Will TV debate sway your vote? 85% of Echo readers say they've already made up their minds

Voters in Sunderland say televised debates ahead of next month’s General Election won’t change their vote and say their minds are already made up.
Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson will go head to head.Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson will go head to head.
Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson will go head to head.

We asked readers to have their say on whether they could be swayed by televised election debates ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s appearance on Tuesday, November 19.

And the results show that a large majority believe they won’t be swayed by anything either of the two main party leaders have to say in a TV debate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the time of writing, 85% of of 1,400 readers say they vote won’t be swayed while 15% say that TV debates could have an impact on their decision.

Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson faced each other in the first televised live debate of the election campaign on Tuesday.

ITV hosted the first head-to-head between the Labour and Conservative leaders, with news presenter Julie Etchingham chairing the event. It aired at 8pm UK time.

Controversially, the programme featured the leaders of only the two largest parties, after a High Court challenge mounted by the Liberal Democrats and SNP arguing for their inclusion failed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here’s what readers had to say on whether their vote could be swayed:

Pat Lane: “They change their minds like the weather and you know how reliable that is.”

Trevor Parkin: “People are not stupid, minds are made up already!”

Mark Jackson: “Not a two party state, won’t watch, won’t vote for either!”

Graeme Wharton: “Hardly democracy with only two parties involved.”

Sandra Davies: “Already made my mind up.”