PM's TV absence 'unacceptable' - but why Farage and not Green leader?

EDITOR'S UPDATE, 12.20pm, Wed 14 Jan: Since this article was posted, Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has written to Miliband, Clegg and Farage urging them to contact the broadcasters to say they are open to the Greens being included in the TV debates. If they did so, she argues, "it would be hard for the Prime Minister to raise any new concerns, and this therefore gives the best chance of ensuring that the proposed leaders' debates can go ahead".

Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage are ganging up on the Prime Minister, saying it would be "unacceptable" for him to refuse to appear in the party leaders’ TV debates before the general election. If he’s still refusing to join in when the debates take place in April, an “empty podium” should be provided in case he has “a last-minute change of heart”.

Cameron is using Ofcom’s decision not to invite the Green Party as his excuse for not taking part, but it’s hardly a secret that, on the advice of his election strategist Lynton Crosby, he’s trying to avoid debating with Farage on Europe and immigration.

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As Farage told Radio 4’s Today programme this morning: “In 2010, David Cameron did very badly in these debates and he was seen as the loser. This week, he launched six main priorities for the Conservative election campaign and he has completely ignored the issues of Europe and immigration. I feel very strongly he would rather not debate these issues with me on national television.”

The row has managed to unite Miliband, Clegg and Farage for the first time against Cameron, who is isolated. In identical letters, they have written to the PM saying:

"It would be unacceptable if the political self-interest of one party leader were to deny the public the opportunity to see their leaders debate in public.

"Therefore, if you are unwilling to reconsider, the three party leaders who have committed to participate will ask the broadcasters to press ahead with the debates and provide an empty podium should you have a last-minute change of heart.

• Countown to 7 May: Check the Week's daily election round-up

"These debates are not the property of the politicians and I do not believe the public will accept lightly the prospect of any politician seeking to block them."

Downing Street this morning reiterated that Cameron will take part only if the Green Party is included.

Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told the Today programme that people want to see their leaders debating with each other and that if David Cameron wants “to put the kibosh” on the debates then “he should pay a high political price”.

It is understood the broadcasting rules on impartiality during election campaigns would not prevent the TV debates going ahead without the Prime Minister’s presence, as long as his views are “represented”. No one is yet sure how that would be achieved – but then no one really believes Cameron can keep up his brinkmanship.

As the BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith tweeted: “Broadcasters still ‘determined’ TV debates should go ahead. ‘No-one is near talking about empty-chairing TV debates,’ says source familiar with negotiations.”

A ComRes poll for ITV News suggests Miliband, Clegg and Farage have the public on their side in this fight: 55 per cent believed the PM was being cowardly and 50 per cent thought he was using the Green Party as an excuse for ducking the debates.

On the other hand, the three leaders could gang up on Ofcom instead of Cameron and insist that the Greens are invited. The same Com Res poll found that 50 per cent thought the Green Party should be involved.

Which brings me to another thought: the Greens have one MP. Ukip have two, but on their current showing in the opinion polls - flatlining at 16 per cent - the Electoral Calculus projection is that they will end up with only one MP after 7 May (presumably Douglas Carswell).

If Farage is allowed take part, then so should Natalie Bennett of the Greens.