It has just been reported by the BBC that Ed Miliband has refused to take part in any election debates with the Prime Minister during the election campaign. The Leader of the Opposition said that in 2010 the election debates had sucked the life out of the campaign and that he was only willing to take part in one single debate prior to the start of the election campaign proper. Miliband’s decision has drawn ridicule and derision from the other political parties. A spokesman for the Prime Minister accused the Leader of the Opposition of being “frightened, frit and unable to stand up the scrutiny of an election campaign”. Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said Miliband was “taking the electorate for granted and behaving in a high-handed fashion.” He continued: “If he can’t stand up to the rigours of an election debate, how could he possibly think he’s qualified to run the country.”
Obviously, that is all complete fiction. But imagine if it weren’t. Does anyone seriously think David Cameron wouldn’t be making political hay? Now I don’t think Cameron is “frit” of taking on Miliband. His advisers have conducted a risk assessment and decided that it is more advantageous to them politically not to take part in a head to head, or indeed multiple other debates. Cameron often stands accused of not having a strategy and talking decisions for short term political tactical advantage. This is one of those occasions. It’s also an occasion when he should have looked Craig Oliver squarely in the eye and said:
“Advisers advise, ministers decide. I don’t care what your advice is, I’m going to look a hypocrite and a coward if I don’t do these debates. Make them happen.”
