The polling finds David Cameron would get the blame were the debates not to take place
But do the public understand Cameron’s strategy and tactics over the debates?
The polling by YouGov on the debates doesn’t make for good reading for David Cameron, such as 50% think David Cameron is scared to debate other party leaders. whilst 38% mostly blame Cameron for the stalemate over the debates, whilst 13% mostly blame the broadcasters, and below, David Cameron doesn’t come off as sincere in regards to the debates.
Findings by @YouGov on the debates
https://t.co/ywStD45I7b pic.twitter.com/A6iuBX1f4z
— TSE (@TSEofPB) March 8, 2015
However, in the polling for the Times’ Red Box website, YouGov found the following “Who do you think has the most to gain in TV debates?”
As we can see, the public can’t see much advantage for Dave taking part, but a lot of advantages for both Nigel Farage and Ed Miliband, 9% of the voters think Cameron has the most to gain. As Stephan Shakespeare of YouGov observes
So if the TV debates fail to happen, the public will at least be left with the impression of the Prime Minister as an astute tactician.
So perhaps he and the Tories might not take a hit in the voting intention were the debates not to happen, it depends on how much salience this topic has, although this story has a bit more to run, as it is being reported that No ’empty chair’ humiliation for David Cameron as BBC considers giving him his own general election programme’