This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26737934
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage set for EU radio debate | Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage set for EU radio debate |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage are set to debate the UK's place in the European Union live on the radio. | Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage are set to debate the UK's place in the European Union live on the radio. |
| The deputy PM, who says his Liberal Democrats are the "party of in", challenged the UKIP leader, who wants the UK to leave the EU, to a debate in the run-up to the European elections. | The deputy PM, who says his Liberal Democrats are the "party of in", challenged the UKIP leader, who wants the UK to leave the EU, to a debate in the run-up to the European elections. |
| Mr Clegg argues that even threatening to leave the EU threatens British jobs. | Mr Clegg argues that even threatening to leave the EU threatens British jobs. |
| Mr Farage believes EU membership is "the most important issue this country has faced for hundreds of years". | Mr Farage believes EU membership is "the most important issue this country has faced for hundreds of years". |
| Following negotiations between the two party leaders and broadcasters, two one-hour debates have been arranged. The first is being broadcast by LBC radio from 19:00 GMT. On 2 April, round two will be televised live at the same time on BBC Two. | Following negotiations between the two party leaders and broadcasters, two one-hour debates have been arranged. The first is being broadcast by LBC radio from 19:00 GMT. On 2 April, round two will be televised live at the same time on BBC Two. |
| 'Festering mistruths' | 'Festering mistruths' |
| Both men will be hoping to bolster their parties' fortunes in May's elections to the European Parliament. | Both men will be hoping to bolster their parties' fortunes in May's elections to the European Parliament. |
| Strict arrangements for the conduct of the debate have been put in place, as they were ahead of the televised 2010 general election leaders' debates. | Strict arrangements for the conduct of the debate have been put in place, as they were ahead of the televised 2010 general election leaders' debates. |
| Questions from the audience, which has been selected to reflect the UK population as well as a range of views on the EU, will be screened by an editorial panel but the parties will not see them in advance. | Questions from the audience, which has been selected to reflect the UK population as well as a range of views on the EU, will be screened by an editorial panel but the parties will not see them in advance. |
| The party leaders will both make opening and closing statements and will have one minute to answer questions from the audience before presenter Nick Ferrari opens up the subjects raised to debate. | The party leaders will both make opening and closing statements and will have one minute to answer questions from the audience before presenter Nick Ferrari opens up the subjects raised to debate. |
| In an article for the Daily Mirror, Mr Clegg, a former East Midlands MEP who speaks French, German, Spanish and Dutch, said it was easy to attack the EU. | In an article for the Daily Mirror, Mr Clegg, a former East Midlands MEP who speaks French, German, Spanish and Dutch, said it was easy to attack the EU. |
| "It's easily presented as a distant set of institutions, making decisions for us from overseas. It's not always clear what happens there, who the politicians are, or how it benefits us," he wrote. | "It's easily presented as a distant set of institutions, making decisions for us from overseas. It's not always clear what happens there, who the politicians are, or how it benefits us," he wrote. |
| "This is why so many mistruths have been allowed to fester. | "This is why so many mistruths have been allowed to fester. |
| "Tonight, when I debate with Nigel Farage, I want to give the British people the facts - so that you can make up your own minds about whether or not Britain should remain in the EU." | "Tonight, when I debate with Nigel Farage, I want to give the British people the facts - so that you can make up your own minds about whether or not Britain should remain in the EU." |
| 'Lightweight battle' | 'Lightweight battle' |
| Mr Farage previously said he had been inspired to enter politics because "we weren't having a proper talk" about the "great question of who governs our country: our own Parliament... or the European Commission and the other institutions in Brussels". | Mr Farage previously said he had been inspired to enter politics because "we weren't having a proper talk" about the "great question of who governs our country: our own Parliament... or the European Commission and the other institutions in Brussels". |
| Mr Farage continued: "I've battled on for 20 years, I've been laughed at, ridiculed, attacked. But at no point in the 15 years that I've now been an MEP have we ever had a full national debate about the merits or demerits of EU membership. | Mr Farage continued: "I've battled on for 20 years, I've been laughed at, ridiculed, attacked. But at no point in the 15 years that I've now been an MEP have we ever had a full national debate about the merits or demerits of EU membership. |
| "Therefore, when the deputy PM says he wants to go public and have a debate with me on this issue, I have absolutely no choice. | "Therefore, when the deputy PM says he wants to go public and have a debate with me on this issue, I have absolutely no choice. |
| "I've got to say yes, because we need to have a national debate on what I think is the most important issue this country has faced for hundreds of years." | "I've got to say yes, because we need to have a national debate on what I think is the most important issue this country has faced for hundreds of years." |
| But Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: "This is a lightweight battle between two men who will never be prime minister." | But Labour's shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: "This is a lightweight battle between two men who will never be prime minister." |
| * There will be full live coverage in video and text of the two debates on the BBC News website and both debates are being shown live on the BBC News Channel | |
| How do you see the UK's place in the EU? Deputy leader Nick Clegg and UKIP leader Nigel Farage are debating the issue tonight live on LBC and the BBC's News Channel. The debate starts at 1900 GMT. BBC Radio 4's Today programme will be discussing the debate on Thursday morning in Salford. If you would like to take part email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Clegg and Farage debate' in the subject heading and include your contact details. |