CA
Labour and LDs say it's a start.... But haven't fully agreed yet.
But yes Cameron will be very happy imo.
Michael Crick says on Twitter that Miliband will attend the ITV debate but hopes that the others will go ahead. No official statement from broadcasters yet
Looks like Cameron got what he wanted in the end and is now positioning himself as deal maker rather than deal breaker.
Labour and LDs say it's a start.... But haven't fully agreed yet.
But yes Cameron will be very happy imo.
Michael Crick says on Twitter that Miliband will attend the ITV debate but hopes that the others will go ahead. No official statement from broadcasters yet
Last edited by Cando on 17 March 2015 5:57pm - 2 times in total
RD
Presumably any debate featuring one of the Northern Ireland parties but not the others would either have to be not broadcast in Northern Ireland, or require the other NI parties to be given extra airtime (even if only on BBC Northern Ireland/UTV) in reply to/to make up for the perceived advantage the included party was given?
rdd
Founding member
Cameron hasn't got what he wants yet - Labour say they're sticking to the original debate formats and I'm expecting protest from Sinn Féin at exclusion.
Presumably any debate featuring one of the Northern Ireland parties but not the others would either have to be not broadcast in Northern Ireland, or require the other NI parties to be given extra airtime (even if only on BBC Northern Ireland/UTV) in reply to/to make up for the perceived advantage the included party was given?
ME
I can't believe the sheer nerve of Cameron and the Tories who have twisted this for months on end blaming the broadcasters and somehow making this stick! It's bad enough to manipulate people's views of the opposition but to turn on the TV broadcasters who represent the electorate (whatever their intentions) is a joke!
DV
Not at all, the broadcasters should have had this sewn up with agreements sorted twelve months ago.
To proceed without agreement with all the parties would be against the RPA as amended, and crucially Miliband's plans to legislate for them are misguided and interfering with the concept of a free media.
A veto on format bearing these points in mind is completely reasonable.
To proceed without agreement with all the parties would be against the RPA as amended, and crucially Miliband's plans to legislate for them are misguided and interfering with the concept of a free media.
A veto on format bearing these points in mind is completely reasonable.
ME
How is it interfering with a free media to have debates as law? It's kind of redundant as it won't happen but still the question remains. It's not banning broadcasters don't anything.
Oh twelve months ago...a whole year. Really? They seem to have been going on about it for at least 6 months if not 9 in my mind. They've had to change the set up so many times for one reason - David Cameron. They have probably put forward every possible configiration by now and the prime minister, you'd think a responsible person, has twisted around time after time. It comes across as a tad dictatory.
Oh twelve months ago...a whole year. Really? They seem to have been going on about it for at least 6 months if not 9 in my mind. They've had to change the set up so many times for one reason - David Cameron. They have probably put forward every possible configiration by now and the prime minister, you'd think a responsible person, has twisted around time after time. It comes across as a tad dictatory.
DV
Agreed it's not banning BUT IT IS mandating their schedules significantly so. It's telling not only Politicians and Wannabe Politicians what they must do, but also dictating to broadcasters that there must be time set aside for them. There are clearly impositions on BOTH sides which is wrong. It wouldn't surprise me that the proposed legislation would cover formats too. It's a step to mandated broadcasts in other areas also.
How is it interfering with a free media to have debates as law? It's kind of redundant as it won't happen but still the question remains. It's not banning broadcasters don't anything.
Agreed it's not banning BUT IT IS mandating their schedules significantly so. It's telling not only Politicians and Wannabe Politicians what they must do, but also dictating to broadcasters that there must be time set aside for them. There are clearly impositions on BOTH sides which is wrong. It wouldn't surprise me that the proposed legislation would cover formats too. It's a step to mandated broadcasts in other areas also.
ME
Hmmm....as I say, he probably won't bother doing it and wouldn't get it to happen anyway but....I don't see the issue there it's not like it's a sinister thing whatsoever.
DT
Presumably any debate featuring one of the Northern Ireland parties but not the others would either have to be not broadcast in Northern Ireland, or require the other NI parties to be given extra airtime (even if only on BBC Northern Ireland/UTV) in reply to/to make up for the perceived advantage the included party was given?
I don't know how SDLP/Alliance/UUP would react but according to the BBC's own election guidelines the DUP and Sinn Féin should be given more coverage than the other main parties as they are the major two parties in Northern Ireland.
Given that in 2 out of the last 3 NI wide tests of public opinion Sinn Féin have beaten the DUP in votes then surely there is a clear legal argument - regardless of whether or not they abstain they still represent the views of 25.5% of the NI electorate. Personally I would include them as well as the DUP as you can say to the other three main parties that not only are they not they the same 'level' of party as the others but also that they have alliances with the main three Westminster parties whereas the DUP and Sinn Féin are independent of the Westminster Trio. (TBH I wanted this with the prospect of a 9 way debate mainly because I was hoping Gerry Adams would share a national stage for 2 hours with the PM)
Cameron hasn't got what he wants yet - Labour say they're sticking to the original debate formats and I'm expecting protest from Sinn Féin at exclusion.
Presumably any debate featuring one of the Northern Ireland parties but not the others would either have to be not broadcast in Northern Ireland, or require the other NI parties to be given extra airtime (even if only on BBC Northern Ireland/UTV) in reply to/to make up for the perceived advantage the included party was given?
I don't know how SDLP/Alliance/UUP would react but according to the BBC's own election guidelines the DUP and Sinn Féin should be given more coverage than the other main parties as they are the major two parties in Northern Ireland.
Given that in 2 out of the last 3 NI wide tests of public opinion Sinn Féin have beaten the DUP in votes then surely there is a clear legal argument - regardless of whether or not they abstain they still represent the views of 25.5% of the NI electorate. Personally I would include them as well as the DUP as you can say to the other three main parties that not only are they not they the same 'level' of party as the others but also that they have alliances with the main three Westminster parties whereas the DUP and Sinn Féin are independent of the Westminster Trio. (TBH I wanted this with the prospect of a 9 way debate mainly because I was hoping Gerry Adams would share a national stage for 2 hours with the PM)
TM
I don’t favour legislation myself, but I think it’s overreaching slightly to suggest that it would be 'interfering with the concept of a free media'.
There are already lots of statutory requirements placed upon PSBs – such as broadcasting news and current affairs in peak time as well as party political and election broadcasts etc. I’m not sure adding election debates to this would necessarily constitue a threat to the free media?
Miliband's plans to legislate for them are misguided and interfering with the concept of a free media.
I don’t favour legislation myself, but I think it’s overreaching slightly to suggest that it would be 'interfering with the concept of a free media'.
There are already lots of statutory requirements placed upon PSBs – such as broadcasting news and current affairs in peak time as well as party political and election broadcasts etc. I’m not sure adding election debates to this would necessarily constitue a threat to the free media?
BR
It's not so much the media that need regulating - it's the politiicans. They parties don't make the call on the Party Election Broadcasts so shouldn't on the debates. The format of the debates shouldn't be down to the dictator of the day and his little lapdog who doesn't even know what his own name is.