Letter: Time for honest political debate

Sir: Yes, let us have TV debates (leading article, 8 October). But not just Major, Blair and Ashdown - we are electing a team, not a president.

Let us have Clarke, Brown and Bruce debating the economy; Howard, Straw and Beith on crime; Rifkind, Cook and Campbell on foreign policy. Add education and health, and you have six debates over the three-week campaign; not too many, surely?

They could be shared between BBC and ITV and would be the high points of the campaign, requiring something more substantial than soundbites and picture opportunities. We should be satisfied with nothing less.

Dr JOHN CAMPBELL

London W11