The Televised Debates

Iain Dale sees the debates as a good thing (I’m inclined to agree) and there’s differing viewpoints over at Conservative Home.

A few things.

One: you can’t really claim (surely?) that you expect David Cameron to neartly “win” all three but then also see it as an unnecessary risk. Two: although Brown will have very few expectations to meet, and will therefore be seen rather positively if he manages to just scrape a decent performance, it will almost definitely not be enough: he would have to truly make Cameron look like a “novice” for there to be any impact (and I really have a feeling that there won’t be — most people watching, hypothetically, will already be fairly certain where their vote is going to go). Three: err, surely this has to beat Cowell’s idea of some “politics meets pure entertainment” voting catastrophe?

However, I still can’t help but feel that Clegg should just be in two of the debates, and then a head-to-head of Brown v. Big Dave (…). You’d also have thought that Channel 4 — having a semi-serious news programme, compared to the utter soundbite news that is ITV — would’ve been considered.

Despite the flaws (and I think the US televised debates with the three different formats would probably be better) I think this is actually a good thing. Sure, televised debates rarely are game-changers (although a shifty Nixon and Reagan produced two moments; Al Gore’s shabby performances hardly endeared him to the electorate either) but if it offers any kind of re-engagement with politics it should be supported.

Never trust a Labour government with your money

So, on the same day as we find out that the Treasury and No 10 were at odds with the pre-Budget reports and its severity; the same article referencing the fact that if Britain does not show fiscal restraint and cut its deficit then the AAA credit rating (from Moody’s) will be dropped in 2013… we also find out Britain’s doubled their contribution to the climate change fund to £1.5bn?

Err.

Have I missed something? Whilst the pre-budget report is going to be raised for those earning £20,000+ (hardly a grand figure) we’re giving £1.5bn? Labelled by the Guardian as “Europe’s single most generous donor?“

When we’re the only country in the G20 to still be in a recession? Did Gordon Brown miss this lovely bit of information: “Now, enter what the markets are saying. The Wall Street Journal reports that two years ago it cost $5,000 per year to insure $10 million of British government debt against default for three years. It now costs $52,000 to buy such insurance — and $72,000 to cover that risk for five years. That is $30,000 more than it costs to insure BP’s debt, and $50,000 more than to insure Germany’s. So the markets think it is more likely that UK plc will default than BP plc. Or McDonald’s. Or Gap”? (from Stelzer in the Spectator).

Prudence is his name. Apparently. I could think of a few more names for him…

Class War II

… apparently it might have some public backing after all:

Although Brown’s ratings remain dismal, our YouGov poll today reveals that 47% agree Cameron is “too wealthy and privileged to represent ordinary people”.

It is rather worrying that this is the case (and rather reinforces Churchill’s line about the five minute conversation with the ordinary voter…), especially for the Conservatives.

You’d rather think in a supposedly “meritocratic” society that the background of such a person would really be a moot, not-worth-bringing-up point. Instead, we’re going to have lots of “dreamed up on the playing fields of Eton” comments now. You can’t help but feel the Tories will no longer have the nasty party image, once Brown has finished the scorched-earth policy.

Nevermind that we’re the only country in the G20 to be left in a recession, or the other pressing economic issues we face. So long as you can land that class-war blow…

ETA: Cameron has put a nice line out on the issue this morning on The Politics Show: “My view is very simple, is that what people are interested in is not where you come from but where you’re going to, what you’ve got to offer, what you’ve got to offer the country.”