How many times have we heard ‘historic moment’ or ‘the making of political history’ used in relation to the pending leadership debates? The media is once again over-stating its hand in the game of political one-upmanship. True we have never had a head to head with our political leaders before. But a Nixon-Kennedy night to remember this will not be. In 1960 America even the medium of television was a novelty, let alone the concept of a beauty contest between a vice-president and a good time guy from Boston. In contrast the pasty-faced line up in Manchester this evening is not new to us. For those who choose to watch, an alternative version is available in the House of Commons every week during Prime Minister’s Questions. Lots of verbal jousting, much heat, little light, but at least there is some spontaneity available in the Parliamentary performance. The 76 rules that govern tonight’s event will kybosh any such free-wheeling.
And the contestants have been rehearsed to death. They will have practised their Regan one liners, been told how to televangelise Clinton style and trained to never look at their watch, wipe their sweating brow or move menacingly across the floor. Had Gore stayed in his seat maybe the world would not have inherited Dubya. With one eye across the Atlantic much has been said about Clegg, Cameron and Brown’s ability to turn the hand of history, to lose the fight in one quick gesture, comment or mock expression. But this is not America. The election is not a presidential race and I for one hope that the British public won’t take the memory of one misplaced sentence uttered under the glare of TV lights into the voting booth with them. Tonight should be viewed as little more than a show of testosterone-fuelled theatre.

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