Now that Gordon Brown has thrown his hat in the ring and agreed to go head-to-head with David Cameron and Nick Clegg in a series of televised debates, I hope similar events will be held in the regions for parliamentary candidates.
All too often hustings are planned by organisations with partisan views and attended by a room full of their supporters. Even worse is when candidates travel many miles at the end of an exhausting day to speak at a husting in the middle of nowhere and only half a dozen people turn up.
I would like to see the local media play a lead role in promoting democracy by organising public debates of parliamentary candidates in town halls where constituents can quiz them. I agree it is important to travel around the whole constituency and talk to as many groups and hustings as time permits, but I would also like to see one big debate to attract wider interest.
In the past I have been involved in organising cross party hustings. It is very important to have an impartial chair to the meeting to ensure the debate is conducted in a balanced way.
The problem we had was getting people to turn up.
Yes, it’s most important to have an impartial chair. I’m sure you did a great job.
British Parliament and politics is fast becoming a side show. Since the ratification of the EU Constitution (by stealth) seems likely – and the odious, unpopular and rejected Tony Blair likely to be installed as President (having betrayed us over the rebate in order to oil his way in to the sinecure) can you not see what an evil monster is being created, Ellee ? How can you work for it ?
I woke up last night trying to imagine life with no sovereignty; with all the basic rules of common law I have grown up with gone; forced to pay tax with no say in how it was spent to better society; and most of all living in shame in the north region, with a blue flag and circle of gold stars, under a preening dictator, unaccountable in his EU palace as the EU economy flounders. My history and my country gone.
Tony Blair is something like Damien out of The Omen. He certainly has the luck of the Devil about him
I couldn’t agree more. A random audience of varying backgrounds is good to encourage dialogue. That is really where the solutions are…within those lively debates, Ellee. HERE, HERE!!! 🙂
Kevin is correct .
What ever they do come up with next year we are all lost .
Just look at Ireland this week , what a load of miserable week turncoats .
And stupid as well , do they really think the EU is going to dig them out of the hole they have gotten themselves into .
They spent money given them like mad things now its all gone pear shaped .( it was of course our money they were flittering away )
Did they really think you can remain wealthy on the coats of other whilst you actually do nothing yourselves .
I dont want to see any of them on the tele , pre packed , preening and telling us all another pack of lies.
Whilst the Asian Tiger ( China ) waits to pounce .Didnt any one feel really worried at those parades last week in Pekin ?
Great post with Great stuff!!!
http://electro-kevin-electro-kevin.blogspot.com/2009/10/william-rees-mogg-calmly-summarises.html
The defeat of democracy in Europe.
I will be visiting more often as you have done a good job, keep going..
I diudn’t realise he’d finally agreed. I suppose he had to. I agree with you – there should be organised debates at constituency level.
Quite hard to stage an interesting three-way debate but harder for GB to storm out of it as he did on Sky.
Is this squabbling over the lifeboats? The ship of Great Britain seems to be irretrievably sinking into the EU.