Chris28 wrote:
Don't see the point of these debates tbh. We managed without them until 2010 and then it seemed to be that they were held at the behest of Sky. What purpose do they serve?
Including Farage will make it car crash tv, but why is he allowed in (with 2 MPs) when the Greens aren't (1 MP) and. for example, SNP aren't (6 MPs)?
Ratings fodder for the tv channels and although I suspect that Cameron has other motives behind his decision, this is one of the few things I agree with him on. One in, all in.
I can see why the SNP would be excluded. Same reason Plaid Cymru would be. Over 90% of the population of the UK can't vote for them.
I think the Greens should be in and I signed the petition. However while I don't agree with why they are being excluded (just how is Ofcom qualified to decide who is a major political party, they are a communications regulator?) what you can't have is any political party or party leader dictating who is on the panel.
That would undermine the editorial independence of the BBC. If the BBC invites him for him to say "no" because some other party is excluded means he can always use this excuse to avoid scrutiny.
It is also clear Cameron is a hypocrite and using this as an excuse to avoid debate given as mentioned by the O/P he had no such principles in 2010. He didn't give a stuff about the Green's being included then, he just wanted a pop at Gordon Brown.
I also think it is unacceptable that the PM is hiding behind this excuse as it means he isn't going to face scrutiny in a live debate. He is supposed to be answerable to us yet he (or Lynton Crosby more like) has dreamt up this excuse to avoid it. Not good enough.
It may be wrong for the Green's to be excluded but for the PM not to put himself up to scrutiny before a general election? Pathetic and unacceptable.
It would be great if they were included because despite his apparent altruistic calls for their inclusion they would rip him apart on the governments environmental record.
