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David Cameron scared of TV election debates, say rivals | David Cameron scared of TV election debates, say rivals |
(35 minutes later) | |
David Cameron's political rivals have accused him of running scared after saying he will only take part in one televised debate ahead of the election. | David Cameron's political rivals have accused him of running scared after saying he will only take part in one televised debate ahead of the election. |
Downing Street has rejected a head-to-head clash with Ed Miliband and said the PM will only take part in a debate featuring seven party leaders. | Downing Street has rejected a head-to-head clash with Ed Miliband and said the PM will only take part in a debate featuring seven party leaders. |
His spokesman criticised the broadcasters for the "chaos" of the negotiating process. | His spokesman criticised the broadcasters for the "chaos" of the negotiating process. |
But the other parties accused the Tory leader of "cowardice". | But the other parties accused the Tory leader of "cowardice". |
Lib Dem election campaign chief Lord Ashdown said Mr Cameron was "running scared" and was "frightened of defending his own position". | Lib Dem election campaign chief Lord Ashdown said Mr Cameron was "running scared" and was "frightened of defending his own position". |
"What he is proposing is not just a ludicrous, seven-sided, bite-sized squabble fest but actually he is proposing it takes place before the Conservative manifesto is published," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "What he is proposing is not just a ludicrous, seven-sided, bite-sized squabble fest but actually he is proposing it takes place before the Conservative manifesto is published," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
'Get on with it' | 'Get on with it' |
He added: "If Mr Cameron hasn't got the guts to stand up and defend this government's record then Nick Clegg will do so." | He added: "If Mr Cameron hasn't got the guts to stand up and defend this government's record then Nick Clegg will do so." |
Mr Clegg accused Mr Cameron of holding the broadcasters "to ransom" by trying to dictate the terms of the proposed TV debates. | Mr Clegg accused Mr Cameron of holding the broadcasters "to ransom" by trying to dictate the terms of the proposed TV debates. |
In a tweet, he says: "The British public want the debates so let's get on with it." | In a tweet, he says: "The British public want the debates so let's get on with it." |
Under Mr Cameron's "final offer", one 90-minute contest would take place before 30 March, when the official general election campaign starts. | Under Mr Cameron's "final offer", one 90-minute contest would take place before 30 March, when the official general election campaign starts. |
Downing Street said the Democratic Unionist Party should also be considered for inclusion. | Downing Street said the Democratic Unionist Party should also be considered for inclusion. |
The broadcasters, who have proposed a total of three debates, said they would respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course. | The broadcasters, who have proposed a total of three debates, said they would respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course. |
The BBC and ITV are scheduled to hold two, both involving the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens. | The BBC and ITV are scheduled to hold two, both involving the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens. |
A third debate - hosted by Sky and Channel 4 - the week before the 7 May election would feature a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. | A third debate - hosted by Sky and Channel 4 - the week before the 7 May election would feature a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. |
After Mr Cameron questioned the timing of it at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sky and Channel 4 offered to move the event to a different date if the leaders could agree. | After Mr Cameron questioned the timing of it at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Sky and Channel 4 offered to move the event to a different date if the leaders could agree. |
Labour's Douglas Alexander said his party still supported the broadcasters' plan and said Mr Cameron was "scared" of a debate with Mr Miliband. | Labour's Douglas Alexander said his party still supported the broadcasters' plan and said Mr Cameron was "scared" of a debate with Mr Miliband. |
Analysis by BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith | Analysis by BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith |
So are the debates dead? | |
Well, maybe not. But only if the broadcasters hold their nerve. | |
In other words if they decide to press ahead with the three debates and empty chair the prime minister. | In other words if they decide to press ahead with the three debates and empty chair the prime minister. |
It would be a huge decision - and many at Westminster remain sceptical that the BBC would be willing to do this. | It would be a huge decision - and many at Westminster remain sceptical that the BBC would be willing to do this. |
However, privately, the broadcasters' insist they will not buckle and will not allow one party to "dictate" the conditions. | However, privately, the broadcasters' insist they will not buckle and will not allow one party to "dictate" the conditions. |
They insist the single 90 minute seven, or even eight party, debate proposed by the prime minister will "not cover the ground". | They insist the single 90 minute seven, or even eight party, debate proposed by the prime minister will "not cover the ground". |
And crucially, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats say they will still turn up for whatever debates the broadcasters' decide to hold. | And crucially, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats say they will still turn up for whatever debates the broadcasters' decide to hold. |
Ed Miliband will even take part in the head-to-head without David Cameron - and subject himself to a grilling from Jeremy Paxman. | Ed Miliband will even take part in the head-to-head without David Cameron - and subject himself to a grilling from Jeremy Paxman. |
Senior Lib Dems say Nick Clegg wd be ready to stand in for the prime minister in the final head-to-head, making it a Miliband v Clegg clash. | Senior Lib Dems say Nick Clegg wd be ready to stand in for the prime minister in the final head-to-head, making it a Miliband v Clegg clash. |
The danger for the prime minister is that even if the debates lose their impact without him - he risks a backlash from voters for failing to take part. | The danger for the prime minister is that even if the debates lose their impact without him - he risks a backlash from voters for failing to take part. |
Downing Street's hope is that the broadcasters will buckle and either agree to his proposal or just scrap the whole idea of TV debates for this election. | Downing Street's hope is that the broadcasters will buckle and either agree to his proposal or just scrap the whole idea of TV debates for this election. |
"This is an outrageous attempt from the prime minister to bully the broadcasters into dropping their proposals for a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband," he said. | "This is an outrageous attempt from the prime minister to bully the broadcasters into dropping their proposals for a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband," he said. |
A UKIP spokesman said: "After praising what a good thing debates were for democracy as recently as 2014, why is David Cameron now acting chicken and running as far away from them as possible?" | A UKIP spokesman said: "After praising what a good thing debates were for democracy as recently as 2014, why is David Cameron now acting chicken and running as far away from them as possible?" |
'Damaging trust' | 'Damaging trust' |
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "arrogance," adding: "I will debate him anytime, anywhere, on any number of occasions. | SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "arrogance," adding: "I will debate him anytime, anywhere, on any number of occasions. |
"However we have accepted the broadcasters' proposals, and believe we should stick with that, rather than allow a Tory prime minister to dictate the terms of debate." | "However we have accepted the broadcasters' proposals, and believe we should stick with that, rather than allow a Tory prime minister to dictate the terms of debate." |
The Green Party has accused Mr Cameron of "further damaging trust" in British politics. | The Green Party has accused Mr Cameron of "further damaging trust" in British politics. |
"Not only is Cameron's announcement cowardly but it also shows his contempt for the electorate. People want to see a set of debates between all major party leaders, yet the prime minister is clearly scared of scrutiny," said a spokesman. | "Not only is Cameron's announcement cowardly but it also shows his contempt for the electorate. People want to see a set of debates between all major party leaders, yet the prime minister is clearly scared of scrutiny," said a spokesman. |
As leader of the opposition, Mr Cameron led calls for televised debates at the 2010 general election - the first time they have been held in the UK. | As leader of the opposition, Mr Cameron led calls for televised debates at the 2010 general election - the first time they have been held in the UK. |
But he has since criticised the idea of holding debates in the run up to polling day, saying they had "sucked the life out of the campaign". | But he has since criticised the idea of holding debates in the run up to polling day, saying they had "sucked the life out of the campaign". |
After months of wrangling over the format for debates at the 2015 election, Downing Street issued a statement on Wednesday night, confirming that Mr Cameron did not want to go head-to-head with Labour leader Ed Miliband under any circumstances. | After months of wrangling over the format for debates at the 2015 election, Downing Street issued a statement on Wednesday night, confirming that Mr Cameron did not want to go head-to-head with Labour leader Ed Miliband under any circumstances. |
In a letter to the broadcasters, the prime minister's communications chief Craig Oliver said: "In order to cut through this chaotic situation I am willing to make the following proposal: There should be one 90-minute debate between seven party leaders before the short campaign." | In a letter to the broadcasters, the prime minister's communications chief Craig Oliver said: "In order to cut through this chaotic situation I am willing to make the following proposal: There should be one 90-minute debate between seven party leaders before the short campaign." |
'Final offer' | |
He added: "In order for it to be organised in time, the debate should take place during the week beginning March 23. I will make myself available to negotiate the details. Having been the editor of numerous broadcast news and current affairs programmes, I know this is ample time to organise a programme. | He added: "In order for it to be organised in time, the debate should take place during the week beginning March 23. I will make myself available to negotiate the details. Having been the editor of numerous broadcast news and current affairs programmes, I know this is ample time to organise a programme. |
"This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the prime minister will not be participating in more than one debate." | "This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the prime minister will not be participating in more than one debate." |
In a joint statement, broadcasters said: "The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the prime minister's office with a proposal. | In a joint statement, broadcasters said: "The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the prime minister's office with a proposal. |
"The broadcasters are committed to providing our audiences with election debates. | "The broadcasters are committed to providing our audiences with election debates. |
"Twenty two million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election. | "Twenty two million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election. |
"The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis. | "The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis. |
"We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course." | "We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course." |