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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Is this going to backfire for Dave as the one and only deba

SystemSystem Posts: 11,704
edited March 2015 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Is this going to backfire for Dave as the one and only debate could be in three weeks time?

Downing Street has issued a “final offer” to broadcasters over the election television debates, declaring in a pointed email that David Cameron will take part in just one debate featuring seven party leaders before the formal campaign begins next month…..

Read the full story here


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Comments

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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,763
    Can't see it myself, voters find the whole thing dull.

    The debates last time were just low-grade show business.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,990
    QTWTAIN?
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    SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    Wrstminster village..
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    CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,227
    Not interested in the debates.

    Much more interested in the news about the SFO investigating the Bank of England.
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    GadflyGadfly Posts: 1,191
    Moving average chart of the 100 most recent YouGov polls. Click to enlarge...

    Simple, Free Image and File Hosting at MediaFire
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    I'm guessing thatwe\ll get a 7 way debate in a month and then people will move on and stop worrying about the whole thing.

    And having Farage debate the others live on TV could be well worth buying popcorn for.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    Did Campbell say the same thing about Blair - Alastair Campbell calls Cameron's stance on the TV #leadersdebates 'morally cowardly' http://www.itv.com/news/story/2015-03-04/cameron-accused-of-bullying-over-tv-debates/

    The debates are sterile, unless questions are selected at random on topics without any limits from the broadcasters and parties.
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    TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    One can smell the desperation gushing from Milliband supporters hoping for an Edgasm.

    No one outside Westminster is that bothered or interested.
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    Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 13,352
    edited March 2015
    It depends how it plays over the next two months.

    The main problem with the debates for Dave is that they present a golden opportunity for opponents to skewer him on promises made during the previous debates, notably in respect of immigration and the budget deficit. If his opponents can nail him on these, they don't need the debates and his decision to avoid them will have backfired. If in addition they can make the charge of 'running scared' stick, it's a double whammy.

    Otoh if he can manages play down those issues and avoid the risk which debates undoubtedly present, he's scored a win.

    And of course if he avoids the 'running scared' charge too, it's a double win.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    Ex-Conservative MP Harvey Proctor's home searched by police

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31744282

    Tick tick tick...
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    FPT:
    Dair said:


    image


    Treat with caution. Apparently connected to One World Action, founded by Glenys Kinnock, political neutrality possible, but unlikely ;)

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4262768/Im-v.-Right-wing-says-the-BBC-but-its-not-that-simple.html


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    One can smell the desperation gushing from Milliband supporters hoping for an Edgasm.

    No one outside Westminster is that bothered or interested.

    Way more likely there is an Ed epiphany and the country sits up and tooks a long hard proper look at the dweeb for the first time and then vomits.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787
    But, but, but......Cameron had to debate Salmond, everybody said so.....if the debates question turns into a big issue, then won't voters simply see the leaders as publicity hungry media whores not interested in the issues that affect them?
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    Indigo / Dair

    Greens in the 'very libertarian' area is laughable. It's hard to imagine a more directive authoritarian bunch. Their whole manifesto is 'we'll force you to ruin your living standards for the sake of the warblers'.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    OT: Probably not.

    "It is being reported" - in the Guardian.

    BTW: The 67% link is broken.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,063
    How long is a 7 speaker “debate” going to be scheduled for? Seven people, six of whom at least will be all clued up on all sorts of policies and will need 4-5 minutes on any given subject, especially if there’s going to be any follow up, means something like two questions per hour!
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290

    Ex-Conservative MP Harvey Proctor's home searched by police

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31744282

    Tick tick tick...

    The Mirror had the story, but did not name the former MP.

    http://t.co/yTJ04B2Wwi
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    SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 38,977
    A lot will depend on the broadcasters. They can make it an issue or they can accept the Downing Street ultimatum. Let's see what they do.

    If the Tories are going to major on Ed, though, and make him a central part of their campaign, a very natural question is: "If Ed is so crap and it would be dangerous to let him close to Downing Street, why is the PM scared to debate with him?" They'll need a good answer to that one.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Patrick said:

    Indigo / Dair

    Greens in the 'very libertarian' area is laughable. It's hard to imagine a more directive authoritarian bunch. Their whole manifesto is 'we'll force you to ruin your living standards for the sake of the warblers'.

    Well quite, and since the site appears to be run by a bunch of lefties and do-gooders "Empathy in Action" one should expect them to blow smoke up the @rse of left leaning parties and make unfavourable connections for right-wing parties.
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144
    edited March 2015
    Any charge that Dave is "frit" of a debate with Ed is clearly not going to get traction. Dave has been party leader for ten years, PM for five; he bests Ed on a weekly basis. So the only charge that sticks is that he is doing it for party advantage. A shocking reason. I'm shocked that he could be so partisan.

    The political commentators who want their bread and circuses might bitch. Tough. They can have their one debate - when the leaders get about ten minutes each in a chaotic whirl that will leave most voters going "Huh? I like Plaid Cymru best. How do I vote for them?". Or they can have no debate.

    If Labour expect us to believe that they have been keeping their Deadly Ed Super-weapon under wraps for five years, just waiting his moment to spring forth in a one-to-one with Cameron and show us he's The Most Formidable Politician Of All Time.... well A) really? paint me sceptical and B ) well you fecked up with that strategy didn't you. Hur hur hur.

    Cameron will do what it takes to get re-elected. Those who can't see his determination to get re-elected seriously underestimate the guy.
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    coolagornacoolagorna Posts: 127
    "Is this going to backfire for Dave"?

    Yes

    Thats that one dealt with

    New Thread again..?
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Cyclefree said:

    Not interested in the debates.

    Much more interested in the news about the SFO investigating the Bank of England.

    Yes. That is quite a story!

    I am not too bothered by a debate. The 7 leader one will be a circus. A circus with half a dozen varieties of clown, none of whom is very funny.

    The head to head would be more interesting, but ED is a better tactitian than Dave, who doesn't do detail, so worth dodging. Dave is pretty slippery so can probably get away with it.

    The British public will not be bothered. They would rather watch Celebrity Bake Off Come Dancing anyway!
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    coolagornacoolagorna Posts: 127

    Any charge that Dave is "frit" of a debate with Ed is clearly not going to get traction. Dave has been party leader for ten years, PM for five; he bests Ed on a weekly basis. So the only charge that sticks is that he is doing it for party advantage. A shocking reason. I'm shocked that he could be so partisan.

    The political commentators who want their bread and circuses might bitch. Tough. They can have their one debate - when the leaders get about ten minutes each in a chaotic whirl that will leave most voters going "Huh? I like Plaid Cymru best. How do I vote for them?". Or they can have no debate.

    If Labour expect us to believe that they have been keeping their Deadly Ed Super-weapon under wraps for five years, just waiting his moment to spring forth in a one-to-one with Cameron and show us he's The Most Formidable Politician Of All Time.... well A) really? paint me sceptical and B ) well you fecked up with that strategy didn't you. Hur hur hur.

    Cameron will do what it takes to get re-elected. Those who can't see his determination to get re-elected seriously underestimate the guy.

    "He bests Ed on a weekly basis"

    Apart from yesterday

    and er last Wednesday

    Etc Etc Etc

    Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear

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    anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    edited March 2015
    FPT

    Interesting analysis of UKIP strategy:

    ‘Our aims are quite simple,’ says [Ukip’s election strategist ] Bruni-Lowe: ‘Get Nigel elected in South Thanet, win a good number of seats, and then come second in more than 100 northern constituencies.’ Finding a Westminster perch for the leader is the top priority. A few more seats would be nice, but Ukip’s aim is to position itself for the 2020 election. The bet is on Labour’s support dissolving in the north of England, as it is already doing in Scotland.

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9461352/as-the-election-nears-ukip-is-getting-serious-about-its-strategy/

    Given how short-term the vision of Con/Lab seems to be, a party with a plan is a novel thing.

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,010
    Good morning, everyone.

    I bloody predicted this. That arse Clegg wants Cornwall to have its own assembly, paving the way for carving England up into pieces:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31739267

    I said this, the moment that perfidious weasel threw an unasked for minority status at Cornwall.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited March 2015

    Ex-Conservative MP Harvey Proctor's home searched by police

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31744282

    Tick tick tick...

    When you have that family name you should probably be a little careful about your choice of pastimes.

    http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5yo1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6ULAAAAIBAJ&pg=3230,5279144 (Maybe NSFW, not family friendly)
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290

    Good morning, everyone.

    I bloody predicted this. That arse Clegg wants Cornwall to have its own assembly, paving the way for carving England up into pieces:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31739267

    I said this, the moment that perfidious weasel threw an unasked for minority status at Cornwall.

    There is a County Council, isn't that good enough for Clegg?

    What will @SeanT say?
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,648
    Cameron is terrified of debates. He's convinced (incorrectly) that they cost him a majority in 2010.
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,237
    At the time, format etc of MY choice. My God the man is an arrogant chump.
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    Indigo said:

    OT: Probably not.

    "It is being reported" - in the Guardian.

    BTW: The 67% link is broken.

    Fixed now
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited March 2015

    Good morning, everyone.

    I bloody predicted this. That arse Clegg wants Cornwall to have its own assembly, paving the way for carving England up into pieces:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31739267

    I said this, the moment that perfidious weasel threw an unasked for minority status at Cornwall.

    They have a great venue for the assembly to meet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minack_Theatre

    It has an assembly anyway, its a county, so it has a County Council. With a population of around half a million is rather less populous than even a medium sized city as well, in fact about the same as, oddly enough, as Sheffield. Idiot.
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    Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,059
    edited March 2015
    Scrapheap Golden Rule 29:

    The angrier Bad Al Campbell is (he's got a book out by the way, he doesn't like to mention it) the better a move by Cammo.
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,237
    A big man would say he was prepared to debate Ed Milliband at any time and place and people would then respect him for it.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,010
    Dr. Spyn, he's fired the starting gun to balkanise England, the treacherous eurocrat. I was going to call him a fool, but I think this is entirely calculated on his part.

    If Cornwall gets an assembly, Yorkshire won't be far behind, and then the rest of England.

    With that, an English Parliament becomes nigh on impossible despite being the obvious counterpart to a Scottish Parliament and the most desired option by the English people. The lack of an English Parliament makes the UK unsustainable and lopsided, with greater advantage to the Scots [not saying it's entirely one-way, though] and equality for the English impossible.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @tnewtondunn: "Cameron accused of running scared on TV debates..." is the headline on BBC bulletins, who stand to lose out considerably by No10's offer.

    @BBCNormanS: Ed Miliband met BBC boss Tony Hall last night to urge broadcasters to stand firm over #tvdebates

    The smell of desperation from Labour is overpowering
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    richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    I get the feeling Coolagorna is familiar with very cheap Lager
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    RicardoRicardo Posts: 7
    I don't care about the debates either. They're a media circus. Thatcher sometimes stood up to broadcasters in the tough sort of way and it can look prime ministerial. This night work for Cameron.

    Aside from that, do you notice how he has suddenly dictated the terms of the campaign? It's going to be short and begin on 30th March which is news to me.

    He looks and sounds a lot like a Prime Minister.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787

    "Is this going to backfire for Dave"?

    Yes

    Like when he rode a horse and had to resign?

    Or when he shopped at Morrisons and had to resign?

    Or when he refused to debate Salmond and had to resign?
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Cyclefree said:

    Not interested in the debates.

    Much more interested in the news about the SFO investigating the Bank of England.

    Yes. That is quite a story!

    I am not too bothered by a debate. The 7 leader one will be a circus. A circus with half a dozen varieties of clown, none of whom is very funny.

    The head to head would be more interesting, but ED is a better tactitian than Dave, who doesn't do detail, so worth dodging. Dave is pretty slippery so can probably get away with it.

    The British public will not be bothered. They would rather watch Celebrity Bake Off Come Dancing anyway!
    Indeed a celebrity political bake off would be interesting. My predictions:

    Nigel Farage: Fruitcake topped with nuts

    Nick Clegg: A flopped souffle with a soggy bottom.

    Ed Milliband: A bacon sandwich. He never learns...

    Natalie Bennett: Organic Lentil bake.

    Nicola Sturgeon : Battered Haggis with plenty of oil.

    David Cameron: An Eton mess!

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,010
    Welcome to pb.com Mr. Ricardo.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,063
    dr_spyn said:

    Good morning, everyone.

    I bloody predicted this. That arse Clegg wants Cornwall to have its own assembly, paving the way for carving England up into pieces:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31739267

    I said this, the moment that perfidious weasel threw an unasked for minority status at Cornwall.

    There is a County Council, isn't that good enough for Clegg?

    What will @SeanT say?
    Didn’t “equal-sized constituencies” start to go wrong when someone pointed out you’d have to have a cross-Tamar seat?
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    nigel4englandnigel4england Posts: 4,800

    A lot will depend on the broadcasters. They can make it an issue or they can accept the Downing Street ultimatum. Let's see what they do.

    If the Tories are going to major on Ed, though, and make him a central part of their campaign, a very natural question is: "If Ed is so crap and it would be dangerous to let him close to Downing Street, why is the PM scared to debate with him?" They'll need a good answer to that one.

    About time someone stood up to the broadcasters.

    Sky now control football in this country, not the FA or Premier League, do we want them controlling politics as well?

    The BBC try hard enough as it is.
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    anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    edited March 2015


    The British public will not be bothered. They would rather watch Celebrity Bake Off Come Dancing anyway!

    Messrs Clegg, Cameron and Miliband routinely attract <20% support for the notion that they are 'honest'.

    There's not much point listening to promises from people you consider liars.

    https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/aqvfvjn8ot/YG-Archives-Pol-Trackers-Leaders-Perceptions-250215.pdf
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited March 2015
    Scott_P said:

    @tnewtondunn: "Cameron accused of running scared on TV debates..." is the headline on BBC bulletins, who stand to lose out considerably by No10's offer.

    @BBCNormanS: Ed Miliband met BBC boss Tony Hall last night to urge broadcasters to stand firm over #tvdebates

    The smell of desperation from Labour is overpowering

    Would this be the same Ed and Tony that had a meeting about "weaponising the NHS" before Christmas, followed, by complete coincidence I am sure, by several weeks of the BBC ramping people being 2 minutes late getting to hospital in an ambulance so they could have their leg put in plaster... Nice to see we have a neutral state broadcaster that doesn't take covert briefings from politicians.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,427
    Scott_P said:

    @tnewtondunn: "Cameron accused of running scared on TV debates..." is the headline on BBC bulletins, who stand to lose out considerably by No10's offer.

    @BBCNormanS: Ed Miliband met BBC boss Tony Hall last night to urge broadcasters to stand firm over #tvdebates

    The smell of desperation from Labour is overpowering

    What might be damaging for Cameron is for this to drag on. There isn't going to be debate. I'm guessing he'll have to ride out days of faux shock and horror, before regaining the agenda with the Budget on 18th. The public will soon forget all this, even if they have noticed.
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    Moses_Moses_ Posts: 4,865
    This will just be PMQ's but at prime time. The outcomes and the various writers reports the following morning will be the same as well. Our man won..no he didn't ours did! Meanwhile the only winners will be the Tv channels who are actually doing all the bullying on this. I said the same in regard to the debates at the last election so it applies to all parties and all leaders.

    I do not want our next leader decided on the whims of a short TV programme. I suspect I am not alone in that thought.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @BBCNormanS: Nick Clegg will turn up for the head to head #tvdebate with Ed Miliband if PM refuses says @paddyashdown @bbcr4today

    @BBCJLandale: Lord Ashdown says Nick Clegg would replace David Cameron in head to head debate with Ed Miliband if the PM refuses to turn up

    ROFLMAO
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,427
    Actually, thinking about it, surely Labour demanding broadcasters stand firm means they are colluding in there not being a debate.
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    RicardoRicardo Posts: 7

    Welcome to pb.com Mr. Ricardo.

    Thank you :)

    I don't blame Cameron. It's beginning to look (to me) like his election to lose. A nice big juicy generous budget should see the Conservatives go 5% clear and with it the momentum.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    The fearless T Watson mentioned the arrest many hours before MSM.
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    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,205
    If Cameron won't agree to the debates as set out by the broadcasters, then he shouldn't be invited at all and the others should debate without him.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Actually, thinking about it, surely Labour demanding broadcasters stand firm means they are colluding in there not being a debate.

    They are colluding in there not being a debate after Cameron is forced to squirm for a while and EdM gets to pick up a few cheap points.... because those are pretty much the only sort he managed to pick up these days.

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    steve_garnersteve_garner Posts: 1,019
    Posters getting all het up about the tv debates and whether or not Cameron has made an error may care to reflect that when voting time comes "it's the economy stupid".
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    edited March 2015
    I wonder if Ed told Tony in their cozy chat if he wanted to weaponize the [non-]debate issue?

    Cameron is certainly playing high stakes dictating to not only the BBC, but Sky, ITV and C4, all of whom will miss out on a nice pay day if the debates don't go ahead. Given Cameron has marched up to the top of the hill, he can't back down now. Very high risk strategy.

    I wonder if the Tories have focused group the cr#p out of this or just winging it?
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    It's not a vote-changing subject. But it is a time-wasting subject. And time is not on the Conservatives' side.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @philipjcowley: The idea that Nick Clegg is just going to turn up at debates and offer to take part makes him sound like a political Yosser Hughes...
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,787

    FPT

    Interesting analysis of UKIP strategy:

    ‘Our aims are quite simple,’ says [Ukip’s election strategist ] Bruni-Lowe: ‘Get Nigel elected in South Thanet, win a good number of seats, and then come second in more than 100 northern constituencies.’ Finding a Westminster perch for the leader is the top priority. A few more seats would be nice, but Ukip’s aim is to position itself for the 2020 election. The bet is on Labour’s support dissolving in the north of England, as it is already doing in Scotland.

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9461352/as-the-election-nears-ukip-is-getting-serious-about-its-strategy/

    Given how short-term the vision of Con/Lab seems to be, a party with a plan is a novel thing.

    In fairness, both Lab & Con have to focus on 2015, worrying about 2020 can wait for another day.....

    That said....Osborne is doing some long term thinking in the North to undermine Labour's fortresses.......
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,077

    But, but, but......Cameron had to debate Salmond, everybody said so.....if the debates question turns into a big issue, then won't voters simply see the leaders as publicity hungry media whores not interested in the issues that affect them?

    He has already proven he is weak and feart, now he cowers at the prospect of facing Wallace, LOL.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Scott_P said:

    @BBCNormanS: Nick Clegg will turn up for the head to head #tvdebate with Ed Miliband if PM refuses says @paddyashdown @bbcr4today

    @BBCJLandale: Lord Ashdown says Nick Clegg would replace David Cameron in head to head debate with Ed Miliband if the PM refuses to turn up

    ROFLMAO

    Dave can play exasperation as an excuse: "It is simply impossible to get everyone to agree the format, and now it is too late"

    Without debates the attention on the news would be the usual photo-stunts, and we know how good Ed is with those. Look forward to lots of politicos pointing at squid...
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    Cameron debates one to one with Miliband live on telly every Wednesday at 12 noon.
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    anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    MPs pay
    "A look at wage figures for different professions from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) illustrates that by paying MPs more we would actually get a worse quality of MPs.

    Higher pay would tempt to parliament the low performers of high paying professions (bankers; lawyers; lobbyists) thus pushing out high performers of lower paying professions (teachers; IT managers; nurses…).

    b) The statistics show the vast majority are sheep, voting according to the party line."

    http://leftfootforward.org/2015/03/would-paying-mps-more-attract-a-better-calibre-of-mp-the-evidence-suggests-not/
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,403

    A lot will depend on the broadcasters. They can make it an issue or they can accept the Downing Street ultimatum. Let's see what they do.

    If the Tories are going to major on Ed, though, and make him a central part of their campaign, a very natural question is: "If Ed is so crap and it would be dangerous to let him close to Downing Street, why is the PM scared to debate with him?" They'll need a good answer to that one.

    There is no good answer.

    His line should be: I'll debate anyone, anywhere, on anything, no matter who is on the other side of the table to me or how many of them there are.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    malcolmg said:

    But, but, but......Cameron had to debate Salmond, everybody said so.....if the debates question turns into a big issue, then won't voters simply see the leaders as publicity hungry media whores not interested in the issues that affect them?

    He has already proven he is weak and feart, now he cowers at the prospect of facing Wallace, LOL.
    Though he avoided the battle, he won the war. Scotland voted for Union.

    Clever man!
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    SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    The last PM debates were utter dross, overly stage managed and sterile. - If they are to go ahead then at least revamp the bloody things to involve enormo-haddock and dwarf tossing.
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    IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited March 2015

    MPs pay
    "A look at wage figures for different professions from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) illustrates that by paying MPs more we would actually get a worse quality of MPs.

    Higher pay would tempt to parliament the low performers of high paying professions (bankers; lawyers; lobbyists) thus pushing out high performers of lower paying professions (teachers; IT managers; nurses…).

    If there were any IT people or teachers or nurses in parliament they might have a point.

    The wording is disingenuous as well, ONS didn't say anything of the sort, LeftFootForward did using their reading of ONS wage data.
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @paulwaugh: Scotsman: Douglas Alexander says Miliband 'wants to rule out a deal' with SNP but is 'waiting for the right moment' http://t.co/r15fzl5xFW
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,290
    18 and 19 April c 3.00pm might be a good time for the live debates.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    "Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor is speaking to Today after his house was searched by police. The police have told him they are investigating historical sex abuse allegations going back to 1970s and 1980s, he says. The offences he committed in the past would no longer be offences - they related to the age of consent, he adds. He denies ever attending sex parties of being part of any "rent boy ring" with high profile figures."
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,403

    Any charge that Dave is "frit" of a debate with Ed is clearly not going to get traction. Dave has been party leader for ten years, PM for five; he bests Ed on a weekly basis. So the only charge that sticks is that he is doing it for party advantage. A shocking reason. I'm shocked that he could be so partisan.

    The political commentators who want their bread and circuses might bitch. Tough. They can have their one debate - when the leaders get about ten minutes each in a chaotic whirl that will leave most voters going "Huh? I like Plaid Cymru best. How do I vote for them?". Or they can have no debate.

    If Labour expect us to believe that they have been keeping their Deadly Ed Super-weapon under wraps for five years, just waiting his moment to spring forth in a one-to-one with Cameron and show us he's The Most Formidable Politician Of All Time.... well A) really? paint me sceptical and B ) well you fecked up with that strategy didn't you. Hur hur hur.

    Cameron will do what it takes to get re-elected. Those who can't see his determination to get re-elected seriously underestimate the guy.

    "He bests Ed on a weekly basis"

    Apart from yesterday

    and er last Wednesday

    Etc Etc Etc

    Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear

    As was pointed out on here yesterday by whoever it was (apologies to him/her) - when we have come to the point where Ed "wins" by criticising the government for not implementing a policy which Lab disagreed with then we the voters deserve everything we get.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    Kay Burley, Sky News presenter tweets: So @campbellclaret says he's been prepping @Ed_Miliband for #TVdebates by 'playing David Cameron' Now there's a thought...
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    FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    Scott_P said:

    @paulwaugh: Scotsman: Douglas Alexander says Miliband 'wants to rule out a deal' with SNP but is 'waiting for the right moment' http://t.co/r15fzl5xFW

    Who is the coward now?
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    nigel4englandnigel4england Posts: 4,800

    Kay Burley, Sky News presenter tweets: So @campbellclaret says he's been prepping @Ed_Miliband for #TVdebates by 'playing David Cameron' Now there's a thought...

    Would be fantastic if someone leaked the Chilcot report about a fortnight before the GE
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,237
    Ricardo said:

    I don't care about the debates either. They're a media circus. Thatcher sometimes stood up to broadcasters in the tough sort of way and it can look prime ministerial. This night work for Cameron.

    Aside from that, do you notice how he has suddenly dictated the terms of the campaign? It's going to be short and begin on 30th March which is news to me.

    He looks and sounds a lot like a Prime Minister.

    He looks and sounds incredibly arrogant Ricardo
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    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,077

    malcolmg said:

    But, but, but......Cameron had to debate Salmond, everybody said so.....if the debates question turns into a big issue, then won't voters simply see the leaders as publicity hungry media whores not interested in the issues that affect them?

    He has already proven he is weak and feart, now he cowers at the prospect of facing Wallace, LOL.
    Though he avoided the battle, he won the war. Scotland voted for Union.

    Clever man!
    Yes we can see it is lost , do you live underground you dunderheided halfwit.
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    FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012

    The last PM debates were utter dross, overly stage managed and sterile. - If they are to go ahead then at least revamp the bloody things to involve enormo-haddock and dwarf tossing.

    Keep Wee Dougie out of this.
    But otherwise you are totally correct.
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,403

    A lot will depend on the broadcasters. They can make it an issue or they can accept the Downing Street ultimatum. Let's see what they do.

    If the Tories are going to major on Ed, though, and make him a central part of their campaign, a very natural question is: "If Ed is so crap and it would be dangerous to let him close to Downing Street, why is the PM scared to debate with him?" They'll need a good answer to that one.

    About time someone stood up to the broadcasters.

    Sky now control football in this country, not the FA or Premier League, do we want them controlling politics as well?

    The BBC try hard enough as it is.
    Sky = subscription model = you the viewer control football.

    Don't like it? Stop paying the effing sub.
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    RicardoRicardo Posts: 7
    I work in child protection but I don't like the way police and media release details and names prior to charges being brought. Presumption of innocence until proven guilty is or should be a universal right.
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    PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083

    Good morning, everyone.

    I bloody predicted this. That arse Clegg wants Cornwall to have its own assembly, paving the way for carving England up into pieces:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31739267

    I said this, the moment that perfidious weasel threw an unasked for minority status at Cornwall.

    Mr Dancer, Gool Peran Lowen to you to.

    [I'm wondering whether this is just Clegg colluding in Cameron's debate-wrecking by paving the ground for insisting that the leader of Mebyon Kernow must be added to the One Debate)
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,427
    Scott_P said:

    @paulwaugh: Scotsman: Douglas Alexander says Miliband 'wants to rule out a deal' with SNP but is 'waiting for the right moment' http://t.co/r15fzl5xFW

    Why would he want to do this before the election?
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @JananGanesh: The number of actual people who care about these TV debates equals the number who still use the word "frit".
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    Why would he want to do this before the election?

    So Labour can campaign against the SNP in Scotland.

    @paulwaugh: In fact Lab brinkmanship with SNP is more imp that Cam brinkmanship re TV debates. If Lab rules out working with SNP, Cam cd return to No.10

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    nigel4englandnigel4england Posts: 4,800
    TOPPING said:

    A lot will depend on the broadcasters. They can make it an issue or they can accept the Downing Street ultimatum. Let's see what they do.

    If the Tories are going to major on Ed, though, and make him a central part of their campaign, a very natural question is: "If Ed is so crap and it would be dangerous to let him close to Downing Street, why is the PM scared to debate with him?" They'll need a good answer to that one.

    About time someone stood up to the broadcasters.

    Sky now control football in this country, not the FA or Premier League, do we want them controlling politics as well?

    The BBC try hard enough as it is.
    Sky = subscription model = you the viewer control football.

    Don't like it? Stop paying the effing sub.
    BBC and their huge left bias attempt to control politics.

    Can I stop paying my licence fee?
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    edited March 2015

    "Former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor is speaking to Today after his house was searched by police. The police have told him they are investigating historical sex abuse allegations going back to 1970s and 1980s, he says. The offences he committed in the past would no longer be offences - they related to the age of consent, he adds. He denies ever attending sex parties of being part of any "rent boy ring" with high profile figures."

    Assuming that he is telling the truth, would these offences be covered by an amnesty for historic convictions relating to homosexuality?

    Equalizing the age of consent was in the nineties as I recall.
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,237
    My God the PB tories are funny. If this was the other way round and Ed was running scared of Dave, this blog would be a wall of noise. But no, debates are crap and Dave is prime ministerly by hiding from them.

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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,144

    Any charge that Dave is "frit" of a debate with Ed is clearly not going to get traction. Dave has been party leader for ten years, PM for five; he bests Ed on a weekly basis. So the only charge that sticks is that he is doing it for party advantage. A shocking reason. I'm shocked that he could be so partisan.

    The political commentators who want their bread and circuses might bitch. Tough. They can have their one debate - when the leaders get about ten minutes each in a chaotic whirl that will leave most voters going "Huh? I like Plaid Cymru best. How do I vote for them?". Or they can have no debate.

    If Labour expect us to believe that they have been keeping their Deadly Ed Super-weapon under wraps for five years, just waiting his moment to spring forth in a one-to-one with Cameron and show us he's The Most Formidable Politician Of All Time.... well A) really? paint me sceptical and B ) well you fecked up with that strategy didn't you. Hur hur hur.

    Cameron will do what it takes to get re-elected. Those who can't see his determination to get re-elected seriously underestimate the guy.

    "He bests Ed on a weekly basis"

    Apart from yesterday

    and er last Wednesday

    Etc Etc Etc

    Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear

    Throw a little bait on the water, and up come the beasties from the murky depths....

    The only remotely memorable thing from yesterday's PMQ's was who will have Ed on their leaflets? The Tories. The SNP. Labour? Not so much...

    Ed is a dud. Who says? Those Labour MPs who don't want to be associated with him. We'll be counting up who those are from their leaflets....
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    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    Scott_P said:

    @tnewtondunn: "Cameron accused of running scared on TV debates..." is the headline on BBC bulletins, who stand to lose out considerably by No10's offer.

    @BBCNormanS: Ed Miliband met BBC boss Tony Hall last night to urge broadcasters to stand firm over #tvdebates

    The smell of desperation from Labour is overpowering

    The question surely is whether Labour wants the debates, or simply to keep the headlines reporting Cameron as running scared.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,427
    Scott_P said:

    Why would he want to do this before the election?

    So Labour can campaign against the SNP in Scotland.

    @paulwaugh: In fact Lab brinkmanship with SNP is more imp that Cam brinkmanship re TV debates. If Lab rules out working with SNP, Cam cd return to No.10

    Bit late for all that surely? Best to admit there might be circumstances or as Waugh says, there's not many likely scenarios were Lab are in power.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,010
    Mr. Monksfield, some have been saying the debates were atrocious for the last five years or so.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    But, but, but......Cameron had to debate Salmond, everybody said so.....if the debates question turns into a big issue, then won't voters simply see the leaders as publicity hungry media whores not interested in the issues that affect them?

    He has already proven he is weak and feart, now he cowers at the prospect of facing Wallace, LOL.
    Though he avoided the battle, he won the war. Scotland voted for Union.

    Clever man!
    Yes we can see it is lost , do you live underground you dunderheided halfwit.
    Just pointing out that sometimes the best way to win is to avoid battle.

    Personally I am happy to see so many Scots rejoicing in the Union by eagerly campaigning for seats in Westminster!
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    CD13CD13 Posts: 6,351
    Indigo,

    Thanks for the link about Proctor being fined £1450.

    And from Wiki ... "In June 1986, The People newspaper published claims that Proctor had taken part in spanking and cane beating of male prostitutes, aged between 17 and 21, in his London flat. The age of consent for homosexuals was still 21 in 1986, and the following year Proctor was charged with gross indecency and resigned his candidature."

    But surely, Ed wants 'gross indecency' offences to be expunged (or whatever the legal term is).

    Will Proctor get his £1450 back?

    However, he still stands guilty of a far worse crime ... that of being a Tory?
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    FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012

    Posters getting all het up about the tv debates and whether or not Cameron has made an error may care to reflect that when voting time comes "it's the economy stupid".

    The debates (so called) are just beauty contests. Every sitting PM since the dawn of time has refused debates. Err... except Brown. Says it all.
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    isamisam Posts: 41,002
    edited March 2015
    Friends of mine with zero interest in politics (most of them) were glued to the debates last time. Facebook friends who normally post videos of lad bible etc were discussing politics. Obviously the Cameroons on here are trying to downplay their significance because it's the party line. If Dave was demanding them and ed was wavering they would be calling ed an Enemy of democracy etc but that's par for the course (kudos to TSE for lack of bias in thread header)

    If all politicians had agreed not to have debates this time, I don't think the wider public would notice there hadn't been any... They aren't that interested. But if there is a big song and dance created over the lack of debates by the other parties then the general public will notice the argument and take sides, and I think they will blame/criticise Dave for being cowardly and evasive
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    FlightpathFlightpath Posts: 4,012
    Moses_ said:

    This will just be PMQ's but at prime time. The outcomes and the various writers reports the following morning will be the same as well. Our man won..no he didn't ours did! Meanwhile the only winners will be the Tv channels who are actually doing all the bullying on this. I said the same in regard to the debates at the last election so it applies to all parties and all leaders.

    I do not want our next leader decided on the whims of a short TV programme. I suspect I am not alone in that thought.

    Correct
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,292
    Jim Waterson, BuzzFeed UK deputy editor tweets: Happy to host a seven-way leaders' debate over Twitter group DMs at a time that suits the parties.

    LOL
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @stephenkb: Feel for Sky News. They thought they were getting the battle of the PMs. Now they're getting a Reith Lecture, or a Beckett play.
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    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    Posters getting all het up about the tv debates and whether or not Cameron has made an error may care to reflect that when voting time comes "it's the economy stupid".

    The debates (so called) are just beauty contests. Every sitting PM since the dawn of time has refused debates. Err... except Brown. Says it all.
    If it is true Labour refused in 1997, it must be the Conservatives who wanted them, surely?
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    FernandoFernando Posts: 145
    "The risks for David Cameron are that he ends up looking like a bully"

    Is there any evidence that this is a problem? Even Brown (or his henchmen), who had many faults, never seemed to suffer for being bullies and ruthless operators.
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    PlatoPlato Posts: 15,724
    I've got almost zero interest in the debates - especially a 7-sided one.

    One between Cameron and Miliband may get me to tune in, but it's no sure thing. The fuss volume about it is hilariously OTT.

    So far, bar the prospect of the SNP/No Voters splattering SLAB on May 7th, this election campaign is doing almost nothing for me.
    Scott_P said:

    @JananGanesh: The number of actual people who care about these TV debates equals the number who still use the word "frit".

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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,427
    UKIP supporters will be pleased with Telegraph's analysis of Matthew Goodwin's views on where their strength lies. Farage to win "convincingly" and 3 or 4 others in the bag.

    Looking at his predicted UKIP strongholds, I was interested to note that the area around Merthry Tydfil was very strong. We've not heard much about Welsh kippers as far as I am aware. Obviously this is Lab heartland territory, but could an upset be in the works?
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    Ishmael_XIshmael_X Posts: 3,664
    isam said:

    Friends of mine with zero interest in politics (most of them) were glued to the debates last time. Facebook friends who normally post videos of lad bible etc were discussing politics. Obviously the Cameroons on here are trying to downplay their significance because it's the party line. If Dave was demanding them and ed was wavering they would be calling ed an Enemy of democracy etc but that's par for the course (kudos to TSE for lack of bias in thread header)

    If all politicians had agreed not to have debates this time, I don't think the wider public would notice and they would get away with it, but if there is a big song and dance created over the lack of debates by the other parties then the general public will notice and take sides, and I think they will blame/criticise Dave

    You are a kipper, and you don't see what a dishonest and distorting medium television is? Do you think it has been fair in its portrayal of Ukip?
This discussion has been closed.