TV OR NOT TV DEBATE

by RAY FLEMING
IN typically brash fashion BSkyB has tried to take the prospect of TV debates between the party leaders at the next election out of the hands of the other news channels which are currently trying to reach an agreement among themselves on how such debates might be organised and shared. In a remarkably assertive article in The Times yesterday John Ryley, the Head of Sky News, said this: “I have written today to Gordon Brown, David Cameron and NIck Clegg, informing them that Sky will be hosting a live debate between them during the election campaign.” And he continued: “This time, all three leaders might be up for it. Mr Cameron has made very clear that he is in favour. But there can be no backsliding. This time too much is at stake.” Whether Gordon Brown or Nick Clegg, or even David Cameron, will want to put themselves in the hands of someone who writes in such an inappropriate way -- “there can be no backsliding” -- must be open to doubt. Mr Ryley assumes as if it is a proven fact that TV debates in other countries during elections have always made a positive contribution to the democratic purpose, but that is not so. Furthermore, in British politics party leaders face each other regularly in Parliament to a greater extent than in most other countries. This is not to say there should not be debates. But they should be arranged jointly by all broadcasters and not used to boost ratings of one.