Ukip leader Nigel Farage has been invited to join David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg in a live television debate ahead of next year's general election.
The new format reflects "changes in the political landscape", according to the BBC, but the decision has angered the Lib Dems, the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Green party.
What is going to happen?
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The general election in 2010 marked the first of a series of televised leader's debate in the UK and featured David Cameron, Labour's Gordon Brown and the Lib Dem's Nick Clegg.
However, this year a new 4-3-2 format is being introduced and will involve:
- A debate between Cameron, Miliband, Clegg and Farage, broadcast by ITV and hosted by Julie Etchingham.
- A debate between Cameron, Miliband and Clegg, broadcast by the BBC and presented by David Dimbleby.
- A head-to-head debate between the "two leaders who could become prime minister"; Cameron and Miliband, broadcast by Sky and Channel 4 and hosted by Jeremy Paxman.
What has the reaction been?
Nigel Farage welcomed the decision, saying it was reflection of the growing popularity of his party.
Decision is better than it could have been. If political landscape continues to change we would expect and ask for inclusion in a 2nd debate— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 13, 2014
Ukip supporters argued the invitation was entirely warranted as the party had consistently out-polled the Lib Dems in recent months.
The Lib Dems, however, have criticised the broadcasters for changing the format and introducing a debate that only includes the Tory and Labour leaders. "We do not accept the proposal that the Liberal Democrats, as a party of government, should be prevented from defending our record in one of the TV debates," a spokesperson told ITV.
The SNP and the Green party were also quick to criticise the broadcasters' decision.
Dear broadcasters - what about UK's third biggest political party, @thesnp? Farage invited on leaders' TV debate http://t.co/vBztiDQUSj— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 13, 2014
"With these statements the broadcasters are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the public mood," Green Party leader Natalie Bennett told the BBC. "It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives."
Ian Dunt of Politics.co.uk called the broadcaster's decision to exclude the Greens "unjustifiable", citing the European election results, where the Greens outperformed the Lib Dems. "It seems like a stitch-up and it strengthens the arguments of those who percieve a right-wing bias in media outlets' disproportionate coverage of Ukip."
The debates are schedule to take place on 2, 16 and 30 April, just before the general election on 7 May.
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