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| David Cameron scared of TV election debates, say rivals | David Cameron scared of TV election debates, say rivals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron's political rivals have accused him of running scared after saying he will only take part in one televised debate ahead of the election. | David Cameron's political rivals have accused him of running scared after saying he will only take part in one televised debate ahead of the election. |
| Downing Street has rejected a head-to-head clash with Ed Miliband and said the PM will only take part in a debate featuring seven party leaders. | Downing Street has rejected a head-to-head clash with Ed Miliband and said the PM will only take part in a debate featuring seven party leaders. |
| His spokesman criticised the broadcasters for the "chaos" of the negotiating process. | His spokesman criticised the broadcasters for the "chaos" of the negotiating process. |
| But the other parties accused the Tory leader of "cowardice". | But the other parties accused the Tory leader of "cowardice". |
| Lib Dem election campaign chief Lord Ashdown said Mr Cameron was "running scared" and was "frightened of defending his own position". | Lib Dem election campaign chief Lord Ashdown said Mr Cameron was "running scared" and was "frightened of defending his own position". |
| "What he is proposing is not just a ludicrous, seven-sided, bite-sized squabble fest but actually he is proposing it takes place before the Conservative manifesto is published," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What he is proposing is not just a ludicrous, seven-sided, bite-sized squabble fest but actually he is proposing it takes place before the Conservative manifesto is published," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| 'Get on with it' | 'Get on with it' |
| He added: "If Mr Cameron hasn't got the guts to stand up and defend this government's record then Nick Clegg will do so." | He added: "If Mr Cameron hasn't got the guts to stand up and defend this government's record then Nick Clegg will do so." |
| Mr Clegg accused Mr Cameron of holding the broadcasters "to ransom" by trying to dictate the terms of the proposed TV debates. | Mr Clegg accused Mr Cameron of holding the broadcasters "to ransom" by trying to dictate the terms of the proposed TV debates. |
| In a tweet, he says: "The British public want the debates so let's get on with it." | In a tweet, he says: "The British public want the debates so let's get on with it." |
| But Commons leader William Hague defended the prime minister in the Commons, saying the other parties should accept his offer of a debate. | |
| He said: "I recall asking Tony Blair when I was leader of the opposition in 2001 for a television debate there was not even an offer of a debate from Tony not even the pretence of a debate, there was a very clear no debate what so ever. | |
| "And this prime minister is offering a debate and that is an offer that should be taken up that was never offered by Tony Blair in similar circumstances." | |
| Under Mr Cameron's "final offer", one 90-minute contest would take place before 30 March, when the official general election campaign starts. | Under Mr Cameron's "final offer", one 90-minute contest would take place before 30 March, when the official general election campaign starts. |
| Downing Street said the Democratic Unionist Party should also be considered for inclusion. | Downing Street said the Democratic Unionist Party should also be considered for inclusion. |
| The broadcasters, who have proposed a total of three debates, said they would respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course. | The broadcasters, who have proposed a total of three debates, said they would respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course. |
| The BBC and ITV are scheduled to hold two, both involving the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens. | The BBC and ITV are scheduled to hold two, both involving the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens. |
| A third debate - hosted by Sky and Channel 4 - the week before the 7 May election would feature a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. | A third debate - hosted by Sky and Channel 4 - the week before the 7 May election would feature a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. |
| After Mr Cameron questioned the timing of it at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sky and Channel 4 offered to move the event to a different date if the leaders could agree. | After Mr Cameron questioned the timing of it at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sky and Channel 4 offered to move the event to a different date if the leaders could agree. |
| Labour's Douglas Alexander said his party still supported the broadcasters' plan and said Mr Cameron was "scared" of a debate with Mr Miliband. | Labour's Douglas Alexander said his party still supported the broadcasters' plan and said Mr Cameron was "scared" of a debate with Mr Miliband. |
| Analysis by BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith | Analysis by BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith |
| So are the debates dead? | So are the debates dead? |
| Well, maybe not. But only if the broadcasters hold their nerve. | Well, maybe not. But only if the broadcasters hold their nerve. |
| In other words if they decide to press ahead with the three debates and empty chair the prime minister. | In other words if they decide to press ahead with the three debates and empty chair the prime minister. |
| It would be a huge decision - and many at Westminster remain sceptical that the BBC would be willing to do this. | It would be a huge decision - and many at Westminster remain sceptical that the BBC would be willing to do this. |
| However, privately, the broadcasters' insist they will not buckle and will not allow one party to "dictate" the conditions. | However, privately, the broadcasters' insist they will not buckle and will not allow one party to "dictate" the conditions. |
| They insist the single 90 minute seven, or even eight party, debate proposed by the prime minister will "not cover the ground". | They insist the single 90 minute seven, or even eight party, debate proposed by the prime minister will "not cover the ground". |
| And crucially, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats say they will still turn up for whatever debates the broadcasters' decide to hold. | And crucially, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats say they will still turn up for whatever debates the broadcasters' decide to hold. |
| Ed Miliband will even take part in the head-to-head without David Cameron - and subject himself to a grilling from Jeremy Paxman. | Ed Miliband will even take part in the head-to-head without David Cameron - and subject himself to a grilling from Jeremy Paxman. |
| Senior Lib Dems say Nick Clegg would be ready to stand in for the prime minister in the final head-to-head, making it a Miliband v Clegg clash. | |
| The danger for the prime minister is that even if the debates lose their impact without him - he risks a backlash from voters for failing to take part. | The danger for the prime minister is that even if the debates lose their impact without him - he risks a backlash from voters for failing to take part. |
| Downing Street's hope is that the broadcasters will buckle and either agree to his proposal or just scrap the whole idea of TV debates for this election. | Downing Street's hope is that the broadcasters will buckle and either agree to his proposal or just scrap the whole idea of TV debates for this election. |
| "This is an outrageous attempt from the prime minister to bully the broadcasters into dropping their proposals for a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband," he said. | "This is an outrageous attempt from the prime minister to bully the broadcasters into dropping their proposals for a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband," he said. |
| A UKIP spokesman said: "After praising what a good thing debates were for democracy as recently as 2014, why is David Cameron now acting chicken and running as far away from them as possible?" | A UKIP spokesman said: "After praising what a good thing debates were for democracy as recently as 2014, why is David Cameron now acting chicken and running as far away from them as possible?" |
| SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "arrogance," adding: "I will debate him anytime, anywhere, on any number of occasions. | SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "arrogance," adding: "I will debate him anytime, anywhere, on any number of occasions. |
| "However we have accepted the broadcasters' proposals, and believe we should stick with that, rather than allow a Tory prime minister to dictate the terms of debate." | "However we have accepted the broadcasters' proposals, and believe we should stick with that, rather than allow a Tory prime minister to dictate the terms of debate." |
| The Green Party has accused Mr Cameron of "further damaging trust" in British politics. | The Green Party has accused Mr Cameron of "further damaging trust" in British politics. |
| "Not only is Cameron's announcement cowardly but it also shows his contempt for the electorate. People want to see a set of debates between all major party leaders, yet the prime minister is clearly scared of scrutiny," said a spokesman. | "Not only is Cameron's announcement cowardly but it also shows his contempt for the electorate. People want to see a set of debates between all major party leaders, yet the prime minister is clearly scared of scrutiny," said a spokesman. |
| Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said Mr Cameron's "efforts to manipulate the broadcasters are unacceptable and arrogant". | Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said Mr Cameron's "efforts to manipulate the broadcasters are unacceptable and arrogant". |
| Northern Ireland's largest party, the DUP, which has begun legal action against the BBC for excluding it from its earlier proposal of two UK TV debates, said the corporation and the other broadcasters had "messed up big style" over the negotiations. | Northern Ireland's largest party, the DUP, which has begun legal action against the BBC for excluding it from its earlier proposal of two UK TV debates, said the corporation and the other broadcasters had "messed up big style" over the negotiations. |
| As leader of the opposition, Mr Cameron led calls for televised debates at the 2010 general election - the first time they have been held in the UK. | As leader of the opposition, Mr Cameron led calls for televised debates at the 2010 general election - the first time they have been held in the UK. |
| But he has since criticised the idea of holding debates in the run up to polling day, saying they had "sucked the life out of the campaign". | But he has since criticised the idea of holding debates in the run up to polling day, saying they had "sucked the life out of the campaign". |
| After months of wrangling over the format for debates at the 2015 election, Downing Street issued a statement on Wednesday night, confirming that Mr Cameron did not want to go head-to-head with Labour leader Ed Miliband under any circumstances. | After months of wrangling over the format for debates at the 2015 election, Downing Street issued a statement on Wednesday night, confirming that Mr Cameron did not want to go head-to-head with Labour leader Ed Miliband under any circumstances. |
| In a letter to the broadcasters, the prime minister's communications chief Craig Oliver said: "In order to cut through this chaotic situation I am willing to make the following proposal: There should be one 90-minute debate between seven party leaders before the short campaign." | In a letter to the broadcasters, the prime minister's communications chief Craig Oliver said: "In order to cut through this chaotic situation I am willing to make the following proposal: There should be one 90-minute debate between seven party leaders before the short campaign." |
| He added: "In order for it to be organised in time, the debate should take place during the week beginning March 23. I will make myself available to negotiate the details. Having been the editor of numerous broadcast news and current affairs programmes, I know this is ample time to organise a programme. | He added: "In order for it to be organised in time, the debate should take place during the week beginning March 23. I will make myself available to negotiate the details. Having been the editor of numerous broadcast news and current affairs programmes, I know this is ample time to organise a programme. |
| "This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the prime minister will not be participating in more than one debate." | "This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the prime minister will not be participating in more than one debate." |
| In a joint statement, broadcasters said: "The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the prime minister's office with a proposal. | In a joint statement, broadcasters said: "The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the prime minister's office with a proposal. |
| "The broadcasters are committed to providing our audiences with election debates. | "The broadcasters are committed to providing our audiences with election debates. |
| "Twenty two million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election. | "Twenty two million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election. |
| "The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis. | "The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis. |
| "We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course." | "We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course." |