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David Cameron

David Cameron delivers debate ‘final offer’ to broadcasters and rival party leaders

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By John Glenday, Reporter

March 5, 2015 | 2 min read

Prime minister David Cameron has issued an ultimatum to broadcasters and rival party leaders over a series of planned political debates in the run up to the general election by declaring that he is willing to participate in just one 90m debate between seven party leaders.

This would see the leaders of the Green Party, Labour, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, DUP and the SNP go head to head with the Conservative leader.

In a letter, Craig Oliver, the prime minister’s director of communications, said: “If the broadcasters cannot agree amongst themselves who hosts the debate, lots should be drawn, though the debate should be freely available to whoever wants to broadcast it. In order for it to be organised in time, the debate should take place during the week beginning the 23 March. I will make myself available to negotiate the details.

“This is our final offer, and to be clear, given the fact this has been a deeply unsatisfactory process and we are within a month of the short campaign, the Prime Minister will not be participating in more than one debate.”

Political opponents were non plussed by this stance however with Labour’s Douglas Alexander describing the move as an ‘… outrageous attempt from the prime minister to bully the broadcasters into dropping their proposals for a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband.’

A joint statement issued by the broadcasters read: “The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the prime minister's office with a proposal.

"We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course."

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