Party leaders to go head to head?
‘Lord Mandelson has said he is “open” to the idea of a televised debate between Gordon Brown and David Cameron during the next election campaign.’ – BBC
‘The question of whether the main party leaders should go head to head in a televised debate comes up at every general election but it has never happened. Peter Mandelson, Gordon Brown’s effective second in command, has raised the tantalising prospect that it will happen next year by saying that Mr Brown “wouldn’t have a problem” taking on Mr Cameron in a live debate.’ – Andy McSmith, The Independent
‘If there is a series of televised debates, none of these issues will get a look in. The event, or events, will become the only talking point. Right away there would be a major debate about the format of the debates. Should all three party leaders take part? What about the other leaders of smaller parties? How much time should each of them get? Will there be a studio audience? The answers to these questions would take up a thousand front pages and, come to think of it, quite a few columns.’ – Steve Richards, The Independent
Building Young Britain
‘Thousands of internships are to be made available to help school leavers and graduates find work during the recession.’ – BBC
‘The unresolved struggle’
‘There is still intense anger among many Iranians at what they regard as a stolen presidential election last month. Their grievances have been compounded by the treatment of protestors arrested in last month’s demonstrations. So how should we read what is taking place in the country?’ – Leader, The Independent
‘Tens of thousands of Iranian protesters took to the streets of central Tehran tonight to clash with security forces after a day of unrest marking the memory of Neda Soltan, the young woman whose killing came to symbolise the brutal crackdown after June’s disputed election.’ – Saeed Kamali Dehghan and Ian Black, The Guardian