No election TV debate, says Blair (BBC News)

For a man apparently trying to reinvigorate interest in elections, this would seem a strange decision. Perhaps he’s worried that it would give a boost to the oppostition, and make him look silly in an election which he’s fairly certain to win anyway.

The best move now for the Conservatives would be to arrange a televised debate between Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, and then point out that Mr Blair cannot be bothered to attend to defend his policies. It could be a primetime Labour-bashing programme, an opportunity surely too good to miss?