Mark Murphy: TV election debates are a massive turn off

As a journalist I was keen to see how our politicians would cope with them but increasingly I’m turning them off in disgust.

These events have become too Americanised and more like a reality TV show than serious political debate.

Mark wishes the debates were more helpful to the public (Image: PA)

The slagging off of each other on these programmes doesn’t help any of us. If we’re going to get out of the mess this country is in at the moment, we must work together and not be constantly bickering and trying to points score.

The moderation of these debates has been average at best, with politicians being allowed to shout over each other, not keep to time and there have also been accusations of bias.

I want to hear what they have to say without the constant interruptions from each other.

The moderators simply haven’t been tough enough, the politicians don’t answer the questions and end up trying to get their pre-determined messages across.

The moderators have a tough job, I know. I’ve hosted countless election debates as a BBC presenter on radio, but you have to be tough.

I earned the nickname at Suffolk County Council, “Poundland Paxman” for my no-nonsense approach. When I get to write the book, that’s the title!

These politicians have all been media trained to the hilt. They’ve been briefed by their spin doctors and it's the moderator’s job to keep the debate on track and think about the people watching or listening.

The public isn’t stupid. It can tell when a politician is not answering a question or being vague with the truth. The first ITV debate gave them 45 seconds to answer a question. What a rubbish format!  

You then go to these so-called spin rooms back stage, where journalists go to talk to politicians about who won. They all say their man or woman did best, so I guess they are aptly named at least.   

The one-to-one sessions with presenters haven’t been much better. The politicians have been evasive and some of the presenters are after their gotcha moment. Challenge the guest by all means and hold them to account but it’s not about the presenter, it’s about the answers given by the politician.

Faith in politicians is at an all time low, the betting scandal at the moment doesn’t help with that either.

I’ve met some fabulous politicians of all parties who want to serve the public, but I’ve also met plenty who clearly are only in it for themselves. Some, once in power think they can do as they like, pledges made before the election are often not kept and stuff you didn’t know about surfaces.

Are these two really the best America has got? Mark asks

What amazes me is once elected you don’t see or hear from some of these people until the next time they want your cross in the box. Mind you, it could be a whole lot worse, we could live in the United States where it’s Biden against Trump again.

Is that really the best two candidates the US has to offer?  If you saw their televised debate this week, God help us.

Back here, let’s hope the right ones, whatever party you vote for, get in, roll up their sleeves and not line their own pockets.

I for one will be glad when this campaign is over, and we can get on with putting the Great back into Britain again. Blimey I nearly sounded like Donald Trump then, must be time for a lie down!