Miliband against inclusion of Farage in leaders’ TV debates

Ed Miliband has come out against the idea of UKIP’s Nigel Farage being included in any eventual televised leaders’ debates before the next election. During an appearance at The Guardian offices earlier today, Miliband also took the opportunity to slam David Cameron for trying to avoid any debates in the coming year.

Following on from the in/out EU debates between Nick Clegg and Farage, Miliband was asked whether the UKIP leader appearing if the debates came to fruition. Miliband said:

“No. Look, I think the format we had last time with parties that have representation in parliament is a good format. In the end it is for the broadcasters to decide who they invite. They have got their own rules and they have got to follow their rules. I look forward to debating David Cameron. I am not that interested in Nigel Farage. I care about debating David Cameron.”

Miliband added that he felt the biggest roadblock to the debates was the Prime Minister, who was worried that the hustings did his image no good at the last general election. He said:

“The big challenge we are going to have in relation to the leaders’ debates is getting all three leaders into a debate. David Cameron is desperate to avoid having these TV election debates because all of the conventional wisdom on the Tory side is that they didn’t do him any good last time. He will try and do anything to avoid these debates. That is why we have said: we had the debate with three leaders last time, same format – three debates, three leaders – let’s have that. If the broadcasters want to invite other people that is a matter for them. But I think our best chance of getting Cameron into the debates is to say we are going to have the same format as we had last time.”

It is clear Labour’s preference is for the “three by three” format mentioned, while Cameron’s office are hesitant to sign up because they believe their candidate has the most to lose.