2019 General Christmas election.

I guess even if debate rules become formalised there wouldn't be a requirement they are on all of the 4 broadcasters seemingly interested - I'd expect only a BBC and ITV debate might require attendance.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/boris-johnson-is-threatening-to-review-channel-4s

Scenes - Gove and Johnson Sr attempt to replace an ice sculpture, which C4N has placed on a podium after the PM declines invitation for its election Leaders Climate debate - https://t.co/qEGWsUpd6n

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) November 28, 2019

🚨 BREAKING: Lee Cain, No10 director of communications, has filed a formal Ofcom complaint against @Channel4News pic.twitter.com/n2lyLBZNoI

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) November 28, 2019

Tories and Channel 4 officially at war as Boris Johnson’s team write to Ofcom attacking the broadcaster for failing to accept a Conservative representative for tonight’s debate.

Letter says C4 behaving in an “unfair” manner and tonight’s event is part of a “pattern of bias”. pic.twitter.com/Wj5cN52qhU

— Jack Maidment (@jrmaidment) November 28, 2019

We’re aware of Conservative Party Facebook adverts using edited BBC content. This is a completely unacceptable use of BBC content which distorts our output and which could damage perceptions of our impartiality. We are asking the Conservatives to remove these adverts.

— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) November 28, 2019

Aren’t you getting carried away yet again, just like all the other complants to Ofcom in the last few weeks, it’ll result in nothing.

He sent his dad. His dad. Pathetic.

At least it was his Dad, just imagine who Corbyn would of sent!

Actually he might not have sent his dad.

Stanley Johnson, father of Boris J, and supportive of tonight’s @Channel4News #Climatedebate asking Michael Gove, “Where’s my damn son tonight?! The planets burning and there’s a chair swinging in the breeze with his damn name on it?!’ (Was noisy, I might have misheard 😉) pic.twitter.com/208ZqFS399

— Clive Lewis MP (@labourlewis) November 28, 2019

Whilst I agree with you to an extent that leaders shouldn't be expected to attend every debate, I think it is also important to hold these debates, as they generally provide a bigger platform than you can achieve going door-to-door. For example, I live in a Conservative safe seat. This means that whilst my vote still carries some worth, I'm unlikely to hear from any potential PM as my vote won't make much difference, when I'd still like to hear about their views, and hear them argue for them.


The topic of tonight's debate is especially important to me right now, especially having recently suffered from a rogue crocodile visiting the local high street. As such, I'd like to hear the opinions of the PM, especially considering that I and many others couldn't visit him during his 30 minute, late evening visit.




Bringing this back to the debates, if both the major parties won't put their leaders up, then I understand them changing the terms, or scrapping the debate. However, most other leaders are willing to take questions on an increasingly important issue, then I think it is fair to expect the likes of Johnson to attend, or face scrutiny if they don't attend.

He didn’t need to send anyone. He turned up.

To be honest I think Boris has played C4 like a fiddle here and their stunt has backfired - nobody is talking at all about the contents of the debate. Only thing I've found mentioned on Twitter is Corbyn being challenged over nationalising the gas industry if he's truly committed to tackling Climate Change.

Maybe true. He'll bomb tonight as he's been doing all through the election campaign so no harm done.