I find myself at a something of a loss: at what point did we accept that television companies would be able to set the frame for political debate in this country? Furthermore, on whose authority is Ofcom vested with the power to decide which political bodies should be classified as ‘major parties’?
Granted, a great many of our population might appear to have casually surrendered the power of independent thought – preferring instead to vegetate in front of reality TV shows, karaoke competitions and dance offs – but the media has not yet taken total possession of all our voting systems. It would be but a short step from that to enabling predictive voting on our mobile telecom devices (and don’t bet against that day coming!).
Surely the British public deserves the opportunity to see politicians – who are, after all, our representatives and our would-be representatives – properly discussing the issues of the day and laying out their policies before us. Alas, this will be a meaningless charade unless there is some credible opposition to the right-whingers (sic) and the centrist apologies-for-socialism who currently occupy the mainstream of the political spectrum in the UK.
Exclusion of the Green Party from broadcast debates is inexcusable. The voting public deserves – nay, demands – an open and fair political debate. Broadcasters are getting ideas above their station if they think they can deny us this.
Fles's Blog 