Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Nigel Farage should be excluded from TV election debates, says Ed Miliband

Labour leader calls for repeat of 2010 debates involving three main parties, saying: 'I am not that interested in Nigel Farage'


Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent


theguardian.com, Thursday 3 April 2014 13.30 BST


Ed Miliband said: 'I think the format we had last time with parties that have representation in parliament is a good format.' Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters


Nigel Farage should be excluded from the television debates before the general election next year, Ed Miliband has said.

As Nick Clegg licked his wounds following his second consecutive defeat at the hands of the Ukip leader in their televised debate on the EU, Miliband called for a repeat of the debates involving the three main party leaders in 2010.

Asked during an appearance at the Guardian whether he would include Farage in the debates if he were in charge of drawing up the rules, the Labour leader said: "No. Look, I think the format we had last time with parties that have representation in parliament is a good format. In the end it is for the broadcasters to decide who they invite. They have got their own rules and they have got to follow their rules. I look forward to debating David Cameron. I am not that interested in Nigel Farage. I care about debating David Cameron."

Miliband said that reviving the so-called "three by three" debates – three debates involving the leaders of the three main parties during the three-week general election campaign – was the best way of guaranteeing their survival. He said: "The big challenge we are going to have in relation to the leaders' debates is getting all three leaders into a debate. David Cameron is desperate to avoid having these TV election debates because all of the conventional wisdom on the Tory side is that they didn't do him any good last time. He will try and do anything to avoid these debates. That is why we have said: we had the debate with three leaders last time, same format – three debates, three leaders – let's have that. If the broadcasters want to invite other people that is a matter for them. But I think our best chance of getting Cameron into the debates is to say we are going to have the same format as we had last time."

There has been speculation that Cameron will try to avoid the 2010 formula, and possibly kill off the debates altogether, by changing the format. This could include holding debates before the formal election campaign. Some of Cameron's advisers believe the debates in 2010 undermined Tory attempts to present their candidate as the fresh face of British politics because Nick Clegg performed strongly.

Ukip has been declared a major party by Ofcom for the European parliamentary election campaign in light of its number of MEPs and its strong showing in polls. This means the broadcasters have to give Ukip the same treatment as the other major parties.




more: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/03/nigel-farage-tv-election-debates-ed-miliband

PS.

But the release smells like a diversionary tactic from the the other smell in the air. Ie. a Wind called Maria.

Typical, policy on the hoof by the tories.

The party of Badger Killers. (8-)


========

The Prime Minister is being lobbied by senior Conservatives who want him to ban the 59 Scottish constituencies from taking part in the election if Alex Salmond wins the referendum in September. The exclusion of Scotland could determine the next government.

In 2010, Labour won 41 Scottish seats, the Lib Dems 11, the SNP 6 and the Tories just one. If the 2015 election is close, restricting it to England, Wales and Northern Ireland could make the difference between having a Conservative or Labour Prime Minister.

,

Max.

I don't like Farage for himself or for the policies he propounds, but I think as he unfortunately represent large swath of opinion he is as entitled to a public debate as any of the other main parties.

Cameron will be seen by the electors as a dishonest coward leading from the back.

Surprised at Miliband, who I am sure would like beetroot Cameron blustering away to himself.

Mind it may be a way of showing Wavy Dave up.

Yet another U-turn of the greenest party ever.

goldie

The plane flew over North Sumatra, Anambas, South India and landed at the
Maldives (some villagers saw the aircraft landing), refuelled and continued
its flight to Diego Garcia, the American Air Base in the middle of Indian
Ocean. The cargo and the black box were removed.

Diego Garcia is a big air base and a lot of people would have seen the plane , so they would have to change the Maylaysian airline markings in the Maldives, if so they would need to change them back again before auto take off, or there would be a chance that parts of the plane would be recovered. Could you tell from any bodys that were found at what time they were killed ?

Fred.

I don't think any of the three want to take Farage on now.

Cleggy was easily the best performer in front of a camera, and Farage took him to the cleaners.

What chance does Millibandus or call Me Dave have?

They're both wooden Indians if they haven't got a set piece format.

Garage doesn't deserve to have a debate with the big boys as he won't get any MPs. A minor distraction.

haystack

A minor distraction

With more votes then the party of the Deputy PM

Yep alders most convincing report I have seen so far.

Seems to all fit together.

No others do.

It won't matter if UKIP get more votes than the Libs. They still won't get any MPs because it is first past the post and not proportional voting. UKIP votes will be evenly spread. The main parties control all the seats, usually with big majorities. Even the marginals will just go to the second party. UKIP have no local political mechanisms to get out the vote. The major parties have huge lists of loyal voters and they nag them to vote on voting day, UKIP need to get well I ver 20% to get even one MP. They need over 25% to get a few more number and they will still not have enough to have any power.

Sounds like a modern Ian Fleming novel, or a Robert Ludlum. Good story, better film :O)

What are you on?

You are deceiving yourself.

I don't know how many seats they will get, but they will hit ---- out of the tories.

Twist or turn Cameron can't run!

If insanity reigns and Scotland vote for Independence, will that be a serious blow to the Labour Party? Do bears shxt in the woods.

You only have to look at 41 Labour and 11 Lib seat in Scotland to see why Labour in particular are so keen to keep Scotland.

Without Scotland, it will be very difficult for Labour to ever get a majority.

Exactly Hays. Watching Question Time, Hain talking through his arxe re Royal Mail. Our favourite red flag flyer if you remember at the time not only bought as many RMG as he could but also encouraged as many members of his family to do the same. Now he is is pixxed off cause he sold them to soon. Red 1 biggest hypocrite on this board :O)

Even the audience accused Hain of trying to make political capital out of the Royal Mail.

Even more humorous, This Week, Dianne Abbott discussing obesity LOL!!

Now that is funny :-)