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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Election 2015: Labour 'would put debates into law' | Election 2015: Labour 'would put debates into law' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A future Labour government would legislate to ensure TV debates became a permanent feature of general election campaigns, Ed Miliband has said. | A future Labour government would legislate to ensure TV debates became a permanent feature of general election campaigns, Ed Miliband has said. |
| He told the Observer it was time "these debates belong to the people not the prime minister of the day". | He told the Observer it was time "these debates belong to the people not the prime minister of the day". |
| Mr Miliband is proposing that the body that currently negotiates the terms of the debates becomes a statutory trust. | Mr Miliband is proposing that the body that currently negotiates the terms of the debates becomes a statutory trust. |
| Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said fault lay with the broadcasters for the debate controversy, not David Cameron. | |
| Downing Street has said the prime minister will not take part in the three debates in April proposed by broadcasters. | |
| His "final offer" is for a single event, involving seven party leaders, in the last week of March. | His "final offer" is for a single event, involving seven party leaders, in the last week of March. |
| The trust proposed by the Labour leader would be responsible for determining the dates, format and attendees of the debates. | The trust proposed by the Labour leader would be responsible for determining the dates, format and attendees of the debates. |
| 'Empty chaired' | 'Empty chaired' |
| Mr Miliband told the Observer: "In recent days the British public has been treated to the unedifying and tawdry spectacle of a prime minister seeking to duck out of the TV debates he once claimed to support with great enthusiasm. | Mr Miliband told the Observer: "In recent days the British public has been treated to the unedifying and tawdry spectacle of a prime minister seeking to duck out of the TV debates he once claimed to support with great enthusiasm. |
| "Yesterday the broadcasters made it clear they would not be cowed by his tactics but it is wrong for them and the British public to have governing parties use this kind of pressure in campaign periods. | "Yesterday the broadcasters made it clear they would not be cowed by his tactics but it is wrong for them and the British public to have governing parties use this kind of pressure in campaign periods. |
| "It is time to ensure, once and for all, that these debates belong to the people not the prime minister of the day." | "It is time to ensure, once and for all, that these debates belong to the people not the prime minister of the day." |
| Broadcasters have said plans for three debates in April will go ahead, meaning the prime minister could be "empty chaired". | Broadcasters have said plans for three debates in April will go ahead, meaning the prime minister could be "empty chaired". |
| Downing Street blamed the broadcasters for "chaotic" negotiations which have gone on for months. | Downing Street blamed the broadcasters for "chaotic" negotiations which have gone on for months. |
| Campaign trail | |
| Of the head-to-head debate between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband that the prime minister had rejected, Mrs Morgan told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "They are up against each other pretty well every week at prime minister's questions. | |
| "Frankly I think the broadcasters have made a real hash of this because the processes and discussions have been going on for months and months now. | |
| "They invited this party and that party. The prime minister has made a very clear offer - get seven parties in the same place, have a 90-minute debate before the campaign starts. | |
| "Otherwise all we are doing all the way through the campaign itself is talking about the debates. | |
| "I think actually we ought to be... getting out of Westminster, getting out of the TV studios... talking to people on the campaign trail." | |
| Sky, the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV have invited the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, UKIP, SNP, Green Party of England and Wales and Plaid Cymru to take part. | Sky, the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV have invited the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, UKIP, SNP, Green Party of England and Wales and Plaid Cymru to take part. |
| Planned debate schedule | Planned debate schedule |
| April 2: Seven-way debate featuring David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood (ITV broadcast) | April 2: Seven-way debate featuring David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood (ITV broadcast) |
| April 16: Seven-way debate featuring David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood (BBC broadcast) | April 16: Seven-way debate featuring David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood (BBC broadcast) |
| April 30: Head-to-head debate featuring David Cameron and Ed Miliband (Channel 4 and Sky News broadcast) | April 30: Head-to-head debate featuring David Cameron and Ed Miliband (Channel 4 and Sky News broadcast) |