Football versus the debates
The organisers of the TV debates must be kicking themselves this morning, following Manchester United's exit from the European Cup.
As I reported a few weeks ago, they were originally hoping to hold the TV debates on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in the last three weeks of the campaign. But then somebody realised that in the last two weeks these would clash with the semi-finals of the European Cup. On past form these would almost certainly involve English clubs - three English sides have reached the semis in each of the last three years.
But this morning no English sides are left in the cup. United and Arsenal were both eliminated this week, Chelsea and Liverpool in earlier rounds. So they could have held the TV debates on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after all.
Indeed, Thursday is now a worse night for the TV debates in terms of competiton from football since, if results go well this evening, Liverpool and/or Fulham could be in the semi-finals of the stupidly-titled Europa League, broadcast on Channel 5 on the last two Thursdays this month.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 12th Apr 2010, MrSBag wrote:Stupidly titled is about right. They'd do well to just come clean and ask Disney to sponsor it.
Bleedin' Mickey Mouse cup..
We'll be bringing home some European silverware though!
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