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23/01/2015
Broadcasters To Televise General Election Debates
The four broadcasters behind plans for televised General Election debates have published new proposals to expand the debates.
The initiative follows talks with the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP.
The debates would take place during the General Election campaign, with proposed dates of 2,16 and 30 April.
The party leaders have been formally invited to take part in the debates, however if any decide not to participate the debates would take place with those who accepted the invitation.
In a statement the broadcasters said: "BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 remain committed to holding election debates in the General Election campaign. Following meetings with the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP representatives, it has not been possible to come to an agreement on the original proposal put forward by the broadcasters in October 2014.
"Since October the broadcasters have together and individually had a number of meetings and conversations with the parties invited to take part, the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP, and also discussions and correspondence with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. All these discussions have been constructive and useful in informing our thinking about the debates.
"Over the three months since the original proposal was put forward, the broadcasters have also continued to monitor the electoral landscape, as we promised to do, taking into account the polling evidence, and the expressions of public support for the debates to go ahead and for a wider range of parties to be included in the debates.
"In view of these factors, the broadcasters are now inviting party leaders to take part in the following debates within the official election campaign and approximately two weeks apart."
(CD/IT)
The initiative follows talks with the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP.
The debates would take place during the General Election campaign, with proposed dates of 2,16 and 30 April.
The party leaders have been formally invited to take part in the debates, however if any decide not to participate the debates would take place with those who accepted the invitation.
In a statement the broadcasters said: "BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 remain committed to holding election debates in the General Election campaign. Following meetings with the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP representatives, it has not been possible to come to an agreement on the original proposal put forward by the broadcasters in October 2014.
"Since October the broadcasters have together and individually had a number of meetings and conversations with the parties invited to take part, the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and UKIP, and also discussions and correspondence with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. All these discussions have been constructive and useful in informing our thinking about the debates.
"Over the three months since the original proposal was put forward, the broadcasters have also continued to monitor the electoral landscape, as we promised to do, taking into account the polling evidence, and the expressions of public support for the debates to go ahead and for a wider range of parties to be included in the debates.
"In view of these factors, the broadcasters are now inviting party leaders to take part in the following debates within the official election campaign and approximately two weeks apart."
(CD/IT)
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