Substance and soundbites

The BBC's Politics Show today brought together the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, and his Tory and Lib Dem shadows for a debate on this week's main political story - the row over the funding of personal care.   Presenter Jon Sopel understandably opened the interview by teasing out the sudden divergence of opinion on the subject, after an initial attempt at forging a cross-party consensus appeared to have been shattered by the Tory's "RIP Off" poster last week.   And so the political posturing began, with Conservative Andrew Lansley straight out of his starting blocks.

Andy Burnham's response to a direct question from Jon Sopel about the row was to meander off on a description of the issue itself, rather than focus on the political bust-up - normally an annoying diversionary tactic, but, on this occasion, one which seemed genuine enough.   Sopel was having none of it.   He assured the Health Secretary that the discussion would come round to the substance of the issue soon enough, but not before he had commented on the political fallout from the week's events.   The tenor of the discussion was set and, inevitably, the substance never really made it to the table.

It wasn't the fault of Jon Sopel.   It wasn't the fault of his Producer.   It was my (and possibly your) fault for routinely indulging ourselves in the latest political spat.   However much we might insist, po-faced, that we care only about the issues, our heads are easily turned by a bit of political theatre on the small screen.   

It is for that reason that package-based political programming is so worthwhile.   Ironically, The Politics Show is the only regular example of the genre on television, but it was obviously concluded that this particular topic demanded a three-way thrashing-out and nothing more.   In-depth, well-crafted packages deftly inform and engage - and we can always have our more combative cravings satisfied in a post-package 'debate'.   It is a formula which largely works well on The Politics Show and, traditionally, on many of ITV's regional political programmes - Granada's erstwhile Sunday Supplement being a prime example. 

As the broadcasters make their bold plans for the forthcoming General Election - leadership debates, swingometres and the rest - it's to be hoped they remember to provide an outlet for both the substance and the shouting matches.