Miliband uses Scottish Labour Conference speech to skewer “scared” Cameron on debates

Ed Miliband used his speech at the special one-day Scottish Labour Conference to confirm he will attend all three planned leaders’ debated – regardless of whether David Cameron turns up.

Miliband told delegates that the Labour Party has written to broadcasters to formally accept the invitation to appear in the debates. And the Labour leader accused Cameron of “running away” from defending his record in office.

“You can try to escape the people’s debates, but you can’t escape the people’s verdict.

Today the Labour Party has written to the broadcasters. Saying with or without David Cameron, I will be at the debates. And every day up to these debates he will be asked: what are you hiding from?

When all people will see is an empty chair, his claims of leadership will be exposed as empty.”

David Cameron’s reluctance to take part in the debates has been a major topic this week, with both broadcasters and Labour heaping pressure on the Prime Minister to agree. This led to the Tories writing a stroppy letter, which said Cameron would only do a single debate – refusing a head-to-head with Miliband.

As head of campaign strategy, Douglas Alexander has written to Sue Inglish, chair of the Broadcasters’ Liaison Group, confirming the Miliband will turn up for all the debates proposed so far. You can read it here:

Dear Sue, 

We have followed with interest your exchange of letters over the last 48 hours with the Conservative Party, and in particular your reiteration that it is the intention of the broadcasters to stage Leaders Election Debates live on television on the 2^nd, 16^th and 30^th April. 

We believe these debates represent a huge opportunity to engage millions of voters in the election campaign and they are a rare opportunity for the public to see the leaders of the main political engaging directly on the big issues facing Britain.

I am therefore today writing on behalf of the Labour party to confirm that Ed Miliband will take up your offer to participate in all three of the proposed debates.

Like you, we hope that David Cameron and the Conservative party will take this opportunity to conclude that these debates are in the public interest and that not showing up will not just be damaging to the Conservative party but to our democracy as well.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP