http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... -tv-debate

The strange thing is, I reckon Brown could do quite well in a head-on debate with Cameron - depends who's asking the set-up questions and how, as in cutting in with something difficult/embarrassing at just the right moment...

I note the SNP want to be involved.

Which is only fair, as well as Plaid Cymru and whichever majority holds in NI.

So, instead of the intended - I presume - three-way between Brown, Cameron and Clegg, it's going to end up like Question Time.

I don't honestly think anyone's going to watch.

What's the betting the racist [LIFTED] (aka BNP) try and get on, fail, then claim discrimination.

Which it would be, although admittedly somewhat poetic justice. They're a registered political party who get votes. Those voters have a right to be represented. Whether you or I like them or not is irrelevant to that point. As long as the party (and not individual members) has been shown not to have acted illegally, the democratic process requires them to be present at some point.

Discriminating against the BNP on the grounds we don't like them simply gives them a legitimate grievance to air and strengthens their hand with people who believe they have been marginalised in modern society.

There is only one way to beat the BNP and it's the exact opposite of that. Get them on telly and show to the entire country what a bunch of knuckle dragging idiots they are. The whole thing with 'denying them the oxygen of publicity' backfired badly on Thatcher's government re: the IRA and it would backfire on anyone who tried it now.

Jon