UK televised election debates

c_man

So with Cameron refusing to take part unless the Greens are given a representative in the debates, and the leaders of Labour, LibDems and UKIP dead set against the idea in letters sent to the PM do you think the tv debates will go ahead? Will either side budge, and what of the prospect of an empty chair for the Tories? What kind of effect will this have on the election?

So Cameron is playing politics (obviously) and hoping that a tv spot would help the Greens take some of Labour vote share. Still, I don't see why it's a bad idea. The Greens are levelish with the LibDems in polling and received more votes than them in last year's Euro elections.

BlitzKrieg

The Greens given some awareness will hurt Ukip as much as it'll hurt labour.

The vast majority of ukip's recent success has because outside of the big 3 they are the only party the major broadcasters/papers will talk about.

now the broadcasters/papers may be for the most part (rightly) ridiculing them but if you were a disenfranchised voter who wanted your vote to still mean something but still stick it to the main parties then being told the only other successful party are a bunch of rogueish racist like your funny old uncle down at the pub geezers.

Of course they'll pick up votes.

None of the broadcasters/papers talk about the greens so they're only known as that small extreme hippy greenpeace party.

Which is unfair considering outside of enviromental issues the green party does have policies on most major issues and they'd be the popular opinions, they are in favour of holding an EU referendum in the uk which frankly puts them on par with anything UKIP has to offer without the ickyness of the casual rascism.

On top of that they have an mp in the house of commons that was an actual green party member elected unlike again UKIP who's total representation (ever) in the parliament is built up of members that left the conservative party and joined UKIP. UKIP have never won a seat in a general election on the back of one of their own candidates.

So frankly if any awareness was brought to the greens as an actual party in a debate, where policies are discussed openly it'll be a repeat of the shock Nick Clegg delivered with the lib dems at the 2010 debates and a lot of protest votes will shift from ukip to the greens on top of some labour votes.


While it's silly politics on Cameron's side, it's equally so from the other 3 cause they know the effect of giving the Green party some attention will hurt all of them and I imagine after how well the conservatives cowed the lib dems they are more willing then any of the other parties to coalition with the greens and cow them in the same manner.

Iwasfrozen

c_man wrote: »

So with Cameron refusing to take part unless the Greens are given a representative in the debates, and the leaders of Labour, LibDems and UKIP dead set against the idea in letters sent to the PM do you think the tv debates will go ahead? Will either side budge, and what of the prospect of an empty chair for the Tories? What kind of effect will this have on the election?

So Cameron is playing politics (obviously) and hoping that a tv spot would help the Greens take some of Labour vote share. Still, I don't see why it's a bad idea. The Greens are levelish with the LibDems in polling and received more votes than them in last year's Euro elections.

It's fair enough, if UKIP are there to take votes from Tories the Greens should be there to take votes from Labour, otherwise (and this is preferable) don't invite UKIP.

BlitzKrieg

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's fair enough, if UKIP are there to take votes from Tories the Greens should be there to take votes from Labour, otherwise (and this is preferable) don't invite UKIP.

they cant do that anymore, ukip have infested the english media, usually with gaf stories, but they are household enough that that Farrage has milked the publicity into a platform for the party.

Iwasfrozen

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

they cant do that anymore, ukip have infested the english media, usually with gaf stories, but they are household enough that that Farrage has milked the publicity into a platform for the party.

Fine, but if UKIP are there to steal votes from the Conservatives including the Greens to steal votes from Labor is only fair.

ArmaniJeanss

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Fine, but if UKIP are there to steal votes from the Conservatives including the Greens to steal votes from Labor is only fair.

But UKIP aren't there to 'steal votes from the Conservatives', they are there in their own right as the biggest party in the most recent Euro elections and at this moment a genuine force in UK politics.

Iwasfrozen

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

But UKIP aren't there to 'steal votes from the Conservatives', they are there in their own right as the biggest party in the most recent Euro elections and at this moment a genuine force in UK politics.

They will, but since they will steal votes from conservatives it's fair enough for Cameron to ask for another left wing counterpart.