Martin Meenagh blog

The London Mayoral Debate

You may have found this debate--run by the BBC--yourself. If not, the example of aggressive interviewing and a policy-based bearpit is one that contrasts very well with American debates held just recently.

All politics is either a blood sport or a version thereof, and sometimes very disconnected from policy and principle. However, getting out in front of the people, or the other side's supporters, and not being scripted is something all political candidates should do because it tests them to the full. People are not idiots but the default tendency of an insulated political and media class is to suspect that they are. This is what happens when they find out that they aren't. Have a look!

The picture at the top of this post is of course of Dicken's Eatanswill election by Phiz.

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