TV Debates have become an important part of our elections, let’s do them right The first election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will be on our TV screens tonight, at 9pm on ITV. We’ve already seen a debate between party leaders in Scotland (none of whom are... Posted 04 Jun 2024
What can we learn from Canada’s Leaders’ Debate Commission? This election’s televised leaders debates have taken place against a backdrop of endless rows over who should be allowed to take part, in what has become a recurring feature of our election campaigns. Arguments over... Posted 04 Dec 2019
It’s time we stopped arguing about the TV debates – and guaranteed real choice for voters Tonight’s first round of television debates has been mired in controversy. Not over policies – but the format, with the SNP and Lib Dems mounting an unsuccessful legal challenge to being excluded. It’s not necessarily... Posted 19 Nov 2019
Why the Brexit TV debate debacle shows party leaders must be compelled to take part There was a story noticeably absent on the front pages on Monday: Sunday night’s Brexit TV leaders debate. That’s because – for all the valiant efforts of broadcasters, there wasn’t one. The past month has... Posted 12 Dec 2018
The TV Brexit debate tantrums show why party leaders shouldn’t be able to dictate the format In an age where much of what we see and read about politics is micro-targeted and atomised, TV leaders’ debates offer a rare shared event for supporters of all parties – one reason why the... Posted 03 Dec 2018
It’s time to make TV debates a core part of our elections The TV debate has become, in a relatively short period, a major part of British general elections. The expectation that Theresa May would take part, only for her to not, has even been described as... Posted 05 Dec 2017