We need arrogant people who like showing off. They can cover us from bullets in the line of fire - Toba Beta
Labour... You big show offs
I remember the run up to the 2010 election well, and for me at least, it was straight forward. Campaign, TV elections, Brown calls supporter a bigot. Conservatives win. A bit condensed I know, but it was the TV elections that were a big step in the right direction at the time. They gave a close up analysis of each candidate, held them up to accountability and scrutiny in front of a live audience. This separated the men from the boys, with Brown looking sheepish, and Cameron being the prominent professional with Clegg following up as a refreshing alternative. However, that simple ingredient has been spoiled, and won't be as tasty. Or effective.
The 2010 TV debate was successful because it was simple. 3 biggest candidates. Live audience. No fiasco. Scrutiny and accountability. It was also the first time this has ever been attempted, and it was a remarkable success in improving Cameron and Clegg's opinion polls before 2010. However, to say the 2015 will be different would be an understatement. 7 parties in 2 debates, and a supposed head on head between Cameron and Miliband separately. I must admit, I haven't blogged about the TV debates sooner I because they're unnecessarily confusing and more than a fiasco to care about in contrast to legislation. But, Cameron's stand has taken more off guard, and has left him vulnerable to accountability.
Having caused enough stir by demanding 7 parties, that should've been enough to accept. But dragging out the process over the head to head, and not participating is more of a joke than Alex Salmond. It gives Miliband a leg above Cameron, presenting him as a more willing and courageous leader, which is the complete opposite of the truth. But Labour have shot themselves in the foot... Yet again. By saying that they'll pass these debates into law will pressurise Miliband to be in Cameron's position if he were Prime Minister (god forbid). No Prime Minister wants to stand up head to head for 90 minutes against their main rival, in front of a live audience being scrutinized and held accountable, and it's law! What Labour are doing is making Cameron look like an idiot rather than pressuring themselves, but it is a big leap into law, and one that which will kill off nearly most Prime Ministers. Opinion polls will be the decider, and if Cameron/Miliband etc bottle it in the future, they can say buy to No10 Downing street and say hello to No10 Drowning Street in the Thames. Labour have overhyped their position so much, to the extent of it backfiring on Miliband in 5 years time... Welcome to the short career of politics.
Jordan Ifield (why not just 1 debate on immigration, that would be fun, wouldn't it?)