To think Jeremy Corbyn is a spineless wimp

[Dongdingdong]

As everyone will know, Theresa May has challenged Jeremy Corbyn to a televised debate on Brexit. According to Sky News, Downing Street accepted a proposal to screen the debate on the BBC at 8pm on Sunday December 9th.

The BBC's plan would see both leaders take questions from a panel, including commentators and other politicians, as well as debating each other - which to me, sounds like an eminently sensible proposal.

However, Corbyn has proved to be reticent, not only challenging the choice of channel, saying he'd prefer the debate to take place on ITV (with no good reason at all, as far as I can see).

He then said he didn't want any interaction from other people - just a one-on-one debate with Theresa May. I don't get this at all - surely, in the spirit of democracy, the more voices and different opinions that are allowed to be aired, the better!

AIBU to think it's coming across as though he just doesn't have the nerve to stand up and debate on prime time TV, and is just trying to slither out of the whole situation by making ridiculously lame excuses? What is he so afraid of?

Nadine bloody Dorries who thinks our EXIT agreement lacks the ability to have a say and seats in the European Parliament- there aren't enough eye rolls in the world.

The BBC have agreed to the format the P.M wants, which means less head to head with Corbyn. No wonder he objects.

And the bbc aren't pro Tory, hmm?

No but they've agreed with the Prime Ministers suggested format.

Hmmm?

Patronising much?

Corbyn objects to the BBC format because, apart from the head to head, there will be contributions from experts and representatives of other parties. This would mean it would be more difficult to do what he did during the referendum campaign: 25 mins on the evil Tories and their domestic agenda and then a mumble-mumble in which he gave equal time to criticism of the EU as to its benefits. He told the BBC he would do it only on condition he could widen the debate to domestic policy.

He wants this to be Round One in a GE campaign, not an in-depth debate on May's Deal. There's no way he could mug up the detail and get through without some massive blunder. May would run rings round him.

"There's no way he could mug up the detail and get through without some massive blunder. May would run rings round him."

She doesn't manage this on a weekly basis, and has struggled to make the case for her deal.

But here, have some confirmation for your bias.

Spineless? Well i'm no JC fan but anyone with his voting history cannot really be labelled spineless. I disagree with him on many things, but the man has principles. To a point.

Brexit is where he has taken leave of his principles. It is an uncomfortable fact for his core support that he is a shy Brexiteer. He does not want to debate this live because he will be found out by TM, who is far more intelligent and a superior debater. (Why TM skipped the GE debates is beyond me, it probably cost her a majority).

A better word for Corbyn's position on Brexit would be disingenuous. His plan is to let the Tories tear themselves apart over Europe (which the Tories have been doing for years- its just come to a head now) and benefit from the mess without ever saying anything meaningful, whether confirming or denying his eurosceptism.

All this 6 points stuff is another excuse for him to trot out his 'fairer society' stuff without giving us any idea of what this really means.

"he will be found out by TM, who is far more intelligent and a superior debater"

She really isn't at all.

Agree that TM isn't the better debater. In the head-to-head sort-of debate that did happen before the GE, I think Corbyn did slightly better than her. She struggled to give any meaningful answers, just sound bites that already sounded tired (anyone else remember the dreaded Coalition of Chaos?)

Yep TM generally parrots sound bites and avoids answering questions. Doesn't make someone a superior debater in my book.

Neither of them debate well.

Corbyn also avoids answers i mean anyone know Labours position is on Brexit?

Update: Theresa May is a bottler. HTH, OP.