United Kingdom

Robinson says fact voters outside NI cannot vote for party doesn’t render its views irrelevant

Up to 11 party leaders could take part in election debates after Labour said Northern Ireland’s parties should not be excluded.

There is continued uncertainty over the live televised debates planned for the general election campaign despite a threat by broadcasters to “empty chair” any party leader who refuses to take part in the showdowns.

The First Minister issued an angry letter last night after BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 issued new proposals for TV election debates which do not include parties from Northern Ireland.

The BBC and ITV plan to stage debates involving the Conservatives, Labour, the Lib Dems, Green Party, UKIP, the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

This is just what British politics needs right now. A chaotic parade of a dozen different politicians interrupting the host, raising their voices, shouting over each other and leaving the viewers at home feeling frustrated and none the wiser

TV election debates will go ahead even if David Cameron refuses to participate, television broadcasters have declared in a clear challenge to the Prime Minister.

Lord Hall, director-general of the BBC, accused of 'crass' intervention after discussing his views on television debates before proposals have been put to political parties

The coalition of broadcasters bidding to stage the party leader debates is on the verge of unveiling a revised set of proposals in an effort to ensure that David Cameron will take part.

What are you afraid of boys? The Green Party posed this question on Westminster’s College Green this morning as they launched a new poster campaign (driven around on pedal bikes, natch) calling for the Greens to be involved in the TV leaders debates. Leader Natalie Bennett also announced that the

The broadcasters can't "empty chair" the Prime Minister - he may well get what he wants.

David Cameron is yet to commit to taking part in a televised leaders’ debate before this year’s general election and is engaged in a semi-public negotiation with the other parties and the broadcasters about whether a debate will take place and, if so, what the lineup and format should be.