Theresa May could learn a lesson from Angela Merkel’s debate performance

Last night’s TV debate between Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz poses a nagging question for British conservatives. No, nothing to do with Brexit – the subject wasn’t even mentioned. Rather, why was Theresa May so afraid of going toe to toe with Jeremy Corbyn before the General Election? If only she’d done a Merkel and faced off her main rival on television, she might have won a decent majority – just as Merkel looks set to do in three weeks’ time.

Like May, Merkel is widely (and quite rightly) regarded as an uninspiring public speaker. Like Corbyn, Schulz is an assured performer, with a polished ‘man of the people’ shtick. Ever since David Cameron ducked out of a head-to-head with Ed Miliband in 2015, British politicians have regarded TV debates as an unnecessary risk for the incumbent – especially if, like Merkel, the incumbent has a commanding lead. Merkel’s adept performance in last night’s debate showed that competent incumbents have nothing to fear from the cameras – and that centre-right logic will always trump the rhetoric of the centre-left.