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UKIP's Nigel Farage invited on leaders' TV debate UKIP's Nigel Farage invited on leaders' TV debate
(35 minutes later)
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has been invited to take part in a TV debate with David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg ahead of next year's general election.UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has been invited to take part in a TV debate with David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg ahead of next year's general election.
The BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 have announced plans to hold three debates.The BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 have announced plans to hold three debates.
One would involve a head-to-head debate between just the Conservative and Labour leaders, and another would include the Liberal Democrat leader.One would involve a head-to-head debate between just the Conservative and Labour leaders, and another would include the Liberal Democrat leader.
The other debate would involve all three leaders plus Mr Farage.The other debate would involve all three leaders plus Mr Farage.
The broadcasters said the proposed formats reflected "changes in the political landscape" since the prime ministerial debates during the 2010 general election campaign. The broadcasters said the proposed formats reflected "changes in the political landscape" since the three prime ministerial debates during the 2010 general election, which featured Conservative Mr Cameron, Labour's Gordon Brown and Lib Dem Mr Clegg.
UKIP has its first MP, following the success of Conservative defector Douglas Carswell in the Clacton by-election last week. It has also consistently out-polled Mr Clegg's Liberal Democrats in recent months. UKIP has its first MP, following the success of Conservative defector Douglas Carswell in the Clacton by-election last week. It has also consistently out-polled the Liberal Democrats in recent months.
Responding to the broadcasters' offer, Mr Farage said: "The decision is better than it could have been. It does at least recognise the increasing popularity of UKIP. However if the political landscape continues to change we would expect and ask for inclusion in a second debate."
But the Liberal Democrats reiterated their previously stated position "that we would be prepared to sign up to the same 3-3-3 system we had in 2010".
A spokesman added: "We do not accept the proposal that the Liberal Democrats, as a party of government, should be prevented from defending our record in one of the TV debates."
Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: "With these statements the broadcasters are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the public mood, and how ridiculously they cling to the idea that the future of politics looks like the past.
"It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives."
The broadcasters have written to the party leaders to invite them to take part.The broadcasters have written to the party leaders to invite them to take part.
The suggested schedule is for debates to take place on 2, 16 and 30 April, ahead of the election on 7 May. The suggested schedule is for debates on 2, 16 and 30 April, ahead of the election on 7 May.
There would be:There would be:
The last general election campaign saw the first televised leaders' debates, involving Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Labour's Gordon Brown. They attracted 22 million viewers and dominated coverage. The last general election campaign saw the first televised leaders' debates, attracting 22 million viewers and dominating coverage.
The broadcasters said next year's versions would take into account "developments in digital media" and each is understood to be available to other broadcasters to air.The broadcasters said next year's versions would take into account "developments in digital media" and each is understood to be available to other broadcasters to air.
There are plans to work with social media organisations such as Twitter and Facebook "to ensure the widest possible audience engagement".There are plans to work with social media organisations such as Twitter and Facebook "to ensure the widest possible audience engagement".
In 2010, Mr Clegg took part in all three debates. He and Mr Farage also went head-to head in two debates in March and April this year on whether the UK should remain in the European Union. The directors of BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are writing to the leaders of the main political parties in each nation inviting them to discuss setting up general election debates.
They are proposing debates during the campaign which would be screened in each nation and be available across the UK.
Mr Clegg and Mr Farage also went head-to head in two debates in March and April this year on whether the UK should remain in the European Union.