Debatable; All Publicity is Bad Publicity

The BBC’s Leadership Debate:

29/11/19

The BBC, as with Channel4, left the invites open to the leaders of all of the major political parties. In attendance were Rishi Sunak, Conservative Party, chief secretary to the Treasury; Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour Party, shadow business secretary; Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats; Nicola Sturgeon MSP, SNP leader and first minister of Scotland; Richard Tice MEP, chairman of the Brexit Party; Caroline Lucas, Green Party; Adam Price AM, leader of Plaid Cymru.

A turnout barely worth reporting on, but reflects positively on Sturgeon, Price and Swinson who could be bothered to turn up once again. Although it does begin to make you wonder where the rest of their parties are.

Another strong performance from the Green Party, Caroline Lucas said in her opening statements: “the kids can’t vote, the planet can’t vote, it’s up to us" The Green Party’s presence in these debates not translating in the polls could be a side effect of just how much Brexit is dominating the agenda. Nicola Sturgeon questioned whether the withdrawal agreement bill was ‘getting Brexit done’ and said that Brexit party are to blame for the mess the country is in.

Bad boy of Brexit Richard Tice wanted to ‘make very clear’ that Brexit wouldn’t be happening without the Brexit party. Which I think is, as she is an ardent Remainer, exactly what the First Minister meant.

Although I wouldn’t necessarily blame the ‘big two’ for getting frustrated at the BBC’s conduct during this election, I feel like many of the questions being asked would have been better addressed to someone with the chance of being Prime Minister. In Labour’s case, it’s maybe not the best look for Corbyn to send the favourite to replace him as the leader (Long-Bailey) in his place.

While avoiding scrutiny has worked for the Conservatives before, for both leaders to do it makes a) for poor television b) it hard for a journalist, competent or otherwise, to do their job. The Daily Express reader poll found that Richi Sunak of the Conservatives won the debate. Best outlining how much the U.K. is Tory-by-default.

ITV Leaders Debate

1/12/19

This time ITV had permitted Jo Swinson a seat at the adult's table, and she was ready to prove that she was an adept candidate for Prime Minister. Fate, however, had other plans as the other two candidates with a chance of becoming PM are bunkered down in an 'unpopularity contest'.

If only Johnson and Corbyn had worked this out before, they can just say no. A loophole, at last, can’t hate what you can’t see. Unfortunately, their cabinet ministers have also found the refusal loophole. So, representing the Labour Party, and notice how far down the list they have got, was Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit party was in attendance this time, along with Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Green Party co-leader Sian Berry, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price and Richi Sunak for the Tories again. Another group of people with more chance winning I’m a Celebrity than becomnig Prime Minister.

Burgon started-off a bit shaky about London Bridge, failing to address the hypocrisy of blaming the opposition from the government. He eventually came into his own and said to Nigel Farage: “there’s nothing independent about taking instruction from Donald Trump when he rings up LBC”.

Wherever Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot was at this moment, it should have been ITV. Holding the government to account. Now the current Home Secretary Priti Patel couldn’t be on, of course, for it may just expose just how far to the right she is of ‘Workington man’.

Picture Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab; who opposes Feminism and the human rights act, trying to sell the ‘liberal one nation Conservative party’ and you’ll see the needs for them to dig so deep in to the bench.

The Daily Express’ reigning champion Richi Sunak struggled more this time around overall. To be fair, the party line had become ‘blame Labour for terrorism’ overnight and while a Burgon didn’t make that great of a challenge - there were five other parties eager to show their proficiency.

Farage also blamed New Labour for the London Bridge attack, citing ‘political correctness’ as a reason. He went on to defend Donald Trump’s 'grab-em-by-the-pussy' remark by saying it was something you’d say: “after a night out with a drink”

The Greens’ co-leader Sian Berry was mostly lost amongst the shouting voices. Blame First Past the Post but when parties that can't win an election start talking about how they would run the country, they lose some people along the way. Especially in the case of the Greens, whose proposals that we make significant sacrifices for the best chance of survival are less appealing than an expansion to Heathrow, low-taxes and very Brexit Christmas.

A Lib Dem source described their leader to The Guardian this week: ‘the more people see her, the less they like her.’

So, there should be no surprise that Nicola Sturgeon, who has been in Swinson’s presence all weekend, icily cross-examined her more than once.

The latest polls show what people are calling a ‘Lib Dem implosion’. Probably thanks to her performances in these debates. The party’s key gain was due to their surge in support earlier this year. Which, interestingly, preceded Swinson’s leadership.

Given the recent change in the polls; The Lib Dems’ would best serve their interests showing how broadly capable their roster, which now contains ex-Tory and Labour frontbenchers, is. Swinson and Corbyn might benefit from sharing notes.

If Corbyn, or at least Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, was at either of these debates - the polls might look different. For an ‘unpopularity contest’ is fine when you are winning, all the Prime Minister must do is wait-out the clock for another week and he can get Brexit done and we all have a merry Christmas.

No amount of knocking doors in the freezing cold can convince the public to trust Jeremy Corbyn, he must convince people himself. It would be an insult to Labour’s membership - one of the largest in Europe - if the leadership don’t play to the final-whistle.

The Daily Express was right about Saturday's BBC debate, so I thought I'd check on Sunday. Their latest reader poll said Nigel Farage won on ITV, while he was the most effective at giving the Tory party line, I disagree. For the winner is, by disqualification, of this debate and all others until we see meaningful movement in the polls - our Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson.