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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron will refuse TV debates if Greens excluded | David Cameron will refuse TV debates if Greens excluded |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will not take part in TV debates ahead of the general election unless the Green Party are also included. | Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will not take part in TV debates ahead of the general election unless the Green Party are also included. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the PM had told his allies he would be happy to see no debates at all during the election campaign itself. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the PM had told his allies he would be happy to see no debates at all during the election campaign itself. |
| The current proposals only include the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP. | The current proposals only include the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said the PM "owes it to the people" to take part. | Labour leader Ed Miliband said the PM "owes it to the people" to take part. |
| Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg tweeted that Mr Cameron should "stop making excuses" and agree to the debates. | |
| The suggested schedule is for debates on 2 April, 16 April and 30 April, ahead of the election on 7 May. | The suggested schedule is for debates on 2 April, 16 April and 30 April, ahead of the election on 7 May. |
| Farage included | Farage included |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been invited to take part in one of the debates. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been invited to take part in one of the debates. |
| Another features the Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem leaders, and a third would just involve Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. | Another features the Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem leaders, and a third would just involve Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron believed people would think it was unfair if the Greens were excluded from proposed debates which included Mr Farage. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Cameron believed people would think it was unfair if the Greens were excluded from proposed debates which included Mr Farage. |
| The PM's private view, he added, was "if we, the Conservatives, are to get hurt by the people to our right, UKIP, then Labour and the Liberal Democrats should get hurt by people to their left, the Green Party". | The PM's private view, he added, was "if we, the Conservatives, are to get hurt by the people to our right, UKIP, then Labour and the Liberal Democrats should get hurt by people to their left, the Green Party". |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the PM was "running scared". | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the PM was "running scared". |
| Writing on Twitter, Mr Farage said the prime minister was a "chicken". | Writing on Twitter, Mr Farage said the prime minister was a "chicken". |
| Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron was "trying to find any excuse to stop these debates happening", saying he should "stand on his record". | Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron was "trying to find any excuse to stop these debates happening", saying he should "stand on his record". |
| 'Deeply disappointed' | 'Deeply disappointed' |
| It comes after Ofcom said the Green Party had not demonstrated significant support in previous general elections to be considered a "major party" ahead of May's election. | It comes after Ofcom said the Green Party had not demonstrated significant support in previous general elections to be considered a "major party" ahead of May's election. |
| The party said it was "deeply disappointed" at the regulator's stance. | The party said it was "deeply disappointed" at the regulator's stance. |
| Alongside the SNP and Plaid Cymru, the Greens have been calling for inclusion in the debates. | Alongside the SNP and Plaid Cymru, the Greens have been calling for inclusion in the debates. |
| When they unveiled their proposals for the debates, the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4 said they reflected "changes in the political landscape" since the three prime ministerial debates during the 2010 general election. | When they unveiled their proposals for the debates, the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4 said they reflected "changes in the political landscape" since the three prime ministerial debates during the 2010 general election. |
| Each of those debates featured Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Labour's Gordon Brown. | Each of those debates featured Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Labour's Gordon Brown. |
| The broadcasters say they "remain committed" to providing televised election debates and will "continue to work" with all the parties to ensure they happen in 2015. |