Election Debate?
by Graham Davies

I stand by my prediction in an earlier blog that Gordon Brown will never allow himself to take part in a televised Election Debate. I say this despite the brilliantly blackmailing announcement by Sky News that they will hold one whether he takes part or not.

He will come up with the usual excuses:

• The House of Commons is the proper place to debate policy
• He wants to engage with real people, not other politicians
• A debate misleadingly implies that the Election is some sort of Presidential contest between individuals

These reasons are all a bit thin. In fact, he does have two real reasons to duck out. Firstly, he still wants to play the status game of "I am the Prime Minister, and you are not". He does not want to descend into a pit with two individuals who are merely Party Leaders.

But the second reason remains the most compelling one: his ponderous, 20th Century style of presentation will be swept away by the Fast Gloss of Nick and Dave.....and perceived defeat in a head-to-head TV contest will merely accelerate his inevitable demise.