The Guardian view on the TV election debate: political theatre needs a new script | Editorial

The UK requires an alternative to the mean-spirited and sterile political conversations that have dominated political life since 2016

Jeremy Corbyn rose to power on the back of the incontestable argument that Britain needed a kinder, more decent politics. Boris Johnson promised to be an inclusive “one nation” Conservative. There was little of either sentiment on display in the first televised election debate between the two men on ITV on Tuesday night. Both traded ever lower blows as they found the body of their respective arguments too well protected. This was in many ways a wasted opportunity. There are real issues at stake during this campaign: about this country’s future relationship with Europe, about how to rebuild the fabric of society after almost a decade of austerity, about how to bring people together across the four nations of the United Kingdom. Opinion is divided and politicians need to bridge the yawning chasms, not widen them.

TV debates are now part of the political theatre of this country’s elections. Participants consider them not a stage to win over committed opponents but an opportunity to write a new script. On Tuesday night each man looked for ways to make his opponent seem weak and incompetent, as well as out of touch with public opinion. Mr Johnson’s irritable responses drew laughter from the audience and he repeatedly attempted to cast this election as a way, in his own words, to “get Brexit done”. Mr Corbyn did little to charm his detractors, but he carried a simple message: if you want to get rid of the Tories, vote Labour.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2pyxj49