Why does the BBC always seem so weak in these negotiating situations?
It wasn’t a negotiation, that would imply the politicians had a say in a BBC editorial matter, there is nothing ‘weak’ about it. The BBC put a programme proposal forward for a debate, outlined the format it would take, when they could broadcast it and from where. One leader agreed, the other didn’t, so they withdrew the proposal.
Will ITV/ITN succumb to the presumable pressure they are under from May’s team and introduce some sort of panel? I can’t see May accepting the head on debate that ITV and Corbyn have agreed without some changes.
In my opinion, the BBC should never have offered to introduce a large panel of people, it leaves very little room for actual debate. The BBC appeared to focus on catering too much for May, forgetting she needed somebody to actually debate.