Now that Jeremy Corbyn is joining the Election 2017 debate, there’s only one reason Theresa May won’t take part – cowardice

If May can't cope with a discussion on TV, how will she cope with securing a deal for Britain with Europe? If she can't debate, how can she negotiate?

Theresa May is running scared of Corbyn's surge in the polls (EPA)

The announcement that Jeremy Corbyn will be joining this evening’s BBC Election 2017 debate should come as no great surprise. It’s just the latest in a series of signals that Labour’s campaign momentum, to lend the phrase, is showing no sign of slowing.

In contrast the now glaring absence of Theresa May reveals that her campaign is undergoing quite the opposite response to the pressure of the snap election: it’s falling apart.

A few weeks ago May’s impressive lead in the polls gave her a valid excuse to avoid the debates. Indeed, evading the scrapping and scalping of live TV looked almost statesmanlike. Why should the PM past, present and future bother to waste her time? With Labour trailing in the polls, it was an excuse grounded in some semblance of reality. The ‘why bother debating Corbyn line’ was perfect cover for a PM who has been scared to face her opponents or the public from the offset.

Of course, those who’d kept an eye on her public appearances may well have cottoned on to the fact she’s a poor political operator, unable to do more than blurt out “strong and stable” on repeat in front of both cameras and selective crowds.

Now, the latest YouGov poll showing a swing to Labour unprecedented since Corbyn became Labour leader have exposed her excuses for what they are. What was before a useful political slogan for Labour – “Theresa May is running scared” – is quickly becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s exactly what viewers tuning in tonight will be thinking, and they’ll be right.

The Tories want us to believe that both May and Corbyn were until today both unwilling to take part in these debates, but the reality is more nuanced. While May has long ruled out attending no matter what, Corbyn stance was he’d only take part if May does. His rationale was obvious: either he or May will be the next PM, so it only makes sense to do these together. May’s point-blank refusal had no such basis: she was always running scared.

And now, with May’s stand-in confirmed, Corbyn returns to the ring, rising above his stalemate with the Tories. All May can do to try and claw back credibility is make jibes about a “naked Corbyn” at the Brexit negotiating table. Now who looks weak and wobbly?

Even if May were to do another U-turn and agree to engage like the other leaders – which is looking incredibly unlikely – it would be quite clearly a sign of desperation, another flip-flop from a leader who just can’t make up their mind. When asked by journalists today if she was scared of Corbyn, her excuse was being too busy with Brexit preparations. Coming from the person who called the election in the first place it's hardly a convincing reply.

Tonight we must ask ourselves on question: if May can't cope with a discussion on TV how will she cope with securing a deal for Britain with Europe? If she can't debate, how can she negotiate?

Whatever the outcome of tonight’s debate one lesson is obvious: we don’t need Theresa May for our democracy to thrive.