Clegg v Farage debate dates confirmed: who will triumph?
Lib Dem and Ukip leaders to go head to head on radio and television in 'great battle of the minnows'
THE dates have been set for two debates in which Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage will go head to head on Britain’s future in Europe.
Clegg’s Liberal Democrats, the most pro-EU of the main parties, and Farage’s Ukip, which wants to withdraw from the EU altogether, have been involved in a growing spat over the issue ahead of May's European elections.
Broadcasters have been in negotiation with the leaders after Farage accepted Clegg’s challenge to a public debate last month. It was announced today that an hour-long televised debate, hosted by David Dimbleby, will be shown on BBC2 at 7pm on 2 April. Questions will come from the audience members, who will be split equally between members of the public for and against EU membership. A radio debate will also take place on LBC at 7pm on 26 March, hosted by Nick Ferrari, in front of a live studio audience.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The two political leaders are already on the attack, with Clegg today accusing Farage of rarely turning up to vote in Brussels, despite being happy to take his taxpayer-funded salary.
Farage hit back on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, accusing the Liberal Democrat leader of hypocrisy. He conceded that his voting record in Brussels was about 50 per cent, but said Clegg has only voted in 22 per cent of votes in this Parliament.
Today’s war of words can be seen as a “dry run” for the debates, says Alex Stevenson on Politics.co.uk. While Clegg’s line of attack backfired and Farage’s response is flawed, the “great battle of the minnows in the debate to come is going to help both parties”, says Stevenson.
Labour's “equivocal attitude” to Europe and mixed messages from the Conservatives leaves the two unashamedly pro- and anti-European parties to grab the headlines, says Stevenson. "When they clash on policy, the results are bound to be fruitful."
In The Guardian, Andrew Rawnsley also thinks the debate will be “mutually beneficial”. Clegg gets a high-profile opportunity to present himself as the principled champion for EU membership, standing up to the right in a way that David Cameron and Ed Miliband will not, he says, while Farage is gifted a big chance to “enthuse his supporters, appeal to ‘out’ Tories and galvanise Europhobes behind his banner”.
Meanwhile, the Mole, The Week’s political insider, says Clegg knows he has “nothing to lose” – he is an unequivocal pro-European facing a whitewash in the May election and he's probably hoping Farage will fall flat on his face.
“On the other hand,” says the Mole, “no one knows better than Clegg what a national debate can do for you – he was the easy winner against Cameron and Gordon Brown in the 2010 general election debates. But then no one knows better how quickly the nation's affection can be withdrawn.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss and her bid to woo the American far-right
Why Everyone's Talking About Former PM pitching herself as 'bridge in transatlantic conservative movement'
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published