Election 2015 Cameron and Miliband Live

TV Review

Election 2015 Cameron and Miliband Live

Spot the difference?

Simon Carter

With parliament dissolved, the 2015 general election campaign has officially commenced. And while the winning party, or more likely combination of parties, is hard to predict, one thing is certain – whoever forms the next government will continue with capitalist austerity.

It’s all the more ironic therefore that the most recent TV election debate was between Tory David ‘austerity’ Cameron and Labour’s Ed ‘austerity-lite’ Miliband.

Grilled by Jeremy Paxman, the 90-minute Q&A began with Cameron being reminded about his claim to ‘repair broken Britain’ but then unable to explain why food bank usage has soared.

Next, the millionaire PM, after repeated questioning, eventually admitted he couldn’t live on an exploitative zero-hour contract. Cameron was also left looking decidedly uncomfortable on the economy when Paxman pointed out that, despite trumpeting an economic recovery, the government had borrowed more than the previous government.

On foreign policy, Cameron’s response to the calamity in Libya, caused by western imperialism’s intervention, would’ve been laughable if it wasn’t so tragic. The prime minister retorted that the situation was “challenging”!

Miliband’s turn at being questioned was excruciating to watch as he tripped over virtually every issue; from Labour’s handling of the economic meltdown, to immigration, to the cost of living crisis.

The hapless wannabe PM, when told by Paxman that unemployment has fallen under this government, failed to point out that instead of permanent well-paid jobs there has been a massive increase in low paying self-employment and temporary, insecure jobs.

But to prove his capitalist-friendly credentials Ed keenly trotted out his desire of a future Labour government to cut public spending.

Any undecided voter watching this dire spectacle would’ve probably concluded that there is precious little difference between the two main establishment parties – and they’d be right!

  • BBC News special: Election 2015 Cameron and Miliband Live – available to watch on the BBC iPlayer