2015 UK General Election Thread

[dave6x]

Originally Posted by Kursk

Tail trying to wag the dog. It will be a ridiculous spectacle that will even send their beloved Goggleboxers to sleep. PM is right not to summoned for trial by television imho. They'll be insisting all our Ministers go in the Big Brother house to tease out their childhood foibles next. Wye aye man.

You may be right, however Joe public will probably perceive Cameron as an arrogant toff who has forgotten that he is there to serve the public and not himself!!!

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by dave6x

You may be right, however Joe public will probably perceive Cameron as an arrogant toff who has forgotten that he is there to serve the public and not himself!!!

The other side to that coin is that whilst the PM is not wasting his time in pointless debates designed simply to boost TV ratings, he is getting on with the job of Government.

When my taxes go to the public purse I think I get better value for money from a 'servant' that concentrates on matters of substance and prosperity for the Country rather than engaging in a chinwag with a bunch of losers and just to keep a load of overpaid and anonymous broadcasters happy.

[Russ]

To everyone else he just looks like he's doing a "politician's dodge", nothing you wouldn't expect from a serving PM.

[Pierre]

Since when did the broadcasters decide the terms of hoe the election will be fought.

All they are, are broadcasters. They can't tell the leaders of the parties the terms of the debate.

Now they can " invite" leaders to debates and the can " suggest" the format, but anyone is free to decline the invitation of they don't the format or if the suggested time of the date doesn't fit in with their plans.

Cameron is well within his rights to set the terms of where, when and how he debates and I would support him in that rather than see him genuflect to the likes of the BBC and SKY

Originally Posted by Pierre

Since when did the broadcasters decide the terms of hoe the election will be fought.

All they are, are broadcasters. They can't tell the leaders of the parties the terms of the debate.

Now they can " invite" leaders to debates and the can " suggest" the format, but anyone is free to decline the invitation of they don't the format or if the suggested time of the date doesn't fit in with their plans.

Cameron is well within his rights to set the terms of where, when and how he debates and I would support him in that rather than see him genuflect to the likes of the BBC and SKY

Well they can't force him to turn up but he can't force them not to hold the debates either....

[denphone]

Exactly.

[Gary L]

Too big for his boots.
far too important.
and he's God.

[denphone]

Well if he refuses to join the debates then thats his decision but most of the public will see it differently and thus it will do quite a lot of damage in his campaign to get re-elected again in May.

[heero_yuy]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Too big for his boots.
far too important.
and he's God.

I hope you're prepared to genuflect in his presence and send your first born for ritual sacrifice on his altar.

The TV companies clearly want this to be a regular part of elections and if so they can't allow them not to happen. I think that after this we would need to set up a independent body to decide how and when the debates happen much like they do in the United States.

[Osem]

The first major gaffe one of the other leaders makes during their debates (if they ever happen) will see DC's decision largely forgotten. The bigger the car crash and/or joke they turn out to be, the better his judgement, in staying well clear, will appear.

He can be accused of making a big mistake by supporting such debates and then apparently running away from them, but it might just turn out to be a masterstroke.

[Julian]

These americanised, i'm a celebrity type schedule fillers turn the whole election process from policy to personality.

I'd rather the politicians all said no...

[vincerooney]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well if he refuses to join the debates then thats his decision but most of the public will see it differently and thus it will do quite a lot of damage in his campaign to get re-elected again in May.

i think itll make more damage if they empty seat him. putting an empty seat on stage to represent cameron will really damage his campaign. if if they dont empty seat him and its just one debate i think he'll get away with it

[Osem]

I reckon anyone who bothers to watch the debate is going to be far more interested in what the participants are doing than any empty seat. If they're not, that doesn't say much for the other party leaders.

[Jimmy-J]

You would think Dave would jump at the chance to be part of a TV debate, where he could promote his party.