Politicians berated on Question Time over dull election

Politicians berated on Question Time over dull election



Mounting frustration with the sterile election campaign was laid bare last night as politicians were berated on live TV for trotting out 'repetitive cliches'.

The audience on the BBC's Question Time railed at the buttoned-down public events and appealed for parties to be more 'grown up'.

The backlash comes amid complaints about Theresa May's refusal to stray from the Tory slogan of 'strong and stable' leadership.



One audience member summed up the weariness of voters, barely a week into the campaign, as he hit out at Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green during the BBC show last night.

'If we're going to have an election, can we at least have a grown-up election?' he said.



'I bet my wife £10 that Damian (Green) would say 'coalition of chaos' and 'strong and stable government' as his first contribution.'

In a reference to Mrs May's relentless message discipline, he man added: 'Has he caught the repetitive cliche virus from his boss?



'Please let's have a more grown-up debate where we use the language of Shakespeare with a bit more flexibility.'

The PM used the phrase 12 times in a stump speech lasting just 10 minutes earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly deployed the phrase 'bargain basement Brexit'.

Mrs May was asked on BBC Radio Derby yesterday if she knew what a 'Mugwump' was, after Boris Johnson deployed the term to condemn the Labour leader.

She replied: 'What I recognise is that what we need in this country is strong and stable leadership.'



The intervention came after Mr Green stressed the importance of having a 'strong and stable government' to get the best possible Brexit deal.

'It seems to me unarguable that if you have a strong elected PM with a new elected mandate Britain's position will be put better in those vital negotiations,' he said.

He also used another buzz phrase for the Conservative compaign - warning that the other members of the panel were being a 'coalition of chaos' by ganging up against him.

Mr Green was appearing on the flagship BBC show alongside Labour's Clive Lewis, the SNP's Stephen Gethins, Lib Dem Jo Swinson and ex-Cameron adviser Baroness Cavendish.

At a campaign rally in Bridgend earlier this week, Mrs May said 'strong and stable' 12 times in a 10 minute speech - despite viewers already complaining that they are tired of it.

Twitter have been moaning that repetition of the phrase is making them 'cry', while another wag joked: 'Whoever has 'strong and stable leadership' in the 2017 election drinking game is absolutely screwed.'