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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron: Deal can be reached on TV debates if N Ireland included | Cameron: Deal can be reached on TV debates if N Ireland included |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron says he could agree to the planned TV election debates if Northern Ireland parties were included. | |
| Asked if a deal could be reached if Northern Ireland were part of the plan, Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Yes. I think a deal could be done." | |
| He said: "You can't have one part of the UK - Scotland or Wales - without having another part - Northern Ireland." | He said: "You can't have one part of the UK - Scotland or Wales - without having another part - Northern Ireland." |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said he would take part with or without Mr Cameron. | Labour leader Ed Miliband said he would take part with or without Mr Cameron. |
| Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the prime minister said: "I do want to say yes, and the point I made was that you couldn't have one minor party, UKIP without having another minor party, the Greens." | Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the prime minister said: "I do want to say yes, and the point I made was that you couldn't have one minor party, UKIP without having another minor party, the Greens." |
| He added: "It was the broadcasters that decided not only to include the Greens but they also then decided to include Plaid Cymru from Wales and the Scottish National Party from Scotland. | He added: "It was the broadcasters that decided not only to include the Greens but they also then decided to include Plaid Cymru from Wales and the Scottish National Party from Scotland. |
| "I think the Labour Party and myself both made the point you can't have one part of the United Kingdom - Scotland or Wales - without having another part - Northern Ireland." | "I think the Labour Party and myself both made the point you can't have one part of the United Kingdom - Scotland or Wales - without having another part - Northern Ireland." |
| 'Empty chair' | 'Empty chair' |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband commented: "I want the debates to happen. David Cameron is wriggling and wriggling on this." | Labour leader Ed Miliband commented: "I want the debates to happen. David Cameron is wriggling and wriggling on this." |
| He pledged: "I am going to be at those debates, whether it's an empty chair or David Cameron." | He pledged: "I am going to be at those debates, whether it's an empty chair or David Cameron." |
| The prime minister was previously criticised for saying he would not participate if the Green Party's leader, Natalie Bennett, were not featured. | |
| Broadcasters subsequently proposed a revised format, under which two debates hosted by BBC and ITV would feature the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. | Broadcasters subsequently proposed a revised format, under which two debates hosted by BBC and ITV would feature the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. |
| A third on Channel 4 and Sky would pit Mr Cameron against Ed Miliband in a one-on-one debate. | A third on Channel 4 and Sky would pit Mr Cameron against Ed Miliband in a one-on-one debate. |
| Peter Robinson, leader of the DUP - which has eight MPs at Westminster - said last week he would write to the BBC and ITV to ask why his party had not been included. | |
| Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance from Northern Ireland have all said they should be involved. |