:-(
A former member
ITV and BBC are now agreeing to extended one of the debate for all seven main leaders..
SE
Square Eyes
Founding member
Shouldn't we have nation only debates ? As far as I am aware Plaid nor SNP will be on my ballot in England.
Besides the DUP want in now. Is nobody going to let Al Murray on as well ?
Besides the DUP want in now. Is nobody going to let Al Murray on as well ?
:-(
A former member
Shouldn't we have nation only debates ? As far as I am aware Plaid nor SNP will be on my ballot in England.
trouble is the SNP are heading to be the third biggest party in Westminster, but I agree with what your saying. Maybe there should only show the DC/ED/NC debate in England only while at the same time Scottish, NI , and Welsh versns.
GL
This is the trouble with half baked federalism! It should be seperate debates in each nation. But, until this happens, there needs to be a presence from all major parties. (and I include SNP, Greens and Plaid as major) I'm also not against NI parties also being involved. It's called democracy. It's messy but it gives us a chance to see what each leader plans. If you are in England, you won't be able to vote for Nicola Sturgeon but you will certainly be affected by her plans. Her party is on course to win 55 seats and is almost guaranteed to be the 3rd biggest at Westminster. They will have massive influence if the opinion polls are correct. Of course, if Scotland had just voted yes, we wouldn't have had to worry about this!! (At least not in Scotland) 
:-(
A former member
This is the trouble with half baked federalism! It should be seperate debates in each nation. But, until this happens, there needs to be a presence from all major parties. (and I include SNP, Greens and Plaid as major):
This happened last time, BBC, STV/UTV and ITV wales produce two sperate local debate for each part of the uk.
DO
Even if you're in Scotland, most people won't be able to vote for her, she'll only be standing in one constituency.
55 / 59 seats? That's the highest prediction I can find anywhere. Most seem to put the upper bounds around 48.
If you are in England, you won't be able to vote for Nicola Sturgeon but you will certainly be affected by her plans.
Even if you're in Scotland, most people won't be able to vote for her, she'll only be standing in one constituency.
Her party is on course to win 55 seats
55 / 59 seats? That's the highest prediction I can find anywhere. Most seem to put the upper bounds around 48.
BR
This is just getting ludicrous now. Indeed surely if they're selecting who appears in these debates on the basis of election predictions there isn't much point in the election at all considering it's supposedly done and dusted. Getting even more ridiculous too with the Northern Ireland party now wanting a platform too.
Personally as far as the SNP and Plaid Cymru are concerned I do think they should be involved in separate debates for Scotland and Wales. I do think this time around the broadcasters should have stuck to the same format as 2010 - after all they've tried to tinker it and look what a mess that has ended up in.
Personally as far as the SNP and Plaid Cymru are concerned I do think they should be involved in separate debates for Scotland and Wales. I do think this time around the broadcasters should have stuck to the same format as 2010 - after all they've tried to tinker it and look what a mess that has ended up in.
RI
In my opinion it should be Lab,Con,Lib Dem,UKIP and Greens for the big debate, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having extra debate programming featuring the likes of the SNP.
As for Channel 4, I'm still wondering where their alternative slant is for their debate proposal? David vs Ed in drag? The debate taking part in the Chicken Shop? It's just what the other mainstream channels are doing and to me that's kinda boring.
As for Channel 4, I'm still wondering where their alternative slant is for their debate proposal? David vs Ed in drag? The debate taking part in the Chicken Shop? It's just what the other mainstream channels are doing and to me that's kinda boring.
DV
With the polls apparently suggesting that we are in for another coalition or confidence and supply Government, I can see the argument for
CON, LAB, LDEM, UKIP, SNP, PC, DUP, SDLP and SINN FEIN having a seat as each have a group of MPs albeit only 2 in the case of UKIP.
SINN FEIN would be unlikely to accept as they don't take their seats. Once you start disqualifying one or more from that list then others become unviable too. The regional parties because of their potential involvement in Government get a qualification from me to the National debates.
If the GREENS are let in there really can't be a reason to exclude RESPECT and ALLIANCE as each currently have a member.
It's clear that the more members the longer each of the debates will have to be. Two hours simply isn't enough.
CON, LAB, LDEM, UKIP, SNP, PC, DUP, SDLP and SINN FEIN having a seat as each have a group of MPs albeit only 2 in the case of UKIP.
SINN FEIN would be unlikely to accept as they don't take their seats. Once you start disqualifying one or more from that list then others become unviable too. The regional parties because of their potential involvement in Government get a qualification from me to the National debates.
If the GREENS are let in there really can't be a reason to exclude RESPECT and ALLIANCE as each currently have a member.
It's clear that the more members the longer each of the debates will have to be. Two hours simply isn't enough.
VM
That just doesn't seem like a good proposition for viewers though. 7 different candidates talking for possibly several hours. I can't see it working if they go ahead with it.
It's clear that the more members the longer each of the debates will have to be. Two hours simply isn't enough.
That just doesn't seem like a good proposition for viewers though. 7 different candidates talking for possibly several hours. I can't see it working if they go ahead with it.
DV
It's not aimed at being a good proposition. Britain is now far too condescending to populist aims. We get away at elections with minimalist debate now. If they ran from 7 till 10, with a single 15min pause at 8.45, it'd be a good opportunity to see how the Prime ministerial candidates perform at length.