True Brexit debate isn’t dull

The idea that Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn can effectively debate Brexit is an odd one.

After all, both political leaders are firmly signed up to the ‘Brexit means Brexit’ mantra. Or at least Corbyn appears to be; on this most central issue of our times, it is worryingly hard to tell where exactly he stands. He does oppose May’s deal – insisting a better one can be had, a claim also made by the hard-core Brexiteers – but if elected Prime Minister it appears Corbyn would try to get something vaguely similar out of Brussels, in the short time available to do so after a snap general election.

But if the BBC or ITV is to hold a landmark TV debate to thrash out all the issues once and for all, then surely it needs to have a Remain champion like Vince Cable, Nicola Sturgeon to speak for Scotland and others to speak for Northern Ireland and Wales, and someone from the no-deal Brexit camp, as risky as that option might be. A May-corbyn squabble over the Brexit deal’s finer details will not inform the public. It will simply be an exchange of rehearsed soundbites, producing nothing but dull-as-ditchwater TV.