PM Accused Of Bullying Broadcasters On Debates

David Cameron has been accused trying to "bully" broadcasters into dropping plans for a head-to-head election debate with Ed Miliband.

The Prime Minister has said he will only take part in one TV election debate, ruling out a contest with the Labour leader.

Downing Street says the Prime Minister is only prepared to participate in a 90-minute debate with at least seven party leaders before the end of March.
Douglas Alexander MP, Labour's Chair of Election Strategy, said: "This is 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.
"That it comes only hours after Ed Miliband called David Cameron's bluff and said he would debate him any time, any place, shows the lengths David Cameron will go to run scared of a debate with Ed Miliband."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg tweeted: "The British public want the debates so let's get on with it. Stop holding them to ransom by trying to dictate the terms."
The proposal was made in a letter sent to Sue Inglish, the chair of the broadcasters' leaders' debates committee, by Mr Cameron's communications director Craig Oliver.
The letter said: "There should be one 90-minute debate between seven party leaders before the short campaign.
"As well as the Prime Minister, the leaders of the Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, SNP and UKIP should invited.
"The leader of the DUP should be allowed to make his case for why he should be involved.
"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."
A joint statement issued by the broadcasters confirmed that they had received a proposal from Downing Street.
"The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have received an email from the Prime Minister's office with a proposal," it said.
"The broadcasters are committed to providing our audiences with election debates. 22 million people watched the debates in 2010 and we believe the debates helped people to engage with the election.
"The broadcasters have set out their proposals and continue to talk to all the relevant parties on an equitable basis.
"We will respond to the Conservatives' proposal in due course."
Sky News and Channel 4 have proposed to host a head-to-head between the two candidates on 30 April.
The BBC and ITV have proposed each staging a debate involving Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband, Nick Clegg, the Greens' Natalie Bennett, Nigel Farage of UKIP, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood.
Mr Miliband earlier told Sky News that Mr Cameron should "stop making excuses" and commit to a head-to-head TV debate.
And in angry exchanges during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Cameron was asked three times if he would debate with Ed Miliband before the election as he has said.
After the final question the Prime Minister replied: "I have been very clear, I have said get on with the debates before the election campaign begins, I think we should start now."