Election debates: Lord Grade slams ‘shambolic’ broadcasters
Former BBC and ITV chairman Lord Grade accuses television channels of breaching impartiality rules by threatening to stage election debates without David Cameron.
“Who do the broadcasters think they are?” the Tory peer asked, as he accused the consortium of broadcasters who will air the debates of “unequivocally playing politics”.
David Cameron has demanded there be one debate involving seven party leaders, whilst Ed Miliband says he is content to appear in the three debates originally planned.
Their behaviour over the election debates leads me to believe they suddenly have grossly inflated and misguided ideas of their own importance. Lord Grade
Last week Britain’s main broadcasters said they were sticking to plans to televise three debates – leading to the possibility they would “empty chair” the prime minister – a decision his spokesman described as “disappointing”.
Lord Grade wrote in the Times: “Their (the broadcasters) behaviour over the election debates leads me to believe they suddenly have grossly inflated and misguided ideas of their own importance.”
It is a desperate move to send out a Tory peer to try to bully the broadcasters. Labour source
He warned the television executives involved that they are not “guardians of democracy”, arguing that Mr Cameron is free to refuse and “people are free to comment on the choice he makes”.
Labour, however, said Lord Grade’s article showed how desperate the Conservatives are.
A source said: “This shows how rattled David Cameron is over TV debates. It is a desperate move to send out a Tory peer to try to bully the broadcasters.”
Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of “cowering” from the public.
‘Chaos’
The latest episode in the protracted debates row comes as politicians prepare to debate the issue in the House of Commons.
On Wednesday a discussion on the “badly managed” process to agree TV debates will take place, triggered by Democratic Unionist Party leader Nigel Dodds. Mr Dodds has insisted his party should be allowed to take part.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Dodds said: “It’s difficult to think of a recent political event more badly managed by the people who wanted it most.
“…At the moment, due to the incompetence of the broadcasters, these debates are in chaos and may well not happen. In future, we need to follow the example of the US and have an independent commission arrange any such debates.”
