Tim Farron: Why Theresa May ducking out of the TV debates is a cynical, hypocritical move For a leader who likes to project strength, Theresa May has been made to look decidedly fragile by the row […]

For a leader who likes to project strength, Theresa May has been made to look decidedly fragile by the row over TV debates.

Why is she so shy when it comes to facing me and the other party leaders?

After all, it would enable the public to make up their own minds on who best represents their values. And Jeremy Corbyn, for all his qualities, is hardly so fearsome a debater that Theresa May should run for cover.

i's opinion newsletter: talking points from today Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The lady is for turning

Besides, this reticence about debates is a strikingly new attitude for Mrs May.

After all, back in 1992 when we were candidates together in Durham, Theresa May found ourselves in complete agreement – when she called out the sitting MP for failing to show up to debates.

Now the caller out of chickens is chickening out. So much for principled leadership.

May is ducking scrutiny on Brexit

The only possible explanation is that she wants to avoid scrutiny of her hard Brexit agenda.

“Even if May were to win the general election, how could she possibly claim to have won a mandate to deliver her harsh, divisive Brexit?”

Tim Farron

But there is irony here. She was so desperate to acquire the mandate that she so patently lacks for a hard Brexit that take us out of the Single Market that she decided to break her word and cut and run to an early general election.

Yet it was a key part of the Brexiteers’ case and indeed the last Conservative manifesto that we would remain in the Single Market.

A Tory victory is not a mandate for a hard Brexit

So even if she were to win the general election, how could she possibly claim to have won a mandate to deliver her harsh, divisive Brexit if even during the glare of a general election campaign she refuses to make her case to the British people?

The hypocrisy, even to keen students of the way Team May changes the goal-posts, is pretty breath taking.

Fighting for the right to Remain

If Theresa May were to take part in a debate, you can be sure she would be held to account for her extreme hard Brexit that few voted for in the referendum.

The truth is she is clearly running scared of the Liberal Democrats. We have been the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit government.

While Corbyn ordered his MPs through the division lobby to support May’s hard Brexit, Liberal Democrats stood alone as the only nationwide UK party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united.

This election is your chance to stop that hard Brexit, and steer Britain on a different path.

Let’s engage the public

But to engage the population as a whole, you need TV debates. Important as it is for politicians to tour the country and knock on doors – and I doubt any will wear out more shoe leather than me in this contest – a huge number of voters will receive most of their information about this once-in-a-generation election through television.

How cynical of May to try to turn this election into a bore-fest, that would almost pass the nation by without us quite noticing it.

Broadcasters: it’s your duty

I expect the broadcasters to do the right thing.

Don’t let the Conservatives call the shots. If the Prime Minister won’t attend: empty chair her.

You have a moral duty to hold these debates.

“If you want to deliver your monumentally mistaken hard Brexit, you have to face me down in a live TV debate first”

Tim Farron

Theresa May has the right to choose not take part, but she has no right to close down all debate and stop the other parties trying to engage with the electorate.

Other issues to debate

Brexit is the fundamental question that underpins all else.

After all, you can’t have a hard Brexit and a strong NHS or indeed any decent public services when the economy faces a £100bn Brexit black hole over 15 years.

But I also I want to raise such important questions as the future of the NHS, housing, education and the environment where May has such an unpopular and unpalatable record to defend.

So my message to Theresa May? If you want to deliver your monumentally mistaken hard Brexit, you have to face me down in a live TV debate first.