Weather Morning: 9°c Sunny spells Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells

News

David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg

Brown is accused of blocking TV debate

Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor
20 Oct 2009


Gordon Brown was today accused of scuppering the first appearance of all three major party leaders on live television.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron and Nick Clegg were today giving evidence to a parliamentary inquiry and were expected to hold a three-way debate in front of the cameras. But last night it was announced that the trio would give evidence separately.

Conservative chairman Eric Pickles claimed No 10 had vetoed the idea of a joint showing in case Mr Brown was outshone. Writing on Twitter, he said: "PM has pulled out of first Leaders TV debate - now Party Leaders will speak separately to Speaker's Conference on diversity in Parliament." This was denied by Downing Street, which said the decision was taken by Speaker John Bercow.

But a senior Tory official added: "We were under the clear impression that the three leaders would sit together and answer questions together. David was up for it - we believed it would lead to a better quality of debate."

Under the rules announced last night, the three leaders will give evidence for exactly 20 minutes each with no opportunity to engage with each other.

A senior No 10 insider said Mr Bercow decided on the rules and accused the Conservatives of being two-faced. "It was the Prime Minister's idea to have this event and the Tories initially refused to participate at all," he said.

Mr Bercow's officials said a three-way debate was rejected as a less "effective" way of conducting the session.

Reader views (7)

 Add your view

"Conservative chairman Eric Pickles claimed No 10 had vetoed the idea of a joint showing in case Mr Brown was outshone."

"in case McBroon was outshone" LOL! I don't think there would have been much chance of anything else, even by Clegg!

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 20/10/2009 16:32
Report abuse

I realise that under Labour we've officially given up on a real education, but maybe somebody could buy the speaker a dictionary for Christmas? Try looking up the meaning of equality.

- Mark, London, 20/10/2009 12:22
Report abuse

When your name is Gormless Brown and you are The Dictator of a wholly corrupt Third World banana republic Police State once known as Great Britain, you can block whatever you like.

Really?

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 20/10/2009 10:29
Report abuse

We should have the best person for the job - not someone because she or he is black, white, green, blue, gay, straight, halfway, etc, etc, etc.

- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 20/10/2009 10:09
Report abuse

More Positive Discrimination!

- Gareth, London, 20/10/2009 08:05
Report abuse

Surely, it should be up to the public to decide who represents them in Parliament, not a committee of MPs?
There is no such thing as "positive" discrimination.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 20/10/2009 07:58
Report abuse

The pc bunch at it again.Yes,lets appoint people according to their race,sex or handicap rather than if they have any ability to do the job.Grow up UK,if you want to impress the World,try dealing with the massive poverty here,try going through a winter were your pensioners do not Die of cold because they can not afford heating.

- Dave, london, 20/10/2009 07:25
Report abuse


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • David Cameron launches new crackdown on binge drinking Supermarket alcohol display David Cameron will today vow to take on the "scandal" of public drunkenness and alcohol abuse that costs the NHS £2.7 billion a year
  • Payout of £600,000 for witness put at risk by Met and CPS Scotland Yard A teenage court witness was given a £600,000 payout by the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after he was put at risk, it...
  • MPs to visit Falklands for military inspection HMS Dauntless MPs are to visit the Falklands amid heightened tension between Britain and Argentina
  • Make 'death trap' junctions safer for cyclists, demands university mourning three Ellie Carey A university that saw two students and a member of staff killed cycling in London last year has accused Boris Johnson of failing to act...
  • What a smoothie! Eight-year-old Valentine gives Kate roses and a heart-shaped cupcake Kate Smoothie The Duchess of Cambridge's first Valentine's Day as a married woman was marked with roses, a card and a cupcake - but not from Prince...
  • Unemployment rate hits 16-year high Job Centre unemployment The UK's unemployment rate increased to a 16-year high today after another rise in the jobless total. The figure jumped by 48,000 in the...
  • Bank to reveal inflation forecast Mervyn King The Bank of England is to give a clearer insight into how deep it expects the current downturn in the economy to sink
  • RAF airman shot in Afghanistan was 'shining star' Tomlin An RAF airman who died after being shot while on patrol in Afghanistan was a "true hero and shining star", his family said
  • Osborne defends his cuts strategy as inflation falls George Osborne Chancellor George Osborne defended his economic strategy as a fall in inflation finally brought mild relief to some from the tight squeeze...
  • We're the Cockney rhyming gang: Poetry coaching given to Tower Hamlets pupils Bonner Primary School Hundreds of schoolchildren who had never been inside a theatre have been coached to write and perform their own poetry on stage
  •  

    Don't Miss