Televised Leaders Debates..
Discussion
Sky News have had this as "BREAKING NEWS" for about six months on their ticker, however it seems there is now a proper agreement in place to hold a series of live, televised leadership debates at peak time on terrestrial TV.
What are peoples opinons on this?
I sense that Winky doesn't react well to criticism as those awful deaths-head rictus grins show, but I'm intrigued if he has some gift for this kind of thing or if he's going to be totally and utterly destroyed - or if Cameron will obviously.
What are peoples opinons on this?
I sense that Winky doesn't react well to criticism as those awful deaths-head rictus grins show, but I'm intrigued if he has some gift for this kind of thing or if he's going to be totally and utterly destroyed - or if Cameron will obviously.
paddyhasneeds said:
I sense that Winky doesn't react well to criticism as those awful deaths-head rictus grins show, but I'm intrigued if he has some gift for this kind of thing or if he's going to be totally and utterly destroyed - or if Cameron will obviously.
Gift? he can't even smile without strings. Whereas Cameron is TB mk II. Clegg will be there as well, might make it more interesting.Looked for a jpeg that shows it flash across his face but found this instead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzSq29B5Dug
Edited by Halb on Monday 21st December 17:50
I think it's a very very bad idea in the long term, it may/may not be OK with the current three. But it worries me that an election may be decided on how well a politician does in terms of charisma or quick-wittedness when put on the spot. Lets just say that your man/woman, whilst good in most respects, just plain lacks lustre in that sort of scenario, or the vacuous gimp from the opposition is damn good on the X factor/Simply stage.
People will make their decision based on nothing more than razzmatazz and showroom appeal. That cannot be a good thing.
Presumably Cowell has already got the rights?
People will make their decision based on nothing more than razzmatazz and showroom appeal. That cannot be a good thing.
Presumably Cowell has already got the rights?
Balmoral Green said:
I think it's a very very bad idea in the long term, it may/may not be OK with the current three. But it worries me that an election may be decided on how well a politician does in terms of charisma or quick-wittedness when put on the spot. Lets just say that your man/woman, whilst good in most respects, just plain lacks lustre in that sort of scenario, or the vacuous gimp from the opposition is damn good on the X factor/Simply stage.
People will make their decision based on nothing more than razzmatazz and showroom appeal. That cannot be a good thing.
That genie is already well and truly out of the bottle.People will make their decision based on nothing more than razzmatazz and showroom appeal. That cannot be a good thing.
Very few of the voting public are particularly clued up on the issues of the day. You have your diehards on each side who'd vote Labour/Conservative if they put a donkey with the appropriate coloured rosette up.
The group of voters with no ingrained political affiliation are also the most likely to be swayed by the superficial. Blair was the housewive's favourite as I remember.
Tycho said:
Notice the SNP and Plaid Cymru are b
hing about not being included as it may sway voters 
And both those parties thought that having regional parliaments was progression toward independence, when really all it means is they have a bigger share of the vote in an institution that has less power and is ignored by all and sundry outside the country of the parliament, like a big county council, (like Boris too for that matter) and they think they have one the fight. Priceless. hing about not being included as it may sway voters Brown can only feel having been 10% down on the Tories for months that it can't get any worse - and what has he to lose. Cameron has been deafening with the silence on any let alone core policies. Clegg is there to show we have a multi-party democracy and as a wild card for a bit of off the wall interjection.
It'll be OK until it has a voter phone in or red button vote. Then we are in the do-dah.
Then again, perhaps its finally been announced knowing the SNP will go to the courts and it gets outlawed 
Lord Mandleson playing games again ?? Tycho said:
I would be great if the Tories changed leader to William Hague as he would destroy Brown. Actually, most people would destroy him...
Notice the SNP and Plaid Cymru are bhing about not being included as it may sway voters
They are allowed to take part. As long as they have a candidate stand in every UK constituency like the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib-Dems have. It's hardly anyone elses fault if they are only regional parties, not national ones is it? Notice the SNP and Plaid Cymru are b
hing about not being included as it may sway voters 
Predict this will be a non-event. Labour doesn’t have enough funds to mount a good campaign compared to the others so will use the free tv air time. Expect it to be just another party political broadcast where they get to speak for 5min each without interruption on set topics like education, the economy, health etc. Doubt there will be any real debate and they aren’t going to be put on the spot IMO.
The key to whether this debate will work or not is who is chosen as moderator.
Gordon is quite capable and willing to lie, divert questions and repeat his script ad infinitum.
There needs to be strong moderator; Brown has nothing to lose, whilst Cameron will be attempting to come across statesman-like, a PM in waiting. This gives Winky a huge advantage imho.
I predict a half hour bore-fest of Broon repeating "for the many, not the few" and various class-jibes over and over. The throw enough mud tactic.
My feeling is that this is a banana skin for CMD.
Gordon is quite capable and willing to lie, divert questions and repeat his script ad infinitum.
There needs to be strong moderator; Brown has nothing to lose, whilst Cameron will be attempting to come across statesman-like, a PM in waiting. This gives Winky a huge advantage imho.
I predict a half hour bore-fest of Broon repeating "for the many, not the few" and various class-jibes over and over. The throw enough mud tactic.
My feeling is that this is a banana skin for CMD.
I also think it will be a non-event. Brown will just quote endless statistics and jibe Cameron for "not having any policies". As soon as Cameron starts talking about the policies they do have, he'll be accused of favouring the rich. It will be awful.
Also, will it be a live audience? I dread a Question Time style audience with plants from all three parties clapping at every single point.
Also, will it be a live audience? I dread a Question Time style audience with plants from all three parties clapping at every single point.
Good thing - Brown will be destroyed as soon as any tough questions are asked or he gets flustered. His temper will rise and his mask of self control will slip very quickly if it the agenda starts running away from him.
Bad thing - Sorry to say this but the inclusion of Clegg. He will probably do so well that in some places he may well reduce the Tory vote and lessen their chances of getting elected leading to either a hung parliament or god forbid, Winky getting back in.
Swings & roundabouts, swings and roundabouts....
Bad thing - Sorry to say this but the inclusion of Clegg. He will probably do so well that in some places he may well reduce the Tory vote and lessen their chances of getting elected leading to either a hung parliament or god forbid, Winky getting back in.
Swings & roundabouts, swings and roundabouts....
SNP are possibly going to take legal action
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8425990.stm
Amusing thing on that BBC page is that they include external links to Labour, Conservatives and Lib Dems - but not the SNP website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8425990.stm
Amusing thing on that BBC page is that they include external links to Labour, Conservatives and Lib Dems - but not the SNP website
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