Cameron’s big mistake was not killing off the debates a year ago
As it is he either agrees or continues to be labelled “chicken”
As an incumbent PM facing an opposition leader with as poor personal ratings as Ed Miliband’s it has been apparent for a long time that the best outcome for DC would be for no debates to take place. Why give Ed a platform that puts him equal with Dave?
This is the more so now that Ofcom has deemed UKIP to be a major party and the threat from Nigel Farage to the Tories has become greater.
Cameron and his team should have made clear at an early stage that he would not be taking part giving as a reason the the way that the TV debates can totally disrupt the campaign. He would have taken a hit then but it would have been mostly forgotten by the time election year opened.
As it is the broadcasters have put formal proposals and it appears that he is trying to find any excuse to avoid them. Far better now to agree to go forward rather than be tagged a “chicken” for the next four months.
Best betting odds on DC getting his way & no TV debate taking place is 6/4 with Betfair Sportsbook. Best that it will is 8/11 from Hills
— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 14, 2015