Beware threat of MP TV debate

I WANT no truck with this obsession to get a US-style live TV debate with political leaders.

The prospect of Gordon Brown slugging it out with David Cameron while Nick Clegg snipes at both of them is a turn-off. It proves nothing.

I'm even less interested in a spat between Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, above, and First Minister Alex Salmond. Of course they will each be caught out on their policies and their track records, as they snarl at each other to score points.

But the winner of a debating contest doesn't necessarily make the best Prime Minister.

We are preparing for a General Election - not a phone-in reality show with instant results.

The problem with this X Factor mentality is that the guy with the best line in patter might actually end up winning the election.

And that would be a huge tragedy.

This article has 0 comments