It appears that the BBC, that lumbering ancient British institution has finally bowed to license fee payers pressure over the forthcoming leaders debates and will hold a consultation on the make-up of the 3 events. Quite why this has taken so long and why the scope of the consultation is to be so limited is hard to understand. When I was a PCC candidate, as an Independent and someone with no previous Political experience, one of the suprising elements was the extent to which TV and Radio exposure was controlled, not by an accountable body but by a distant and authoritarian organisation, influenced not by electors but by the existing Political Parties. At that time it was touch and go as to whether or not they would allow local Independent candidates to be included in the debates which took place County by County. The decision to include us undoubtedly increased the prospect of Independent candidates from getting elected. The problem that Independents face in any election is that they are perceived to be an unknown quantity when compared to any Party Candidate. This is of course nonsense. The difference in politics between individuals in any of our Political Parties is huge and it is clear from the last 20 years that none of our Parties have a good track record in weeding out idiots and charlatans. What we need from our state broadcaster is a responsiveness to who the electorate can choose from in the forthcoming election, not who held the balance of power in the last one. I am delighted that there is a realistic prospect of Natalie Bennett being one of the leaders participating. However we need a broader debate than just should the Greens be included in one of the 3 national debates. I would favour very different debates and I have written about this previously. Check out my last blog on this topic if you are interested in my own ideas.