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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Clegg should take 'debate risks' | Clegg should take 'debate risks' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has been urged by one of his predecessors to "take risks" in the prime ministers' debates at the general election. | Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has been urged by one of his predecessors to "take risks" in the prime ministers' debates at the general election. |
| Charles Kennedy said both prime minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron would "play it safe" and Mr Clegg must do things differently. | Charles Kennedy said both prime minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron would "play it safe" and Mr Clegg must do things differently. |
| The three 90-minutes debates, to be staged during the campaign, will be the first in British political history. | The three 90-minutes debates, to be staged during the campaign, will be the first in British political history. |
| Mr Kennedy told the BBC he would have given an "arm and a leg" to take part. | Mr Kennedy told the BBC he would have given an "arm and a leg" to take part. |
| Debate scrutiny | Debate scrutiny |
| He led the party to the best-ever performance in its modern history in 2005, when it secured more than 60 seats, but stood down in 2006. | He led the party to the best-ever performance in its modern history in 2005, when it secured more than 60 seats, but stood down in 2006. |
| The debates and the performance of the three men would be subject to minute scrutiny by the media, Mr Kennedy said. | The debates and the performance of the three men would be subject to minute scrutiny by the media, Mr Kennedy said. |
| I suspect, the other two will be playing, in golfing terms, safety games Charles Kennedy | I suspect, the other two will be playing, in golfing terms, safety games Charles Kennedy |
| Asked what advice he would give his successor, Mr Kennedy said he would limit the circle of people preparing him for the encounter. | Asked what advice he would give his successor, Mr Kennedy said he would limit the circle of people preparing him for the encounter. |
| "I would have given my arm and leg to be part of a three-way leaders' debate," he told the Andrew Marr show | "I would have given my arm and leg to be part of a three-way leaders' debate," he told the Andrew Marr show |
| "My one piece of advice to Nick is... don't get overloaded and leave 10% for general spontaneity and taking risks because I suspect, the other two will be playing, in golfing terms, safety games." | "My one piece of advice to Nick is... don't get overloaded and leave 10% for general spontaneity and taking risks because I suspect, the other two will be playing, in golfing terms, safety games." |
| The three debates will be broadcast on ITV1, Sky News and BBC1 in front of studio audiences, with the dates only expected to be finalised after the election has been announced. | The three debates will be broadcast on ITV1, Sky News and BBC1 in front of studio audiences, with the dates only expected to be finalised after the election has been announced. |
| Harman, Fox and Cable on the forthcoming televised leadership debates | |
| Under rules agreed by the broadcasters and parties, the audience will be asked to applaud only at the start and end of the show and will not be allowed to disrupt proceedings with boos, cheers or groans. | Under rules agreed by the broadcasters and parties, the audience will be asked to applaud only at the start and end of the show and will not be allowed to disrupt proceedings with boos, cheers or groans. |
| Asked about the proposed format on Sunday, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said those attending should be allowed to "engage" with the action and not be "controlled". | Asked about the proposed format on Sunday, Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said those attending should be allowed to "engage" with the action and not be "controlled". |
| For the Tories, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there must be some flexibility to prevent the occasion becoming too "sterile". | For the Tories, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said there must be some flexibility to prevent the occasion becoming too "sterile". |
| The SNP and Plaid Cymru are unhappy the three debates will not feature their leaders and have called for a review of broadcasting policies in Scotland and Wales respectively. | The SNP and Plaid Cymru are unhappy the three debates will not feature their leaders and have called for a review of broadcasting policies in Scotland and Wales respectively. |