PM agrees to take part in live debates
Sunday October 04 2009
GORDON Brown yesterday signalled his willingness to take part in a series of television debates with the other main party leaders in Britain.
In a letter posted on the Labour Party website, the prime minister said he believed there should be "a wide ranging series of television and radio debates with party leaders" during the next general election campaign.
"I relish the opportunity of making our case directly to the people of this country," he wrote.
The intervention comes after the BBC, ITV and Sky put forward a proposal to screen a series of live debates during the campaign.
Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have already declared their readiness to take part in such debates.
It was reported that Mr Brown was going to announce his acceptance at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, but apparently drew back fearing it would overshadow the rest of his message.
"The choices we make in the next year will define the future of our country, not just for five years, but for a generation to come," he wrote.
"So I believe it is also right that the parties debate the issues not just in Parliament but in every arena where the public will join in the discussion.
"It is right that we set the issues before the British people. Others can work out the details but what's important for the country is that there is a wide ranging series of television and radio debates with party leaders that are also able to devote attention to the central issues that matter to families: the economy, public services, how we strengthen our communities, and how we work with the rest of the world.
"It is right that there will be a strong focus on the leaders' debates and it is right that in a cabinet system of government that ministers and opposition ministers also debate the issues in a series of debates on television and radio too," he concluded.
If the leaders' debates do go ahead, they will be the first in British political history. Previous attempts to arrange a televised encounter between the leaders have foundered over the detailed negotiations over the terms of debate.
In the past, the leader who is seen to be favourite has generally been the most reluctant, fearing a poor performance risks throwing away their lead while the underdog has nothing to lose.
Sunday Independent
