David Miliband has written to the five other Labour leadership contenders asking them to join him in a TV debate on the Labour leadership.

The Observer reports today:

“This leadership election must be a credit to the Labour party,” he tells them. “It should also be our chance to re-engage the public so we can both understand why we lost but also to show how we will win back their trust. Therefore we should use every opportunity to engage the widest possible audience. The TV debate fired up interest in the election – and could be an excellent way to re-engage people with Labour.

Potentially risky, as Toby Helm says, but I’d wager that David Miliband won’t do so badly if such a debate goes ahead.

He might come across slightly stunted in speeches and in person but the elder Miliband has always been quite articulate in debates.

But it would definitely force a wider debate that with two strident left-wing voices – I’m all for it.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate http://bit.ly/9BnoY1

2. Martin Mayer

   David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate | Liberal Conspiracy http://ht.ly/17yeld

3. Tank the Tories

   Has Miliband D lost the plot? The Labour leadership should NOT be a national media circus. Shocking idea http://bit.ly/9BnoY1 via @libcon

4. Bruce Kentey

   David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate | Liberal Conspiracy: “This leadership election must be a credit to … http://bit.ly/ag54Xz

5. Rachael Wardell

   RT @libcon: David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate http://bit.ly/9BnoY1 >>Nugget! Who'd watch? Post it on YouTube maybe….

6. Tweets that mention David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate | Liberal Conspiracy -- Topsy.com

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Liberal Conspiracy, Martin Mayer. Martin Mayer said: David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate | Liberal Conspiracy http://ht.ly/17yeld [...]

7. Tank the Tories

   NOOOOO! It is not for non party members to decide or interfere RT @libcon David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate http://bit.ly/9BnoY1

8. Rebecca Powers

   David Miliband calls for leadership TV debate | Liberal Conspiracy: “This leadership election must be a credit to … http://bit.ly/bHRJB4