Jonathan Walker: A matter up for debate
Mar 4 2010 By Jonathan Walker
The Midlands is to host one of the election debates, after the main parties managed to agree on a format with the television companies.
Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron are to answer questions about the economy, with David Dimbleby keeping order as chairman.
Previous attempts to hold televised election debates have been scuppered by the refusal of whichever party is in charge to take part.
Sitting Prime Ministers have felt their position gave them an air of authority and gravitas that opposition leaders lacked, and didn’t want to be presented to the public as just one candidate among others vying for the keys to Downing Street.
But in Gordon Brown’s case, a debate plays directly into his election strategy.
Labour is trying to convince voters that the next election is about a choice between themselves and the Conservatives – and not a referendum on their 13 years in office.
The West Midlands can look forward to a second televised debate, however.
Parties have also agreed to hold a local version, this time chaired by Nick Owen.
The tricky thing here is deciding who should represent the parties.
Ian Austin, the Dudley North MP and Labour’s Minister for the West Midlands, first suggested a regional debate.
He made it clear, when he raised the idea in a Commons “grand committee”, that he expected to represent Labour.
But Tory Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield) has pointed out that Mr Austin is a relatively junior minister – while Labour’s Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne is a more senior figure, as a member of the Cabinet.
At the same time, it could be argued that Mr Mitchell is lower down the Tory pecking order than Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden and Shadow Local Government Secretary.
And who will represent the Liberal Democrats? Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming is probably their most high-profile representative in the region.
But Solihull Lib Dem MP Lorely Burt is an official party spokesman.
The format for the national debate may have been finalised but the local debate could prove far trickier to arrange.
