Dudley North Labour MP Ian Austin calls for televised general election debate in the West Midlands

Oct 19 2009 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Post

The West Midlands could have its own televised general election debate, following Gordon Brown’s announcement that he will take part in a national debate alongside Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg.

Last night, Conservatives said they welcomed the proposal - and wanted a studio audience to help pose the questions.

Mr Brown has made history by revealing he would be happy to take on his opponents in a televised discussion when the general election comes.

It followed repeated challenges from Mr Cameron for the Prime Minister to take him on in the television studios.

In the past, opposition leaders have demanded debates while Prime Ministers have refused, whichever party is in power but Labour has now broken with tradition, as part of its strategy of portraying itself as the underdog in the battle against the Tories.

Ian Austin, (Lab, Dudley North) the Minister for the West Midlands, set out his proposal at the first meeting of the West Midlands grand committee, a new House of Commons committee which allows MPs from across the region to question him on the Government’s work. He said: “I should like more of such debate as time goes on.

“I shall be asking the BBC whether it can arrange time in its schedules, perhaps on the regional opt-out of The Politics Show or one edition of Midlands Today, between now and the election for a televised regional election debate in which we can follow from the lead established by the Prime Minister . . . and set out the choices facing the West Midlands at the election, when that comes.”

Conservative Andrew Mitchell (Con, Sutton Coldfield), the Shadow Minister for Birmingham and Shadow International Development Secretary, said he welcomed the chance of a debate.

As a member of the Shadow Cabinet, Mr Mitchell could represent the Tories if the proposal becomes a reality. The other likely candidate would be Caroline Spelman (Con, Meriden), the Shadow Local Government Secretary. But Mr Mitchell said Labour should send a Cabinet member, such as Liam Byrne (Lab, Hodge Hill), the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Mr Austin is a Government whip, but not in the Cabinet.

Mr Mitchell said: “It is an excellent idea and I wholeheartedly support it. I look forward to Liam Byrne accepting the challenge and to meeting him in the television studio. There must also be a studio audience, to make certain that the public is able to participate.”

Solihull MP Lorely Burt could be a candidate to represent the Liberal Democrats. Although Yardley MP John Hemming arguably has a higher profile, he is not a member of the Lib Dem front bench while Ms Burt is the party’s spokeswoman for small businesses.

Television debates have been a feature of United States Presidential election campaigns since 1960.