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Leaders' TV debates plans finalised with David Cameron and Ed Miliband set to go head-to-head TV debates 2015: When are the leaders debates and who will face who?
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron and Ed Miliband will face off alongside other party leaders in a single televised general election debate, it has been announced. Broadcasters have announced that a deal to show TV election debates has been reached, with PM David Cameron set to take part in one with seven party leaders.
Broadcasters have confirmed plans for the seven-way discussion on 2 April, and a range of other programmes before the nation goes to the polls. Labour leader Ed Milliband’s challenge to the PM for a one-on-one debate has been unsuccessful with no head-to-head scheduled.
The first is next Thursday on Sky News and Channel 4, when the Prime Minister and Mr Miliband will be interviewed separately and then answer questions from a live studio audience. The live debate with seven leaders, representing the Conservative, Labour, UKIP, SNP, Green and Plaid Cymru parties, will be broadcast on ITV on 2 April and will be moderated by Mary Etchingham.
On 16 April, the Labour leader is to appear in a BBC debate with counterparts from Ukip, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru. A debate between five opposition party leaders, representing the Labour, the SNP, the Greens, Plaid Cymru and UKIP parties will be broadcast on the BBC and moderated by David Dimbleby.
The final encounter will be a special Question Time on BBC1 on 30 April featuring the Tory leader, Mr Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg answering questions separately from a studio audience. The PM and Mr Milliband will also take part in a live question and answer programme on Channel 4 and Sky News and will be interviewed separately before answering questions from a live studio audience.
A joint statement from the broadcasters said: “We're delighted that there will be a debate with all the party leaders during the election campaign. The debate on April 2 will build on the success of the 2010 TV debates which were so highly valued by viewers. The 90-minute programme which will be presented by Jeremy Paxman and Kay Burley will take place on 26 March.
“We're very pleased to be able to offer viewers an extensive range of programmes, across the four channels, featuring the party leaders interacting directly with voters during the campaign.” The BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 said that the announcement follows talks with the parties.
PA A spokesman for the broadcaster said: “We’re delighted that there will be a debate with all the party leaders during the election campaign. The debate on 2 April will build on the success of the 2010 TV debates which were so highly valued by viewers.”
There will also be a special Question Time on the BBC on 30th April, a week before polling day during which David Cameron, Ed Milliband and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg will be appearing separately on the programme to answer questions from a live studio audience.
Cameron had previously stated that he would not participate in a debate at the start of the campaign on 30 March but indicated that he had signed up to a “formal offer” for a new format of TV election programmes, including the one multi-party debate.
Milliband has accused the PM of going to “any lengths” to avoid a head-to-head debate.”
The schedule:
26 March: Live Question and answer programme on Channel 5 and Sky News featuring David Cameron and Ed Milliband, presented by Jeremy Paxman and Kay Burley
2 April: Debate with seven party leaders on ITV, moderated by Julie Etchingham
16 April: Debate between five opposition party leaders on the BBC, moderated by David Dimbleby
30 April: BBC Question Time programme with David Cameron, Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg, presented by David Dimbleby