UK broadcasters have proposed a series of three leaders debates in the run up to the general election. They want to have one with just Ed Miliband and David Cameron, then a second with Nick Clegg as well, and a third with all three plus Nigel Farage.
The debates are proposed to take place at fortnightly intervals on 2nd April, 16th April and 30th April at locations around the UK. In a statement Sky News explained the details of the proposal, which has been agreed by the BBC, ITV and Channel4:
- One head-to-head debate between the two leaders who could become Prime Minister – Conservative and Labour. This debate will be co-produced by Sky News and Channel 4 and chaired by Jeremy Paxman. Kay Burley will introduce the programme and present the post-debate analysis. The whole programme will be carried live on Sky and Channel 4 and their digital platforms, as well as having a major presence across social media.
- One debate between the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders. This debate will be produced by the BBC and presented by David Dimbleby. It will be broadcast on BBC One with extensive live coverage on other BBC TV and Radio networks and online.
- One debate between the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP leaders. This debate will be produced and broadcast by ITV. The ITV debate, chaired by Julie Etchingham, will air on ITV’s main channel and online.
The debates will have to be agreed by the party leaders, but they have been constructed in a way that will make it hard for the leaders to refuse. David Cameron is known to favour having Nigel Farage in but is insisting the last debate of the campaign be between himself and Ed Miliband only.
Nigel Farage told Breitbart London that he was pleased to be included in the debates. He said: “UK broadcasters has proposed a series of three leaders debates in the run up to the general election.
“They want to have one with just Ed Miliband and David Cameron, then a second with Nick Clegg as well, and a third with all three plus Nigel Farage.”
For the first time ever this parliament has a fixed term, and so the date of the general election has already been set at 7th May 2015.