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Make parliament responsible for leaders' TV debates, says Sir Gus O'Donnell Make parliament responsible for leaders' TV debates, says Sir Gus O'Donnell
(about 7 hours later)
Sir Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, has called for the process of organising televised leaders’ debates to be put in the hands of parliament.Sir Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, has called for the process of organising televised leaders’ debates to be put in the hands of parliament.
O’Donnell, who served as Britain’s most senior civil servant from 2005 to 2011, said the process should be taken out of the hands of the press and political parties to ensure debates happen ahead of every general election.O’Donnell, who served as Britain’s most senior civil servant from 2005 to 2011, said the process should be taken out of the hands of the press and political parties to ensure debates happen ahead of every general election.
Speaking at an event at the Institute for Government on Thursday night, at the same time as Ed Miliband and David Cameron appeared on the first of the controversial televised party leaders’ events, O’Donnell said there should be a constitutional discussion about TV debates.Speaking at an event at the Institute for Government on Thursday night, at the same time as Ed Miliband and David Cameron appeared on the first of the controversial televised party leaders’ events, O’Donnell said there should be a constitutional discussion about TV debates.
“We should have a convention,” he said. “As we mentioned right at the start about getting the rules sorted out in peacetime so we know what to do in times of war.“We should have a convention,” he said. “As we mentioned right at the start about getting the rules sorted out in peacetime so we know what to do in times of war.
“It shouldn’t be negotiations between broadcasters and parties, it should be done by parliament and sorted out on principled lines.”“It shouldn’t be negotiations between broadcasters and parties, it should be done by parliament and sorted out on principled lines.”
O’Donnell cited the system in the US, where the rules and parameters for debates are set by a commission, as a good example. “I mean America shows us an example. We have two vested interests and that’s not the way to do it and the public aren’t around the table sorting it out, so I think that’s an important thing.”O’Donnell cited the system in the US, where the rules and parameters for debates are set by a commission, as a good example. “I mean America shows us an example. We have two vested interests and that’s not the way to do it and the public aren’t around the table sorting it out, so I think that’s an important thing.”
The former cabinet secretary’s comments come after a long-running row over how televised election debates ahead of the general election should be organised. David Cameron refused initially to take part in debates proposed by broadcasters unless all of the smaller parties were invited, it was held after the formal start of the general election campaign and there was only one debate. The former cabinet secretary’s comments come after a long-running row over how televised election debates ahead of the general election should be organised. David Cameron refused initially to take part in debates proposed by broadcasters unless all of the smaller parties were invited, it was held before the formal start of the general election campaign and there was only one debate.
After months of arguing over the composition, format and timing of the debates, the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 announced a final deal with the political parties. The first event was held on Sky News and Channel 4 on Thursday, when the prime minister and the opposition leader were interviewed separately by Jeremy Paxman and then answered questions from a studio audience.After months of arguing over the composition, format and timing of the debates, the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 announced a final deal with the political parties. The first event was held on Sky News and Channel 4 on Thursday, when the prime minister and the opposition leader were interviewed separately by Jeremy Paxman and then answered questions from a studio audience.
On 2 April Cameron will join Miliband, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage of Ukip, Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP, Natalie Bennett of the Greens and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru in a seven-way ITV debate moderated by Julie Etchingham.On 2 April Cameron will join Miliband, the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage of Ukip, Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP, Natalie Bennett of the Greens and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru in a seven-way ITV debate moderated by Julie Etchingham.
The row caused Miliband to announce that a Labour government would put the requirement to stage “fair and impartial leaders’ debates” on a statutory footing, establishing a body which negotiates terms, dates, format, volume and attendees.The row caused Miliband to announce that a Labour government would put the requirement to stage “fair and impartial leaders’ debates” on a statutory footing, establishing a body which negotiates terms, dates, format, volume and attendees.
Douglas Alexander, Labour’s general election strategy chief, welcomed O’Donnell’s comments. “David Cameron seems to be the only person in the country who doesn’t want to see a head-to-head debate,” he said.Douglas Alexander, Labour’s general election strategy chief, welcomed O’Donnell’s comments. “David Cameron seems to be the only person in the country who doesn’t want to see a head-to-head debate,” he said.
“Respected figures outside of party politics agree with us that the spectacle of a prime minister running from his record and ducking out of TV debates shouldn’t be repeated. The British people deserve better.”“Respected figures outside of party politics agree with us that the spectacle of a prime minister running from his record and ducking out of TV debates shouldn’t be repeated. The British people deserve better.”
He renewed calls for Cameron to change his mind and submit to a one-on-one debate with Miliband before polling day on 7 May: “With six weeks to polling day there is still time in this campaign for David Cameron to change his mind and debate Ed Miliband head-to-head before polling day. Today, on behalf of Labour, I’m challenging him to do just that.”‎ He renewed calls for Cameron to change his mind and debate with Miliband before 7 May: “With six weeks to polling day there is still time in this campaign for David Cameron to change his mind and debate Ed Miliband head-to-head before polling day. Today, on behalf of Labour, I’m challenging him to do just that.”‎