What's the point of TV debates?

In 2010, Britain had its first ever Prime Ministerial debates, with Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg going head-to-head in front of the TV cameras. The idea had first been mooted as early as 1964, when Harold Wilson challenged Alec Douglas-Home to an on-air joust. So why did it take so long for them to happen? What advantages and disadvantages did the debates bring in the 2010 election - and since? And do they actually serve a useful purpose in British politics? Lee and Richard discuss in this latest episode of 'Since Attlee & Churchill.'In this episode, the following books are mentioned:'Scoop' by Evelyn Waugh. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780141184029'America's Unwritten Constitution: The Precedents and Principles We Live By' by Akhil Reed Amar. Available at: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16406/9780465033096Enjoy ad-free listening, bonus episodes and show your support for the podcast by joining the Since Attlee & Churchill Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/SinceAttleeAndChurchillBuying books via the Since Attlee & Churchill Bookshop is a great way to support the podcast. Click here to visit the shop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/saac***Since Attlee & Churchill is a podcast about post-war British politics - since Attlee & Churchill - and is hosted by Lee David Evans, an historian of the Conservative Party, and Richard Johnson, an historian of the Labour Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.