Posted August 2, 200915 yr Lord Mandelson's unexpected suggestion yesterday that Gordon Brown would be happy to take on David Cameron in a televised debate during the general election campaign. The First Secretary of State said in a newspaper interview that he did not think the Prime Minister "would have a problem with that". It was no slip of the tongue: in a subsequent television appearance he said there should be "open debates between the parties and between the leaders". Yet within hours of Lord Mandelson's intervention, Number 10 had squashed the idea flat. Mr Brown's spokesman said that the PM's views on television debates had not changed: he is against them. Which brings us back to our original question – what did Lord Mandelson mean? Was he seeking to embarrass Mr Brown? If so, he has succeeded. Or did this famously strategic political operator have another plan in mind? Could he have been thinking that by the time of the election, Labour may well have a leader who would both relish the prospect of a televised debate with Mr Cameron, and might even be rather good at it – perhaps, to pluck a name out of the air, Alan Johnson? Easy-going ex-postman pitched against a Tory toff? Who would not want to see that on the telly? Some might see this as being too devious an explanation, but when Lord Mandelson is involved, things are rarely quite what they seem. Source: Sunday Telegraph Should we be going down the road of TV debates for our political leaders like they do in the US? If we did, who would win the debate. Brown or Cameron, or possibly Clegg if got to take part?
August 2, 200915 yr Any debate would have to include Nick Clegg because of the rules on balance in an election campaign. I suspect at least one of the leaders will withdraw citing a failure to agree a suitable format.
August 2, 200915 yr Cameron would wipe the floor with Brown, totally embarrass him I don't like him but he is the best political orator in the country bar none, the British Obama when it comes to pubic speaking
August 2, 200915 yr Cameron would wipe the floor with Brown, totally embarrass him I don't like him but he is the best political orator in the country bar none, the British Obama when it comes to pubic speaking I wouldn't be so sure. It would depend on the format. Brown is at his best in serious interviews but is terrible at Richard and Judy / GMTV sofa type interviews. With the right format, Brown would be able to expose how little substance there is to Cameron. I agree that he is the best political operator (not the same thing as an orator) in the country at the moment. That's why I don't trust him. I'll just give one example. He has said (as a matter of political expediency) that he would abolish the Financial Services Authority. As a result, the FSA is finding it very difficult to recruit staff at a time when they need all the people they can get. Therefore, they are going to struggle to do their job of regulating the banks and other financial institutions over the next year.
August 3, 200915 yr He has said (as a matter of political expediency) that he would abolish the Financial Services Authority. As a result, the FSA is finding it very difficult to recruit staff at a time when they need all the people they can get. Which is proof to me that the man's a fool and just an empty suit of hot air.... The FSA doesn't need scrapping, it certainly needs fundamental over-hauling and the right people in charge who wont just kiss the arse of the banks, but that's not the same thing as abolishing it.... Broon was a fool to take regulatory powers away from the Bank of England though it has to be said.... Craig's been quite critical of Obama as well mate, so calling Cameron the "British Obama" is actually him damning with faint praise..... :lol:
August 3, 200915 yr It's different in the US when you've only (generally) got 2 honchos running for President and you can have a 'head to head' debate. It's not as simple over here in a Parliamentary system. Yes you'd need to have Broon, Cameron and Clegg. But then what about the SNP and Plaid Cymru? Ok, these other parties are not UK wide but they are 'national' in the nations they represent. You couldn't have a pre-election TV debate shown in Scotland with Alex Salmond excluded given that he leads the 2nd biggest party (arguably the biggest). In fact, I believe he's threatened legal action if there's any suggestion of this happening. 3 Party Politics is relevant to England but not to Scotland and Wales. Unless they only Broadcast the big debate in England while up here we get the 'Except for viewers in Scotland who have a repeat of the 1973 Hogmanay Show' message. :lol: Here's the link http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Salmond-...n-TV.5515728.jp Edited August 3, 200915 yr by Jupiter9
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