Don’t blame the Debates!

Now that the election’s dust has settled expect pundits and political analysts form all sides of the political debate do what they do best, analysis, and it is already in full swing!

One of the prominent notions [and a fairly strong one] doing the rounds is that Cameron was wrong to accept doing the debates. And although I to some extent agree that the Leaders Debate has cost the Conservatives their ‘stand alone majority’ it has changed elections for ever, and in addition to that it has exposed flaws in all three parties’ polices. For instance while all parties were reluctant to talk immigration pre the debates it became apparent during the first debate that immigration is crucial [now even a central theme of Labour’s Leadership election]. Also during that debate the gaps and cracks in the LibDems manifesto became clear for all to see, and although he tried hard to come across as a safe pair of hands Brown reaffirmed all roomers that he is not a team player and a difficult man to work with. Even the Big Society [a grand and brilliant idea] did not translate too well from philosophy to policy!

Cameron and Brown could have easily said no to Clegg but (1) it would have been unfair and (2) it would have made them look fearful of the small third party [which could have earned the liberals loads of sympathy with the voters] and that couldn’t have been edifying to either of them!

Accepting and allowing Clegg to join the leaders debate is why [although in government] the British public still does not regard the Liberal Democrats as a viable alternative to either of the two main parties, one look at the latest polls and you can see they are the only party moving southwards.

If anything at all, the leaders’ debate has engaged and galvanised the public which can only be a good thing for the political process!