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David Cameron 'accepts single multi-party TV debate' David Cameron 'accepts single multi-party TV debate offer'
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has agreed to take part in one seven-way TV debate at the beginning of April, Conservative sources have said. David Cameron says he has accepted an offer to take part in one seven-way TV debate at the beginning of April.
The prime minister previously said he would not participate in a debate after the start of the campaign on 30 March.The prime minister previously said he would not participate in a debate after the start of the campaign on 30 March.
However, Labour has said it still backs the original plan for three debates. But he said the broadcasters had come back with a "formal offer" for a new format of TV election programmes, including one multi-party debate, which he said had signed up to.
The BBC's political correspondent Alex Forsyth said there appeared to be some "movement" to break the apparent stand-off between the parties. Labour has said it still backs the original plan for three debates.
Mr Cameron said the other parties must accept the new deal or "bear the responsibility" of the debates not going ahead.
'Stop running away'
With the Lib Dems welcoming Mr Cameron's statement, the BBC's political correspondent Alex Forsyth said there appeared to be some "movement" to break the apparent stand-off between the parties.
Weeks of wrangling between the political parties and the BBC, Sky News, ITV and Channel 4 has cast doubt on whether the leaders debates first held in 2010 will be repeated before the 7 May poll.Weeks of wrangling between the political parties and the BBC, Sky News, ITV and Channel 4 has cast doubt on whether the leaders debates first held in 2010 will be repeated before the 7 May poll.
Mr Cameron has rejected taking part in a head-to-head with Labour's Ed Miliband and said his "final offer" was to participate in a seven-way debate with the leaders of Labour, the Lib Dems, UKIP, the Green Party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru before the end of March. Earlier this month Mr Cameron rejected taking part in a head-to-head with Labour's Ed Miliband and said his "final offer" was to participate in a seven-way debate with the leaders of Labour, the Lib Dems, UKIP, the Green Party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru before the end of March.
But on Tuesday he said he had accepted a deal put forward by the broadcasters to take part in a single debate involving the leaders of seven UK parties, including the Conservatives, at the start of April.
"There was a formal offer of a set of television programmes including a televised debate, put together by the broadcasters led by the BBC. As prime minister, I accepted that deal in full," he said.
The PM added: "The other parties have now got to stop running away from this and agree to the debate that the broadcasters have now suggested."
'Election specials''Election specials'
But, in a statement, senior Conservative sources said: "The PM accepts broadcasters' offer of one, seven-way debate at the very beginning of April." A Labour source told the BBC there had been no formal proposal for a new TV election format and they had accepted the three debates proposal made last month.
They accused Labour of "trying to veto that deal".
In response, a Labour source told the BBC there had been no formal proposal for new debates and they had accepted the three debates proposal made last month.
"Based on the broadcasters' proposals we have accepted and plan to attend all three debates on April 2nd, 16th and the 30th," a spokesman said."Based on the broadcasters' proposals we have accepted and plan to attend all three debates on April 2nd, 16th and the 30th," a spokesman said.
"If the Tories have confirmed they are to attend one of these debates then that is progress. It is one down, two to go. But no-one should be fooled. David Cameron is still running scared of a head-to-head televised debate with Ed Miliband.""If the Tories have confirmed they are to attend one of these debates then that is progress. It is one down, two to go. But no-one should be fooled. David Cameron is still running scared of a head-to-head televised debate with Ed Miliband."
The Liberal Democrats said it was "welcome news" that the Conservatives had "finally agreed" to take part in "at least" one debate.The Liberal Democrats said it was "welcome news" that the Conservatives had "finally agreed" to take part in "at least" one debate.
"As we've always said, we will be there and are pleased that they are joining us. We look forward to hearing proposals from the broadcasters about how we move forward from here," a spokesman said."As we've always said, we will be there and are pleased that they are joining us. We look forward to hearing proposals from the broadcasters about how we move forward from here," a spokesman said.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said that, in agreeing to debate during the campaign proper, Mr Cameron had staged an "inevitable climbdown" while UKIP said the prime minister's "indecision was final". UKIP said it was unaware of the revised offer.
"The only proposal that we are aware of from the broadcasters was for three debates - two of which UKIP were invited to. We intend to turn up for those two debates," a spokesman told the BBC.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said that, in agreeing to debate during the campaign proper, Mr Cameron had staged an "inevitable climbdown".
The Spectator's political editor James Forsyth said that as well as one debate, a series of "election specials" involving the party leaders has been proposed during the campaign.The Spectator's political editor James Forsyth said that as well as one debate, a series of "election specials" involving the party leaders has been proposed during the campaign.
This would see David Cameron and Ed Miliband interviewed by Jeremy Paxman and then questioned by a studio audience in a Sky/Channel 4 special on 26 March, an event in which the two men would not share the stage.This would see David Cameron and Ed Miliband interviewed by Jeremy Paxman and then questioned by a studio audience in a Sky/Channel 4 special on 26 March, an event in which the two men would not share the stage.
On 16 April there would be a "challengers" special involving the SNP, UKIP, Plaid and the Greens and finally, on 30 April, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg would each have separate half hours in a Question Time-style BBC event with David Dimbleby.On 16 April there would be a "challengers" special involving the SNP, UKIP, Plaid and the Greens and finally, on 30 April, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg would each have separate half hours in a Question Time-style BBC event with David Dimbleby.