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| General election 2015: Broadcasters offer to shift TV debate | General election 2015: Broadcasters offer to shift TV debate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Broadcasters have offered to bring forward a planned election debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband if the leaders agree. | |
| Sky News and Channel 4 said they would "obviously be willing" to change the date of the head-to-head clash, currently scheduled for 30 April. | Sky News and Channel 4 said they would "obviously be willing" to change the date of the head-to-head clash, currently scheduled for 30 April. |
| Earlier the Labour leader accused Mr Cameron in the Commons of trying to "avoid" the debate. | Earlier the Labour leader accused Mr Cameron in the Commons of trying to "avoid" the debate. |
| The PM has said he wants it to take place before the election campaign. | The PM has said he wants it to take place before the election campaign. |
| In a statement, the two broadcasters said: "Sky News and Channel 4 are continuing to prepare for a head-to-head debate between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition on 30 April. | In a statement, the two broadcasters said: "Sky News and Channel 4 are continuing to prepare for a head-to-head debate between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition on 30 April. |
| "However, in response to media inquiries following today's PMQs, we would obviously be willing to host a debate on a different day the two main party leaders could agree on." | "However, in response to media inquiries following today's PMQs, we would obviously be willing to host a debate on a different day the two main party leaders could agree on." |
| 'Straight answer' | |
| The general election campaign is likely to start on 30 March, the day when Parliament is expected to be dissolved. | The general election campaign is likely to start on 30 March, the day when Parliament is expected to be dissolved. |
| Under the current proposals, as well as the head-to-head clash, two debates hosted by BBC and ITV would feature the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. | Under the current proposals, as well as the head-to-head clash, two debates hosted by BBC and ITV would feature the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, UKIP, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. |
| These would take place on ITV on 2 April and the BBC on 16 April. | These would take place on ITV on 2 April and the BBC on 16 April. |
| Mr Cameron has expressed concern about the exclusion of the Democratic Unionist Party from the seven-leader format proposed by the broadcasters. | Mr Cameron has expressed concern about the exclusion of the Democratic Unionist Party from the seven-leader format proposed by the broadcasters. |
| During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Miliband challenged the prime minister to say he would be at their head-to-head debate. | |
| After saying "we are having a debate now" and criticising Labour over the economy, Mr Cameron added: "I say let's have these debates, let's get on with them before the election." | |
| On Twitter, the Labour leader said the PM had "refused to give a straight answer" about whether he would turn up. |