Theresa May is sending Amber Rudd to the TV debates

[cannotbelievethistoday]

Ha ha ha ha ha.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/28/amber-rudd-to-stand-in-for-theresa-may-in-televised-leaders-debate

The PM is not capable of turning up on TV and debating policy, but I thought she was so very strong and so very stable??

Seriously?? So she is sending Amber Rudd???

This is madness. JC is looking more Prime Ministerial by the day.

I'd like to see a Rudd vs Abbott showdown. That would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

I think they are all acting bizzarely. Jeremy corbyn has also said he won't do it if May doesn't do it. Friggen crazy. Neither corbyn or May will do debates.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/26/jeremy-corbyn-will-not-take-part-in-tv-debate-without-theresa-may

Well if Corbyn can't debate May what's the point? She's ridiculous, clearly can't handle it. Leaders should be willing to express themselves on any platform.

Corbyns got good reason not to, milliband went on debates when Cameron refused and all the other parties turned on him, then obviously tories won.
If the leader of the conservatives won't go on then why should the leader of any other party? Labour should send Kier Starmer or even better John Prescott 😂

I believe Corbyn's reasoning is that it would be a debate just between all the opposition parties, and provide the Tories with a whole bunch of stuff that they can twist and turn without having to answer for anything. He WANTS a LIVE debate with her - he keeps asking her to debate him, where it can be heard and not -fiddled with- edited by the BBC

She really is pathetic. It's no wonder Corbyn is saying he won't attend, if the "leader of the country" can't be bothered to do it why should anyone else, no point in a debate if she will only send a minion and not actually show her face. There is no hope for the UK with that leading it, she hasn't a clue.

Wait till she starts trying to negotiate with the EU. They'll wipe the floor with her. What a pathetic excuse for a leader'- let alone a Prime Minister.

I'd like to see a Rudd vs Abbott showdown

I'd pay good money to see that. Good money. Ringside seats. Stuff your Naked Greased Hog Rodeo at the Cowgirl's Ranch. Give me Rudd v Abbott any day of the week!

Do you, paperdoll? I do as a matter of fact.

What I mean is that without the ability to stop, treat blood sugar and restart once at an acceptable level, it would be very difficult for someone with T1. Hypoglycaemia affects cognition.

It's not really a case of "good control" with T1, and stress does affect blood sugar levels.

It doesn't mean that someone with T1 can't handle stress! Just that a live debate would be extremely difficult. Because she wouldn't be able to test, treat and control as necessary.

I can't think of another situation where that wouldn't be possible.

Let me reiterate that I can't stand her, or her politics!

Jolly I'd pay to see Rudd tagged with Liz Truss, vs Abbot tagged with Jess Phillips. But I think the best female MP wrestler would be Mhairi Black.

You do realise that Sturgeon isn't going to be on nor Corbyn either?

Have to admit I wouldn't want to get into a barney with Mhairi Black

You know Line - I reckon Nicola Sturgeon would be a canny little fighter! The possibilities are endless. But Mhairi Black would knock ten bells out of Rudd for sure!

she is so smug, she thinks she will win and apart from canvassing mc houses on tv needs to do nothing.
i pray she doesn't win

Please God that Labour don't send Diane Abbott to the debate. Keir Starmer or Clive Lewis instead Please!

TV leaders debates are absolutely shite. I'm surprised any politicians turn up.

If May refuses to debate, I don't see why any of the others should bother given that the Tory spin machine will use it against them.

Has May got anger management issues? She gets a look, sometimes, when challenged, that is not cool ...

linerunner I agree, she seems to get flustered and wound up and on the verge of losing her temper quite quickly from what I've seem of her live tv press interviews, when she gets asked something she doesn't like. And she also adopts quite a patronising tone at the same time which isn't a look her PR team will be mad about I'm sure!

If May refuses to debate, I don't see why any of the others should bother given that the Tory spin machine will use it against them.

None of them (Labour SNP or Tory) are. Labout is yet to conform who. Robertson fir SNP and Rudd for tory.This one was never going to be a leadership debate. She hasn't dropped out as she wasn't ever going to do it.

She gets a look, sometimes, when challenged, that is not cool

Both her and Corbyn do. Farron is the coolest and even Sturgeon manages to to an extent.

I think she's just not a very good public speaker - from what I've heard she's good at doing the actual work, but isn't good at speaking to crowds. Bit of a drawback during an election campaign!

Abbott/Rudd would be interesting!

Also, it would make far more sense to have separate debates for Wales and Scotland (and NI, but I doubt they'll take part in the debates anyway?), with their own Labour/Tory/Lib Dem leaders. You can't really debate meaningfully when half the things you're talking about are devolved...

Rino, It's not much discussed, is it? But something or someone is keeping her away from a live prolonged debate, and I have oft wondered if it's fear of a massive meltdown.

Both her and Corbyn do.

I think I know what look you're referring to and to me it looks more like frustration or annoyance at the style of interview rather than anger. Quite often he gives a nuanced answer to a question and the interviewer refuses to accept it and insists on a yes/no response.
May, on the other hand, often comes across as angry and condescending when pressed on an issue.

To sum it up: Corbyn seems to care about whether a particular position is reasonable and justified whereas May makes statements and doesn't like being questioned on them.