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Original poster

April 22nd TV Debate

823 replies

squirrel42 · 19/04/2010 21:41

I'm going along to be in the audience this Thursday for the Sky News TV Debate - it's being filmed in the South West, although it seems we're not supposed to say exactly where for security reasons.

Would people like an official MN behind-the-scenes report afterwards?

Should I break the rules and heckle/cheer loudly at a strategic moment, and if so then when?

If I'm allowed to ask a question should I go "off-script" and ask about biscuits?

Is there anything else I should think about?

OP posts:
alicatte · 22/04/2010 22:57

Oh dear Oh dear Oh dear - YouGov. Just seen that possibly slightly biased question - was it balanced with questions containing equally negative implications related to the other parties? I hope so or it might skew your results - a bit.

said · 22/04/2010 22:57

Neither re Nestle. I'm just doing what he's doing and scaremongering.

Good article here about Murdoch From 1994. I remember reading it at teh time.

megcleary · 22/04/2010 22:57

Am an undecided voter, just musing on tactics not sure if a surge at the end for DC is what is best just flinging a thought out there.

alicatte · 22/04/2010 23:01

Just watchin Ann Leslie on Question Time - I'd recommend it.

BeenBeta · 22/04/2010 23:03

A slight change of tack on the thread. I do wonder if the loss of his son has hit DC harder than we know. Something like that can affect someone deeply and take years to come to terms with. It undoubtedly affects a person's priorities. He seems to have less fight in him.

Other blogs/forums tonight are asking if DC as perhaps had too long a run as opposition leader and not as fresh as he should be.

alicatte · 22/04/2010 23:07

Loss inevitably hits people whoever you lose but perhaps a child - well it must be unspeakable. I think he did a lot better tonight perhaps he deserves less criticism.

wubblybubbly · 22/04/2010 23:09

Ann Leslie is a great argument against smoking.

UnrequitedSkink · 22/04/2010 23:11

Can anyone provide evidence that the YouGov polls are controlled by Murdoch? I thought YouGov was independent?

edam · 22/04/2010 23:12

Makes me a bit uncomfortable to bring his poor son into it. Sadly losing a child is something that Cameron and Brown both share.

Mind you, Tony Blair's famous 'wobble' when he nearly resigned was to do with family stuff so you could be right.

TDiddy · 22/04/2010 23:14

do they know the questions before hand?

said · 22/04/2010 23:17

This is a year old but John Humphrys was/is a shareholder here

megcleary · 22/04/2010 23:17

No just the topics beforhand.

edam · 22/04/2010 23:18

re. the deal with Murdoch - when the Sun came out for Cameron, the Tories dropped their policy of top-slicing the licence fee to support regional TV - something News International hated for obvious commercial reasons. No doubt a Cameron govt. would savage the Beeb - Murdoch hates it (his son ranted about 'state sponsored TV' at a media festival a while back - apparently profit is the only guarantee of media independence, says the company responsible for that bastion of unbiased journalism, Fox...).

alicatte · 22/04/2010 23:18

Unrequited, I don't think the YouGov thing is intimately related to the Sky reporting/Murdoch concern. I have no idea whether YouGov has any agenda, I shouldn't think that they have any overall bias or they would not be able to conduct their business. It was just this one odd question and the idea that it was a Sun or ITN sponsored poll.

said · 22/04/2010 23:22

YouGove was founded by 2 tories No idea whether they have an agenda or if Murdoch has any influence

Heathcliffscathy · 22/04/2010 23:32

this is a deliberate attempt to produce a poll which shows the Lib Dem surge as a blip, and thus discourages potential Lib Dems voters. That the Murdoch press pull such a stunt should surprise nobody. But even though they are getting huge money from Murdoch for these daily polls, YouGov must realise that this abrogates all professional methodology and breaches the ethics of the polling industry. The senior management of YouGov must resign. STOP PRESS Anthony Wells of YouGov (known henceforth as YouGove) admits YouGov asking these "questions, but claims the voting intention question ought to have been asked first. He also points out that the antiLib Dem questions were "Not for publication". I bet they bloody weren't. this from [[http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/04/yougovmurdoch_d.html this link

yougov asking anti-libdem questions before polling.

yougov clearly in pocket of whoever paying them, i.e. murdoch/sun

TDiddy · 22/04/2010 23:39

thanks megcleary

UnrequitedSkink · 22/04/2010 23:41

Thanks Sophable - useful.

UnrequitedSkink · 22/04/2010 23:42

Argh - except link doesn't work!!

bluecardi · 22/04/2010 23:45

I thought the can do attitude of dc surprising. When he said yes he'd keep eye tests I was impressed - he didn't dither or start spouting we'll have to consider backtrackable statements. A really interesting debate

Original poster
squirrel42 · 23/04/2010 00:15

Bloomin' heck I get back to make a quick holding post and it's 30 pages long!

V quick report:

  • We were hanging around for ages beforehand and got stuck sitting on a coach for a while because of the EDL demo and protests kicking off outside. Lots of police with guns, all v exciting.
  • Sadly I failed to wear identifiable clothes or make a secret sign. Sorry anyone trying to spot me!
  • Adam Boulton did a Q&A beforehand and seemed very nice even if he didn't get to do much on air.
  • Leaders were all smiley before we went live, a producer was mopping up some spilt water by NC's lecturn and it looked quite suspicious - cue jokes about him being nervous and having an accident! Also DC and GB were coughing so NC joined in exageratedly which got a laugh.
  • All three seemed to approach things seriously and I enjoyed the discussion of policies, even though I am idealogically a Lib Dem supporter it was nice to hear the others arguing their corners.
  • Saw GB standing on tip-toes a lot, asked a producer why - they showed us a perspex box he was supposed to be standing on but they forgot it!
  • I won't say too much about my personal involvement in the debate or the news reports afterwards since I don't want to go giving out details which might identify me, but I will say that I got to shake Nick's hand at the end and have a quick chat, and it made my night!

I might have to go back through all 30 pages and see what everyone elses' thoughts were but I certainly enjoyed the evening and hope other people did too. I'll post back with more details and thoughts tomorrow, but if anyone has any specific Q's let me know.

OP posts:
Heathcliffscathy · 23/04/2010 00:31

sorry...don't knwo WHAT that link was...here is the right one again

Original poster
squirrel42 · 23/04/2010 00:38

I've had a quick scan through the previous pages and I'd like to add that:

  • I'm not Grace the lady who asked about pensions
  • The lady who asked about immigration was indeed called Bethlehem, they weren't getting her name wrong!
  • And a response to MollieO's comment about I might be busy snogging Nick Clegg - if only!
OP posts:
megcleary · 23/04/2010 06:09

Thanks for the update squirrel very interesting

SeaShellsOnTheSeaShore · 23/04/2010 07:10

INteresting re box given our conspiracy theories on sky trying to influence our opinion on Brown (and Clegg)! Can't see them forgetting DC's little box!