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Ukip's Nigel Farage to attend TV general election debate despite SNP, Green and Plaid Cymru absence

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

October 13, 2014 | 3 min read

Plans for Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), to attend a live television debate with the leaders of the three major UK parties for the 2015 general election, have come under scrutiny for excluding several more prominent parties.

Farage will appear alongside other party leaders

The broadcast, which will be moderated by ITV, has granted UKIP an invitation despite parties with more representation in parliament such as the SNP and Plaid Cymru's absence.

Farage will attend the first of three debates jointly proposed by the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 despite UKIP only recently receiving its first MP following Douglas Carswell’s defection from the Conservatives. Notably, the SNP, has six seats in Westminster, Plaid Cymru has three and the Green Party matches Ukip's one seat.

Nicola Sturgeon, deputy first minister of Scotland, asked why the broadcasters ignored the SNP despite it recently becoming the UK’s third-biggest political party following the Scottish independence referendum, boasting over 80,000 members.

Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green party, said: “With these statements the broadcasters are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the public mood, and how ridiculously they cling to the idea that the future of politics looks like the past.

“It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives.”

Finally, Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, said: “Broadcasters have shown themselves to be out of touch by clinging on to the notion that there is no alternative to the tired Westminster elite.

“The people of Wales deserve nothing less than to hear what all parties have to offer them and we will be taking immediate steps to ensure that this happens.”

The three debates have been proposed for April and the election will follow on the 7 May 2015.

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