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PM agrees to TV election debate PM agrees to TV election debate
(about 1 hour later)
Gordon Brown has confirmed he is willing "in principle" to take part in a TV debate ahead of the election.Gordon Brown has confirmed he is willing "in principle" to take part in a TV debate ahead of the election.
On Friday, the BBC, ITV and BSkyB put forward a joint proposal to stage three live election debates between leaders of the three main political parties. On Labour's website, he said he wanted a series of debates on issues including the economy and foreign affairs.
It is not known whether both opposition leaders would take part. On Friday the BBC, ITV and BSkyB has jointly proposed to stage three live election debates between leaders of the three main political parties.
On Labour's website, Gordon Brown says he wants a series of debates on specific issues including the economy, public services and foreign affairs. Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have already declared their readiness to take part.
In a letter to party members, Mr Brown said: "So I believe it is right that the parties debate the issues not just in Parliament but in every arena where the public will join in the discussion.In a letter to party members, Mr Brown said: "So I believe it is right that the parties debate the issues not just in Parliament but in every arena where the public will join in the discussion.
"It is right that we set the issues before the British people."It is right that we set the issues before the British people.
TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out Nick Robinson, BBC political editor Nick Robinson's Newslog Full text: Brown's letter to Labour TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out Nick Robinson, BBC political editor Nick Robinson's Newslog Full text: Brown's letter to Labour class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7072">Send us your comments
"Others can work out the details but what's important for the country is that there is a wide ranging series of television and radio debates with party leaders that are also able to devote attention to the central issues that matter to families: the economy, public services, how we strengthen our communities, and how we work with the rest of the world."Others can work out the details but what's important for the country is that there is a wide ranging series of television and radio debates with party leaders that are also able to devote attention to the central issues that matter to families: the economy, public services, how we strengthen our communities, and how we work with the rest of the world.
"It is right that there will be a strong focus on the leaders' debates and it is right that in a Cabinet system of government that ministers and opposition ministers also debate the issues in a series of debates on television and radio too."It is right that there will be a strong focus on the leaders' debates and it is right that in a Cabinet system of government that ministers and opposition ministers also debate the issues in a series of debates on television and radio too.
"I relish the opportunity of making our case directly to the people of this country.""I relish the opportunity of making our case directly to the people of this country."
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said agreeing the detail could be "easier said than done".The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said agreeing the detail could be "easier said than done".
In his blog, he wrote: "Brown does not mention the involvement of Nick Clegg but, as I wrote last week, he's said to be keen to go head-to-head with Cameron and to be prepared to agree to debate with Clegg on his own in order to allow that to happen."In his blog, he wrote: "Brown does not mention the involvement of Nick Clegg but, as I wrote last week, he's said to be keen to go head-to-head with Cameron and to be prepared to agree to debate with Clegg on his own in order to allow that to happen."
He went on to say: "TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out before the campaign makes compromise impossible."He went on to say: "TV debates now look more likely than ever to happen since all sides have declared their willingness early enough for the details to be hammered out before the campaign makes compromise impossible."
US debates
Mr Cameron has previously said he would be "delighted" to take part in a televised debate, claiming it "would be good for our democracy, good for our politics and good for the general election".
US presidential election debates draw enormous TV audiences
He recently urged Mr Brown to make a decision on the question, urging the Labour leader to "get off the fence".
The Liberal Democrats said the party would welcome a televised debate and leader Nick Clegg would agree to take part.The Liberal Democrats said the party would welcome a televised debate and leader Nick Clegg would agree to take part.
Opposition leaders regularly call for TV debates in the run-up to general elections but while they are commonplace in the US, they have not been held in Britain.
Tony Blair refused to take part in one when he was prime minister and Mr Brown has previously argued that the situation is different in the US, where presidents are directly elected.
He has also argued that he is questioned regularly, at prime minister's questions and in statements to the Commons.
Critics argue that such debates would overly personalise a UK election campaign.