Independent Media | Campaigning Journalism
Theresa May is facing a crisis just 24 hours after announcing the general election
Just hours after announcing a general election, Theresa May made her first gaffe. She announced she was refusing to take part in televised election debates. But while she is running scared from facing her opposition head on, she is facing a direct challenge from some of the most powerful people in politics. And they’re threatening to ’empty chair’ her if she doesn’t show up.
The challenges
The co-leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas, tweeted:
Hey @jeremycorbyn, @timfarron, @NicolaSturgeon & @LeanneWood. Up for a debate even if the PM chickens out? https://t.co/01K7moyWDv #GE2017
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) April 18, 2017
And the leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood, was emphatic in her response:
Read on...
Hell yes. https://t.co/RWG8kqhiCf
— LeanneWood 🏴 (@LeanneWood) April 18, 2017
Wood also commented that she would insist on an empty chair for the Prime Minister if she refused to attend. And as she pointed out, public debate between the parties should be a cornerstone of a democracy:
I hope that the Prime Minister will not bottle televised leader's debates at this election. Democracy demands all voices are heard#Plaid17🌼
— LeanneWood 🏴 (@LeanneWood) April 18, 2017
Meanwhile, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was also up for the challenge:
If PM doesnt have the confidence to debate her plans on TV with other leaders, broadcasters should empty chair her and go ahead anyway. https://t.co/bOqVIYaBAi
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 18, 2017
The show must go on
Tim Farron and Jeremy Corbyn have also said they think the debates should go ahead. Farron said that there should be a “moral duty” to debate; and that, by refusing to do so, May was holding the public “in contempt”.
And Corbyn tweeted:
If this #GeneralElection is about leadership, as Theresa May said this morning, she should not be dodging head-to-head TV debates.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) April 18, 2017
Theresa May claimed that she wasn’t “running scared”, and that she:
believe[s] in campaigns where politicians actually get out and about and meet the voters.
Which is all well and good, but it is pretty much the bread and butter of any election campaign. And doing one does not preclude the other.
The Prime Minister apparently wants to “crush the saboteurs” rather than debate with them. And this tells you everything you need to know about Theresa May. Instead of engaging in democratic debate, she wants to crush her enemies.
If she was really sure she could crush them, she wouldn’t be running scared of the debate. But any debate would have to address the government’s record on disability, austerity, the NHS and the failing state of our schools. And these are the issues May is scared about.
Theresa May is not looking tough with her violent ‘crushing’ rhetoric. Refusing to debate makes her look weak, scared and ashamed of her government’s record. It is essential that these debates go ahead. And it is essential that May is given an empty chair if she refuses to participate.
Get Involved!
– Register to vote. Do not sit in silence and allow others to decide the direction of our country.
Featured image via Wikimedia, Wikimedia, Wikimedia, and Flickr
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
Support us 
