Interesting article.
I'm thinking Cameron won't now appear in any of the debates because the broadcasters have refused to bow to his demand to hold a debate before the official start of the campaign.

Good. The debates should be during the campaign when the manifestos are open to scrutiny. That is if they have one (looks at UKIP).

This. The function of the debates is to examine the leaders and the policies their parties have presented to the electorate for consideration. if they haven't done that yet, what's the point? All they'd end up with a critique of the current government's record with the opposition being able to say 'that'll be explained in our manifesto' at every question. That's exactly the situation a government would actually have some justification in boycotting.

The truth of the matter is simple - Cameron doesn't want to be in the debates because he doesn't think he'll come out of them looking good. Which either doesn't say much for him, or it doesn't say much for his parties record.

One thing I am seeing is that journalists are saying that "Number 10" is somehow making the decisions for the Tories. This is clearly wrong - this is a debate not about the government vs everyone else, but individual parties. Surely the decision about Cameron taking place should come form Conservative party HQ? It's a party decision, not a government one.

Number 10 is the centre of government administration - it should be neutral in such games.

It isn't and hasn't been for the best part of a decade. Blair, Brown and now Cameron have all conspired to politicise the cabinet office & similar as much as they possibly could.

This is just like wrestling promotion.
The 'champ' won't attend the press conference. He won't speak to the press. The contest won't happen.
All along, of course, he knows he'll be there in the ring with the rest of them.

The image of Cameron in spandex, growling and throwing chairs isn’t really one I need today.

the debates will mean nothing as anything stated or promised on these debates will be bypassed and swept under the 'political' carpet
only one thing that counts is a in/out EU referendum, but sadly that is being diluted by massive EU (unchecked) 'so called' freedom of movement ...

Which Cameron promised during this parliament last time round, so that particular shiny bauble is just as fake as all the rest.

There should be no debates with any of the leaders. All these "debates" do is drive the "vote for a leader you like" and forget about the policies.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ion-debate

Poor Ed

The thing I love about this is it's being sold as Cameron 'agreeing' to something he was pretty much demanding from the off. So somehow him acting like a spoilt baby and the TV people giving in to him is now him being gregarious and accommodating?

My. Arse.