Will any of the General Election TV debates take place? Labour hopes they will, and today Douglas Alexander has written to Grant Shapps demanding that the Tories commit to doing the head-to-head debate with Ed Miliband, even if all the smaller parties are tying themselves up into fights over he seven-way debate.
Alexander writes:
‘In the light of the previous comments from yourself and Mr Cameron, I am sure you will agree this is a “credible debate” and an excellent opportunity for the British people to watch the two leaders who stand a realistic chance of being Prime Minister after May 7.
‘I am happy to confirm on Mr Miliband’s behalf that he will turn up to debate Mr Cameron on April 30. Can you today confirm that Mr Cameron will be there too?
‘Failure to answer this question will lead many to conclude that you and Mr Cameron are reluctant to give the British people the chance to make up their own minds.
‘The broadcasters have set the date. The invitation is in the post. The only question remaining is whether David Cameron is willing to go head-to-head with Ed Miliband.’
This all sounds very well and good: Cameron did make many positive noises about the important role of these debates in democracy and so on. But Cameron’s response can quite easily be that the TV debates are a package, and therefore the head-to-head must work as part of the group of three, with the two other seven-way debates agreed too. And Cameron can see the seven-way debates getting messier and messier without his input at all. So we return to the stalemate, as the date of the debates draws nearer, and the prospect of them happening fades.
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