STEP INTO GRANTY'S INFERNO: Let's have a heated TV debate

I was reminded about this on Democracy Day on Tuesday.

Plenty of time for the don't knows and the don’t cares to be subjected to fierce campaigning.

I am a big supporter of televised debates.

It is real democracy in action.

The idea was born in the United States for their Presidential elections to see how politicians fared under pressure.

Now we should make them compulsory in the UK.

The last one five years ago showed us how our three party leaders coped under the spotlight when asked questions that had not been checked by the respective press officers.

But it seems that not everyone is over keen on such illuminating debates.

With all the protocol of the playground (cue Peter Gabriel's Games Without Frontiers) Prime Minister David Cameron is refusing to take part unless his new best mates the Greens are there.

Ed Miliband has had his hand up for ages waiting to be picked.

The Lib-Dems are sulking on the sidelines as the Kippers' Nigel Farage runs off with the ball.

Being apolitical I would be standing next to Pub Landlord Comedian Al Murray with his penny pints and fruit-based drinks "for the ladies."

I just have one comment for our political misleaders – grow up.

I want to see our political parties sweating it out in front of the cameras to see how statesman-like they are.

But why stop at a Westminster debate? How about local councillors getting grilled?

We could have a similar debate in Wallasey Town Hall for local elections. Got to get value out of the carpet and coffee machine somehow or other.

Members of the public could find out how WBC are up for four local government awards while also making regular appearances in Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs column?

Surely that's an award-winning achievement in itself?

ONE aspect of the general election I dread is the “door-stepping” trail by politicians.

But it has brought some light moments. A journalist friend of mine was made redundant by her paper in the Midlands.

She was bemused and shocked when, during the last election, her former boss was standing on her doorstep with his campaign leaflet and well-rehearsed spiel about “job creation.”

The blue clad prospective candidate was left red-faced after she told him where he could stick his rosette.

Another friend has plugged in his shredder machine by his front door in readiness for a barrage of propaganda leaflets.

LIKE many commuters, I was disappointed when Merseytravel recently upped their ticket prices.

The news arrived after the transport organisation helpfully informed us there were no trains on Boxing Day. Can Merseytravel re-think this service for this year’s festive bank holiday?

Boxing Day is a time when people want to see family and friends and are happy to leave their cars at home so they can have the odd tipple. A skeleton bus service is no alternative.

GRANT’S TV Rant: Harry Hill’s Stars in Their Eyes rightly has been panned.

It can’t make up its mind what it is supposed to be.

Tonight, Harry, I am going to be a television mess. Masquerading as a talent show.

I feel sorry for those people who have been stripped of their dignity by Mr Hill.

I reported on the original series when the late, great Leslie Crowther was the respectful host.

The show went on to make real careers for many of the onscreen tribute acts.

Now any hopeful should think twice before signing up for such ridicule.

AND finally ... Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg seems to have lost some of the political fire that gave him acclaim during the last televised debate when many compared his oratory to that of Churchill.

Now he merely resembles Churchill the bull dog from the insurance adverts.

Oh yes.

Peter Grant