"Four-fifths of public want Green party in TV leaders’ debates"

[WhistlingPot]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/17/poll-green-party-leaders-election-debates

Seems reasonable to me!

I quite like the Independents take on why they shouldn't be allowed though.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/let-me-list-the-reasons-that-the-green-party-should-definitely-not-be-allowed-into-the-tv-election-debates-9873964.html

Sleep tight.

I hope the Greens will take part because they have enough popular support that I think it would be undemocratic and unrepresentative not to let them take part.

Nevertheless, I think a lot of their policies are really, really mad. I wonder how many of their new supporters have read through their policies in detail?

Not many I suspect. They probably gave a cuddly kitten image of the party. I first read their manifesto in the late1970s when living in a very 'hippy' area. I thought then that they were immature, unworldly, ideologists whose policies would then have, quite literally, seen us return to transport by horse!

Seems they are still a bunch of idiots with one good policy - banning the sale of puppies. Now I wonder who exactly that will work?

I would think there would be the same proportion of supporters who have detailed knowledge of any party’s manifesto. That’s why the media’s role in promoting understanding of what is out there is so important.

As with any party though, it’s likely there’s a mix of reasons why people give their support – do people vote for specific policies or candidates, or the general stance of the party knowing that policies and candidates can be challenged or changed?

I think one thing is clear; that the number of those engaging in pre-election support for minor parties and therefore potential protest votes is sky-rocketing as a reaction to there not being anything particularly solid or attractive to vote for in the mainstream.

FWIW I don't think the greens have a particularly "cuddly kitten" image. That's often an image imposed by those who lack understanding of "green” or environmental policies IME.

Green policies are not about saving furry animals because they is cute (btw cats are actually one of, if not THE most invasive species on the planet, often doing more harm than good, ecologically speaking!).

Anyhoo, has Cameron decided if he's going to take part in any debates yet?

Whistlingpot ... He said he will, but you know what liars politicians are. lol

By the sound of it, he wants the debates sooner than later, not in the last 5-weeks, which kinda makes sense.

UKIP, Greens, the Screamers, for those that don't want to vote Labour of Conservative, but want to exercise their democratic right, they won't follow the small party policies too closely, just identify with the core belief. IMO

The Pub Landlord is ALREADY seen by ‘the people’ as PM material – what a shame they’ll be no room at the partly leader Inn for the new peoples political messiah.

www.independent.co.uk/news/people/al-murray-ed-milibands-a-twonk-10005220.html
“The character, who has pledged to brick up the Channel Tunnel and furnish the voting public with a "British moon on a British stick", clearly fancies his chances in May's elections.

Quote “Farage has a French surname so is clearly a sleeper agent of some kind.”

lolololololololol

Miliband challenged Cameron today at PMQT to just a two main party scheduled debate a week before the 2015 General Election, clearly wishing to bypass the 7 party debates - when Cameron has always said he want the debates out of the way weeks before the election.

But WHAT is Miliband going to debate, as similar to 2010, Labour's solutions to our problems are as clear as mud, which is why no one can criticise their 2010 pledges on the budget deficit, the economy, how to improve real wages, immigration, home building etc - as they DIDN'T have any.

Cynically, all he wants to do is try and knit pick the coalitions 5-years of policies, when his party years after the crash, had no solutions themselves.

If that is the case then why doesn't Cameron take up his challenge or does he fear he is not up to it? Is he running scared of Miliband and to a greater extent, Farage?

Downing Street has just announced its proposal for a debate. Cameron is willing to take part in just one 90 minute debate with 7 parties but wants to rule out a head to head debate with Miliband. So that's it, the PPE is frit.

Ha ha ha ... you have Miliband with no solutions only bluster, Farage frightened to release the UKIP manifesto and changing his immigration policy weekly 'to cap,or not to cap' - yet those policy lightweights want to have a crack for cheap points at a government/coalition's policies that has delivered so much much when others were clueless, not just here, but in Europe?

Maybe when they GROW SOME, and I don't just mean policy substance, they will be worthy of Cameron's time.

Claig ... here is UKIP's 2010 general Election manifesto.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8617187.stm

Why doesn't Farage use that manifesto AGAIN, as he is only going to bin whatever he spouts now within a year or so, once he has the votes?

news.sky.com/story/1200525/nigel-farage-disowns-ukip-manifesto-as-drivel
"UKIP leader Nigel Farage has disowned the party's entire (2010) general election manifesto - which he helped launch - branding it "drivel”.

'they will be worthy of Cameron's time'

Cameron is supposed to represent the people. He is not some Etonian lord who can choose whether he is accountable or not. Let him face the music that Farage will play.

Farage is not changing policy. That is the Establishment media's desperate spin to try and stop the people voting UKIP. But the public don't care. They know the game.

The message to the broadcasters from the Conswervatives, running scared, was

"This is our final offer ..."

Sense of misplaced importance or what?

This may end up being their final offer and farewell to the people. Take it or leave it. We'll leave it, thanks. We're voting for the people, we're voting UKIP.

Claig ….. this is not about the relevance of the Oxbridge debating society, or a ‘class thang’ this is about the future direction of this country and the whole POINT of the debates was not to criticise the government, it is for all parties TO DETAIL THEIR POLICIES.

Why is it on all these Daily Politics/Andrew Marr type shows, when asked to specify THEIR policies, for years other parties start with “well the Conservatives……..”?

What is the point debating with a Labour Party that for 5-years has said the coalition have cut too much (opposing in parliament every cut), who then now BLAMES the coalition for not entirely getting rid of the £157 billion budget deficit they left?

What is the point debating with a Labour Party that at PMQT accuses the coalition of cutting benefits, yet Rachel Reeves and others in newspapers say that they will cut benefits in 2015 MORE than the coalition, so one assumes would have done so from 2010 if in power?

What is the point debating with a UKIP whose immigration spokesman said last week on the daily Politics that there WILL be a migrant cap, whereas Farage the other day both said there wasn’t one and proposed an Australian Point system not possible while remaining in the EU?

What is the point debating with a self confessed ‘peoples party’ UKIP, unable to produce a UK General Election Manifesto to TELL the people what they stand for 60 days before a general election, when the last one they tell us was rubbish – if 8-years isn’t enough to get their policy pooh together, clearly Farage is looking for a ‘dogs chance’ on the day, like Clegg in 2010?

In other words, the WHOLE CONCEPT of a Leader Debate is NOT for other Leaders to say what they think people want to hear, it is to tell the people in detail WHAT THEIR PARTY WOULD DO, whether the largest party, or with influence within another coalition we are surely heading for.

If other political leaders want to trivialise this countries future like it was a game show, well they have a seven party platform, that would no doubt be called ‘SIX-TO-ONE’ and they can play all the games they want during that session.

'What is the point debating with a Labour Party'

Because the people want to see the party leaders held to account, questioned and wiped the floor with by Farage for example.

The country is not an Etonian or Oxbridge dining club where PPEs blithely carry on messing up and ignoring the people. If the meteoric rise of the People's Army has taught us anything, it has taught us that.

'In other words, the WHOLE CONCEPT of a Leader Debate is NOT for other Leaders to say what they think people want to hear, it is to tell the people in detail WHAT THEIR PARTY WOULD DO'

No, it is not for the leaders, it is for the people and it is so that the people can judge how the leaders respond and articulate their policies.

The people know they are running scared, they know Farage has put the fear of God into the Oxbridge class, the people know that the privileged PPEs fear that their whole game is up, that their scheming will crunble into dust, but if the leaders wish to lead the people and run the country, then running scared is no excuse for not facing the music and the People's Army.

'Out-of-touch MPs 'don't get it' says ex-Civil Service Chief'

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/outoftouch-mps-dont-get-it-says-excivil-service-chief-10086249.html

They are out of touch and out of luck because now there is a People's Army that is shaking their cosy cliquish comfort to the core.

They want to remain out of sight of the people and the People's Army, to hide from the People's Army, they want to avoid facing the music and avoid facing questions on their record. I don't blame them because facing the People's Army is no laughing matter. But they face a duty to the people to stand up and explain what they claim to believe.

'This is our final offer ...'

was the pompous, privileged, patronising parting shot of the arrogant out-of-touch spinners to the people's media.

The People's Army reject their 'final offer' and will give their final answer at the ballot box.

Claig …. You confirm my view, that if the leadership debate is not going to concentrate on the FACTS including the current economic recovery pre 2010 policies would again derail, and spout pathetic class/ideological irrelevances e.g. ‘a millionaires tax cut’ (put up in Labour’s last full month in power and raised LESS tax), WHAT IS THE POINT?

In 2015 either Miliband or Cameron will lead the largest party in parliament and due to unfair English electoral boundary lines, as the Conservatives need to be several points ahead in the polls for a majority, when the two main parties are neck and neck, those voting UKIP ENSURE the next prime minister is Miliband.

Do you not think UKIP owe future generations to at least tell the electorate now WHY, via their full manifesto, they think voters should do that by voting for UKIP – preferably BEFORE any debate?

An ex Labour appointee civil servant (asked to leave early) saying MP’s are out of touch with the current coalitions record clearly did not look too closely at the Labour policies up to 2010, or is looking at their socialist French mirror image over the channel, who kept their fat inefficient State, implemented penal taxes, but still growth flat lining and unemployment levels nearly twice ours around 11%.

The fact the UK benefits rose MORE than most of Europe through ‘the good times’ and fell slower than Europe after, matters not to a man with a grudge and like Labour forgets, they handed over the largest government (£157 billion) annual overspend in cash terms, in the whole of Europe including the so called P.I.I.G.S. countries.

I used to say Miliband would put the UK on ‘the Road to Greece, via France’, maybe under Miliband I reprogrammed my sat-nav, with the final destination FRANCE.

Mar 2015; ”French factory decline even worse than Greece”
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11444091/French-factory-decline-even-worse-than-Greece.html

”The economic divide between Europe's largest economies widened in February, as a closely-watched survey showed manufacturing output in France contracted at a faster rate than Greece, despite the weakening euro.”

So the TV debateS (more than one will go ahead), with the broadcaster ready to 'empty chair' a non attending Cameron.

I hope Cameron does empty chair all but one, with a minion there on the others staying silence with three boards to hold up on each subject ('before' May 2010 and 'after' in May 2015, and their policy to 2020) showing the Conservative led coalition record and solutions going ahead - while the all other parties bluster and practice their disingenuous soundbites on each other. lol

Best all the other parties get the full facts on each of their policies, costed or with new taxes to come after 2015, JUST IN CASE the broadcasters hosts, ask them.

"Cameron would rather look ‘frit’ than face a bashing from Farage"

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/14/cameron-frit-tv-debate-bashing-farage

"Mr Farage went on: ‘You look at these political figures, they are all like cardboard cut-outs. They are all playing safe, they are all scared of the media. I’m not, I’m a bit like Marmite. People either like me or don’t like me.’

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2981119/Why-hated-man-Britain-Farage-grilled-Loose-Women-drinking-smoking-marriage-policy-flip-flopping.html

The people's revolution cannot be stopped. The truth cannot be silenced. Farage will speak and the Oxbridge Establishment will squeak. Their Establishment comedians won't be on the podium so Farage won't face the Establishment's odium. Nits are frit, they're in the sh.., all they can do is quit, Farage will come out swinging and score a helluva hit. It's over. That's it.

There will be 5 progressive parties vs Farage. They will all offer to do deals and coalitions among themselves but never ever with Farage.

But who will win? The cardboard cut-outs? The puppets? or Farage?

'They are all playing safe, they are all scared of the media. I’m not'

Who will the people crown the winner? Why Farage of course, he'll eat the cardboard cut-outs up for dinner.

22 million watched the debates last time when there were people like Gordon Brown on them.

Can you imagine the increase in viewers by millions and millions now that Farage is on the debates?

The people will tune in, they want the people's party to win,. When Farage finishes speaking, the cardboard cut-outs hopes will lie torn-up in the bin.

What the Oxbridge Establishment spinners and progressives are dreading is an almighty Farage shredding, they know it's all over bar their expenses and out the door they're heaading.

Of course Farage wants the leaders debates.

For nearly 20-years he has misrepresented UKIP's ability to bring the UK out of the EU, when only a Westminster Parliamentary majority of 320 odd seats can do that.

Farage signed of upon, then rubbished his own 2010 general election manifesto.

The man has still not managed to produce a 2015 general election manifesto to appeal to blue, red, yellow, green and Monster Loonies voters he and his purple minions have said for years they represent, because it is impossible to be all things to al voters.

SERIOUSLY, IS THAT the policy lite fraudulent Wooden Top you think Cameron fears in a policy debate, based on economically where the UK was (and Europe bar Germany still is) and where we are now???????

”Growth map of the UK: How the North West is catching up with London despite capital's economy growing 3.7% in a year”
www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2956127/North-West-s-growth-catching-London-capital-s-production-output-grows-3-7-12-months.html

”But the report by Royal Bank of Scotland shows there was no ‘North-South divide’ with the North West and East Midlands the second and third strongest regions with growth of 3.1 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.”

”‘Growth over the past year for many regions has been at or above the historical average,’ writes RBS economist Rupert Seggins in the report.”

”‘With labour markets continuing to heal across the UK, 2014 should be chalked up as a success for the regional economies.’”

And that is why Farage wants the debates, as he can only TALK, Cameron has a record of delivering.

I may not like the SNp's Mr Salmond's politics, but I have to admit that he is the consummate politician, Westminster will be enriched by his very presence, as he already is taking the P one S out of Labour and their policies.

”Ed mocked for trying to make TV debates law: Labour leader ridiculed by all sides with Salmond asking if Cameron will be jailed for not taking part”
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2985686/Ed-mocked-trying-make-TV-debates-law-Labour-leader-ridiculed-sides-Salmond-asking-Cameron-jailed-not-taking-part.html

Miliband obviously wants to start as they left in 2010, when I think the final May 2010 total was closer to 4,300 new laws.

Aug 2006; "Blair's 'frenzied law making' : a new offence for every day spent in office"
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blairs-frenzied-law-making--a-new-offence-for-every-day-spent-in-office-412072.html

'SERIOUSLY, IS THAT the policy lite fraudulent Wooden Top you think Cameron fears in a policy debate'

It's not just me who thinks Cameron is frit of Farage. Nick Clegg thinks so too.

"David Cameron is running scared of pre-election TV debates because he doesn't want to go toe-to-toe with Nigel Farage, Nick Clegg has declared."

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/5360907/nick-clegg-david-cameron-scared-nigel-farage-tv-debates.html

And it's not just Cameron who is scared of Farage, the entire Bullingdon Club is too. Every last teenage think tank Oxbrdige employee and spinner has been drafted in to save the skin of the Tories. The People's Army gives them nightmares.