What's Cameron's game with the TV debates?

[Pondlife]

It is all a bit weird. A seven way debate is just going to be bizarre; nobody will be able to remember what anybody said. I could understand if he said he'd only take part in Cameron vs Milliband, as that's the only contest that matters, and as said he does that all the time in PMQ's anyway so can hardly be accused of being scared of a lightweight like Milliband.

I disagree. PMQ is about delivering soundbite quips and school yard banter. During the debate he has to answer to the audience/camera and therefore "that's what your mum said. Oh yes, I went there, who's with me..." won't wash and is why he got destroyed by Clegg last time.

[d000hg]

He didn't get destroyed... LibDems ended up with 5 fewer MPs after the GE.

[VectraMan]

I disagree. PMQ is about delivering soundbite quips and school yard banter. During the debate he has to answer to the audience/camera and therefore "that's what your mum said. Oh yes, I went there, who's with me..." won't wash and is why he got destroyed by Clegg last time.

He was destroyed by Clegg last time? What were you watching?

Clegg certainly did well last time, but by appearing equal to the other two rather than just a third party as the Lib Dems traditionally do. I don't think anyone came close to destroying anyone else.

[worzelGummidge]

He is scared I am sure.

Based on the Nick Clegg bounce he received after the last live TV debates, he is I am sure scared of how this will affect him and his party. He also wants these before major election campaigning starts so that he has time to mitigate any 'bad' reviews.

IMO of course

It is all about the numbers!
Cameron has looked at the numbers of the debatate(s) taking part against them not taking part and in essentially:

He has more to loose and little to gain with the debatate(s) taking part. Traction is moving towards him being PM.

However...

If everyone else takes part and he does not then he looks a numpty and Ed could win.

He is not very good at playing these games.
Look at what happened over the Scottish vote. He almost lost the vote and got told off by her in the big house.

[Pondlife]

He didn't get destroyed... LibDems ended up with 5 fewer MPs after the GE.

I meant in the debates, not the election

He was destroyed by Clegg last time? What were you watching?

Clegg certainly did well last time, but by appearing equal to the other two rather than just a third party as the Lib Dems traditionally do. I don't think anyone came close to destroying anyone else.

He allowed Clegg to rise significantly in popularity.

In a one on one managed debate that isn't a slanging match with back bench jeering, it think it's considerably harder for him. I'm not saying Milliband is any good. I'm just saying that he (Wallace) will benefit from this.

[Unix]

Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband 26s26 seconds ago
.@David_Cameron why are you running scared of TV debates? The British people want a head-to-head TV debate. Let's give it to them.

https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband

Go ON ED FINISH HIM!

[TheFaQQer]

The person who is behind in the polls has more to gain - they are already behind, so either the gap widens (no overall difference to their results) or the gap closes (potentially gets a better outcome at the election).

Cameron in 2010 needed the debates more than anyone else - Brown didn't want them because he was always going to lose in the debates. Miliband needs the debates now to show that he has some substance and policy, whereas Cameron doesn't want them because he can only lose in the debates.

Cameron is the better debater (I believe), so in theory he should be able to stand up one to one with Miliband and wipe the floor with him - but by refusing the debate he now runs the risk that for the entire campaign he's going to be followed around by a guy in a chicken suit asking him why he's scared to do the debate (see The West Wing, Series 6, Episode 15).

I'd like to see the broadcasters hold firm - do the one with Cameron and the 7 dwarves that he wants, then a debate between Miliband, Clegg and an empty chair, and then Miliband vs an empty chair. If Cameron doesn't want to turn up, then that's his right - but from a guy who in 2010 said that it was feeble for a party leader to walk away from debating the issue, it looks like a badly thought out strategy to me.

[Platypus]

He has more to lose and little to gain with the debate(s) taking part.

Agree. Correcting your spelling was a free service we provide

If everyone else takes part and he does not then he looks a numpty and Ed could win.

Disagree. He can maintain an air of "I'm not playing these silly games", let the others slug it out and still come out on top. I think that's a winning strategy.

And yes, I do think he's scared. But who can "win" a 7-way debate. It'll be a bun fight.

[DodgyAgent]

It is much easier to whine about "what's wrong" and to be negative than it is to be positive. Cameron would be on a hiding to nothing.

[minestrone]

DUP will be invited as well making it an 8 way debate, over 90 minutes. each leader will probably get about 5 minutes talking time. Might as well have handed out another election broadcast.

Also the biggest talking points should be the economy, fiscal policy and Europe. As the regional parties have absolutely no say in these national matters it was a joke inviting them along.

The media should never have been allowed to organise this. Complete mess, the first one will be a farce and Cameron will be able to say "well I was right wasn't I". I think he has played a blinder.