant to be deliberately ironic?

The others aren't seeking to block the Greens, indeed the Greens haven't actually been barred just in light of the Ofcom ruling it in highly unlikely the Greens will be included by the broadcasters because if they are then it'll lead to a legal challenge by the likes of SNP, DUP, and Plaid that they should be included. Again I myself am not really opposed to them taking part, just the ruling is pretty sound looking at polling, results and regional polling.

http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2015/01/10/david-herdson-on-camerons-epic-mistake-re-the-greens-and-the-debates/


So unless the Greens are invited, that leaves Cameron with a dilemma. Will they be? Almost certainly not. OfCom’s judgement is sound: despite the Greens’ recent uptick in the polls, their behaviour and performance this parliament has not been that of a major party. Of the 19 GB Westminster by-elections, they’ve not contested seven and lost their deposit in the other twelve. They may be a factor in a handful of seats but then so will the SNP and others, who would undoubtedly challenge an invite to Natalie Bennett and not to them. Furthermore, less is more when it comes to debates: the TV companies won’t want crowded stages and stifled discussion.

[The Don]

The greens should be included in the debates too. I can't imagine cameron going through with missing the debates though so will be interesting to see how this resolves itself.

[GommeInc]

It seems like avoiding the debates by using the Green Party as a form of scapegoating. They should be involved in some shape or form, but then again so should the SNP and Plaid Cymru as I believe they have more MPs (or significance - never counted how many they have). What he did was executed badly and just gave the other parties more ammo to fire at him.

[FlyingJesus]

Invite the Greens in his place just for laughs

[Sharon]

Would rather not have him there anyway the ****

[FlyingJesus]

Green now has more members than UKIP lol, membership been booming since this story but obv just protest signups really

[Mark]

How noble of them... We all know why Cameron wants the Greens to be there and that's for them to purposely hurt or make Labour look bad, just like UKIP is likely to do to the Conservatives. Don't get me wrong it was a sticky move for him to come out and say this however it's ridiculous to debate whether he will or won't join in, as we all know he will.