This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/05/ed-miliband-determined-challengers-leadership-tv-debate
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ed Miliband determined to take part in 'challengers' TV debate | Ed Miliband determined to take part in 'challengers' TV debate |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| An unrepentant Ed Miliband is determined to press ahead with a “challengers’ debate” on TV next week despite worries in the Labour party that he risks being portrayed by nationalists and Greens as the party of austerity, Westminster and the establishment. | An unrepentant Ed Miliband is determined to press ahead with a “challengers’ debate” on TV next week despite worries in the Labour party that he risks being portrayed by nationalists and Greens as the party of austerity, Westminster and the establishment. |
| Miliband is due to appear alongside Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, the Scottish National party leader Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett, the Green party leader, and Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader. | Miliband is due to appear alongside Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, the Scottish National party leader Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett, the Green party leader, and Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader. |
| Related: 'Happy warrior' Ed Miliband leaves leaders' debate notes in dressing room | Related: 'Happy warrior' Ed Miliband leaves leaders' debate notes in dressing room |
| The Liberal Democrats and David Cameron have opted out of the BBC debate on 16 April leaving Miliband at risk of attacks from a triple alliance to his left, as well as Nigel Farage to his right. | The Liberal Democrats and David Cameron have opted out of the BBC debate on 16 April leaving Miliband at risk of attacks from a triple alliance to his left, as well as Nigel Farage to his right. |
| Some Labour MPs privately fear Miliband was wrong to force himself on to a TV debate, but his aides said he was determined to expose the way in which a vote for the SNP would increase the chance of a Tory government imposing austerity on Scotland. | Some Labour MPs privately fear Miliband was wrong to force himself on to a TV debate, but his aides said he was determined to expose the way in which a vote for the SNP would increase the chance of a Tory government imposing austerity on Scotland. |
| A Miliband aide said: “It is right he is involved in these debates. Every time he appears unmediated by a rightwing press or indeed the BBC, his poll standing has gone up. | A Miliband aide said: “It is right he is involved in these debates. Every time he appears unmediated by a rightwing press or indeed the BBC, his poll standing has gone up. |
| “No one who watched last week’s debate will have thought the Tories and Ed Miliband are one and the same. We are also not going to let nationalists and Greens become the voice standing up against Nigel Farage. | “No one who watched last week’s debate will have thought the Tories and Ed Miliband are one and the same. We are also not going to let nationalists and Greens become the voice standing up against Nigel Farage. |
| “We believe we are in the right place opposing the Conservative reckless cuts and we can expose the anti-austerity rhetoric of the SNP. | “We believe we are in the right place opposing the Conservative reckless cuts and we can expose the anti-austerity rhetoric of the SNP. |
| The source added: “There is a reason why the first thing George Osborne, the chancellor, said after the debates last week was that Nicola Sturgeon did well. He wants to play up the SNP chances because it is his last best chance of securing a Tory majority.” | The source added: “There is a reason why the first thing George Osborne, the chancellor, said after the debates last week was that Nicola Sturgeon did well. He wants to play up the SNP chances because it is his last best chance of securing a Tory majority.” |
| Sturgeon, in some polls, has been judged the winner of last Thursday’s seven-way debate and there are fears among some Scottish Labour MPs, fighting for their political existence, that Miliband is on a hiding to nothing in a format in which he is portrayed as the leading exponent of Westminster politics. | Sturgeon, in some polls, has been judged the winner of last Thursday’s seven-way debate and there are fears among some Scottish Labour MPs, fighting for their political existence, that Miliband is on a hiding to nothing in a format in which he is portrayed as the leading exponent of Westminster politics. |
| Miliband’s personal poll ratings in Scotland are not good and an Opinium survey published at the weekend showed that Sturgeon was the runaway winner among Scottish viewers of the debate. | Miliband’s personal poll ratings in Scotland are not good and an Opinium survey published at the weekend showed that Sturgeon was the runaway winner among Scottish viewers of the debate. |
| Separately, the Scottish Labour leader, Jim Murphy, will be debating Sturgeon and other Scottish party leaders on Tuesday for two hours. | Separately, the Scottish Labour leader, Jim Murphy, will be debating Sturgeon and other Scottish party leaders on Tuesday for two hours. |
| A Panelbase Sunday Times poll put support for the SNP at 45% – up four points since the last Panelbase poll in January – while backing for Labour has fallen by two points to 29%. | A Panelbase Sunday Times poll put support for the SNP at 45% – up four points since the last Panelbase poll in January – while backing for Labour has fallen by two points to 29%. |
| Labour sources said they were determined to show that Sturgeon was not interested in an anti-austerity deal with Labour, but was only interested in creating the circumstances so the SNP could do well in the 2016 Scottish parliament elections and then demand a second referendum on independence . | Labour sources said they were determined to show that Sturgeon was not interested in an anti-austerity deal with Labour, but was only interested in creating the circumstances so the SNP could do well in the 2016 Scottish parliament elections and then demand a second referendum on independence . |
| Sturgeon is awaiting the results of a leak inquiry into how the Daily Telegraph were handed a civil service note apparently giving an account of a meeting between Sturgeon and the French ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann. | Sturgeon is awaiting the results of a leak inquiry into how the Daily Telegraph were handed a civil service note apparently giving an account of a meeting between Sturgeon and the French ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann. |
| It claims that Sturgeon said she did not believe Labour leader Miliband was “PM material” and she would prefer to work with the Conservatives. | It claims that Sturgeon said she did not believe Labour leader Miliband was “PM material” and she would prefer to work with the Conservatives. |
| French officials and Sturgeon have rejected the account of the meeting, but it is accepted the memo exists, the meeting between the two occurred and the elections were discussed. | French officials and Sturgeon have rejected the account of the meeting, but it is accepted the memo exists, the meeting between the two occurred and the elections were discussed. |
| The French government has also refused to confirm or deny whether Sturgeon said she did not think Miliband was prime ministerial material. | |
| Separately, the Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has confirmed that the memo was written in the Scotland Office. | |
| Carmichael denied that the leak was embarrassing for the government department, stating “this is the middle of an election campaign, these things happen”. | |
| Asked by Channel 4 News if the “buck stops with him when it comes to the Scotland Office”, he said: “Of course - as secretary of state for Scotland I am responsible for the Scotland Office, but you know you seem to be making some fairly substantial presumptions about the role of the Scotland Office in this. | |
| “That’s why we’re having a proper inquiry conducted by the Cabinet Office.” |