General election TV debates: has Jo Swinson been sidelined?

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has criticised ITV for excluding her from a live TV debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

A group of female Lib Dem MPs, MEPs and peers have sent an open letter to broadcasters demanding that Swinson be allowed to take part in televised debates in the run-up to the general election as a way of “inspiring girls and women into leadership roles”.

As The Guardian notes, the “lack of official rules concerning TV debates means the process is a complicated negotiation between parties and broadcasters”.

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The ITV debate between the Labour and Conservative leaders is set to air on 19 November, just over three weeks before the nation goes to the polls on 12 December.–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For more political analysis - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues free–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What has Swinson said?

Swinson has pointed out that the Lib Dems are polling higher than before the election in 2010, when then-leader Nick Clegg was invited to take part in a TV debate with the Conservatives’ David Cameron and Labour’s Gordon Brown.

During an interview on Sky News this weekend, she suggested her omission from this year’s debates were because of her gender.

“[I] happen to be a woman, well isn’t that interesting because when it was Nick Clegg there was no problem with him being in the debates,” she said. “Frankly, either it’s sexist or they are scared or maybe it’s a bit of both.”

Swinson also argues that the Lib Dems should be at the debate as the only major party that unequivocally supports Remain.

“You’ve got a suggestion from a broadcaster that it will be two chaps chatting about how they are going to leave the European Union, leaving out the voice for millions of Remainers who want to stop Brexit and stay in the EU,” she said.

“I should be there - the voice for the millions of people in this country who want to Remain. It’s ridiculous to have a debate where on the biggest issue facing our country you have an entire side of that debate unrepresented.”

How has ITV responded?

In a short statement responding to Swinson’s accusations, the broadcaster said: “ITV intends to offer viewers comprehensive and fairly balanced [general election] coverage.

“This involves a wide range of programming, including a live debate in which seven party leaders are invited to take part, as well as a live debate between the Labour and Conservative leaders.”

And the verdict from other MPs?

Nine female Lib Dem MPs are spearheading the open letter to broadcasters arguing that Swinson should be included in the debates.

“As Liberal Democrat women, we are immensely proud to have elected our first woman leader,” they wrote. “We believe it is important, in terms of inspiring girls and women into leadership roles in future, that the only woman to lead a major UK party is not locked out of the leadership debates.”

Former Labour and Change UK MP Chuka Umunna - now of the Lib Dems - said on Twitter: “Jo Swinson’s exclusion from the proposed ITV #GE2019 Leaders’ Debate is discriminatory and sexist.”

Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader in Westminster, tweeted that ITV’s proposed line-up of Labour versus Conservative was “deeply misleading for audiences”.

And Anna Soubry, leader of Change UK, wrote: “There is no debate unless @JoSwinson is part of this debate. Not getting into silly arguments about who leads the strongest party of remain given my record but given the polls it’s a no brainer.”

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that Downing Street sources have suggested that any debate involving smaller parties may be avoided by Boris Johnson, who could send a cabinet minister in his place.