I found the debate yesterday a complete shambles - two thoroughly unimpressive candidates and a debate format that is designed for nothing but soundbites.

"Describe your whole tax policy in 45 seconds" is just a waste of everyone's time.

Sunak comes across like a petulant child, constantly interrupting and talking over people. He spent half of the debate repeating this '£2000 per household" nonsense which has already been rubbished this morning.

Starmer is just not very good - he seems to think that talking about his family members employment record is sufficient to prove he'd be a good prime minister, and completely goes missing when he is asked for detail or a plan to deal with things.

The fact he couldn't coherently rebut Sunak just shouting about £2000 tax increases over and over again says it all.

A complete crock of s***.

These TV 'debates' are a farce. No time for any proper discussion and a few wholly unsurprising questions about well publicised topics. Sunak was more controlled and Starmer looked (as he always does) worried and perplexed.

Neither came out a convincing winner although I would prefer the one we know than the one who has no original ideas or coherant plan for the country.

There may be more fun to be had on Friday when, among others, Penny Morduant has an opportunity to put Angela Raynor down a peg or two.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I disagree with your opening line - the political parties, in cohorts with the media class, decide which topics the public are interested in, not the other way round.

How many people cared about single-sex public toilets 2 years ago?

There is nothing in the polling to suggest the public is divided on Brexit.

Edited by EverybodyDannsNow (05 Jun 2024 11.25am)

Edited by EverybodyDannsNow (05 Jun 2024 11.26am)

I watched it and thought that I was watching an extended version of PMQs

Half of me would like to watch the subsequent debates but I'm guessing that it will just be same old, same old

Odd that, because I don't remember anyone expecting any of that, except maybe for lower immigration.
That not materialising is a consequence of the government's reluctance to reduce it.
I'd say that we are doing quite well, considering we had a pandemic and the effect of war on the price of fuel and food.

What I do remember is Remainers telling us that Britain would become a wasteland if we left Europe.
What has actually happened is that we are no longer heading into a federal Europe run by faceless unelected puppets.

You should be grateful.