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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Election 2015: Labour 'would put debates into law' | Election 2015: Labour 'would put debates into law' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A future Labour government would legislate to ensure TV debates became a permanent feature of general elections, party leader Ed Miliband has said. | A future Labour government would legislate to ensure TV debates became a permanent feature of general elections, party leader 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". |
| The prime minister says he will appear in just one debate, featuring at least seven party leaders, before March 30. | The prime minister says he will appear in just one debate, featuring at least seven party leaders, before March 30. |
| Broadcasters are proposing two seven-way debates and one head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. | Broadcasters are proposing two seven-way debates and one head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband. |
| The Labour leader said the body that currently negotiates the terms of the debates should become a statutory trust, which would be responsible for determining the dates, format and attendees. | The Labour leader said the body that currently negotiates the terms of the debates should become a statutory trust, which would be responsible for determining the dates, format and attendees. |
| 'Clear offer' | 'Clear offer' |
| The prime minister has blamed the broadcasters for the failure to reach agreement, describing the negotiation process as "chaotic". | The prime minister has blamed the broadcasters for the failure to reach agreement, describing the negotiation process as "chaotic". |
| He has called first for the Green Party, and then the Democratic Unionists (DUP), to be included, and last week issued a "final offer" to broadcasters setting out his position. | |
| The broadcasters then replied, saying the three planned debates would still go ahead, raising the prospect of Mr Cameron being "empty chaired". | The broadcasters then replied, saying the three planned debates would still go ahead, raising the prospect of Mr Cameron being "empty chaired". |
| Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said broadcasters had "made a real hash" of the process. | Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said broadcasters had "made a real hash" of the process. |
| "They invited this party and that party," she said. | "They invited this party and that party," she said. |
| "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. | "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." | "Otherwise all we are doing all the way through the campaign itself is talking about the debates." |
| 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) |
| Labour's deputy labour leader Harriet Harman told Sky News Mr Cameron should "have the guts" to appear on the debates. | Labour's deputy labour leader Harriet Harman told Sky News Mr Cameron should "have the guts" to appear on the debates. |
| She said: "Let's have a legal framework set out and then we won't have this all over again next time round." | She said: "Let's have a legal framework set out and then we won't have this all over again next time round." |
| On the same programme, Liberal Democrat minister Lynne Featherstone repeated Deputy PM Nick Clegg's offer to stand in for the Prime Minister. | On the same programme, Liberal Democrat minister Lynne Featherstone repeated Deputy PM Nick Clegg's offer to stand in for the Prime Minister. |
| "If Cameron's not willing to do it, then Nick is up for it," she added. | "If Cameron's not willing to do it, then Nick is up for it," she added. |
| 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. |
| MPs will get the chance to debate the matter on Wednesday in response to a motion tabled by the DUP. |