Dear Sir, In LOOKING AROUND (Saturday 20 Jan) I found myself agreeing with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats over the benefits of general election TV debates and also with the Labour party's stated reluctance to arrive at a USA style Presidential, highly personalised election.
How about a series of debates - not a set of 3 with the same candidates as in the States but involving spokesmen from each major political area?
We could start with Robin Cook debating foreign affairs with his opposition shadow ministers. Next evening we'd move on to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his opponents. Following the dour Gordon Brown and smoothly Michael Portillo, Home Secretary Jack Straw would cross swords with the redoubtable Anne Widdecombe and LibDem Simon Hughes. Building up the tempo the ponderous John (two jags) Prescott would match the less known Michael Ancram for the confrontation of the number twos. Finally would come the crescendo of Blair, Hague and Kennedy. Now that line up would alleviate some of the voter apathy that concerns Ray Fleming while meeting the officially quoted reservations of all the parties.
Mike Lillico
Playa de Palma