Green Party to be excluded from televised debates between party leaders in run-up to election

22 December 2009

The Green Party today expressed its "anger and dismay" that its party leader Caroline Lucas will not be included in debates between party leaders to be broadcast on national TV during the build-up to the general election.

A party spokesperson said:

"We think the BBC has a legal and moral obligation to include different viewpoints, and obviously this should include the Green Party as we have a strong track record of public support.

"The Greens have a distinctive line on a range of issues, not least the economy, and the public have a right to hear what choices are on offer - especially as the big three parties are peas in the same pod."

The Green Party is routinely accorded broadcast media coverage under broadcasters' rules regarding fairness and balance at election times, on the basis of the party's thirty-year history and the fact that it consistently shows a reasonable degree of support amongst the electorate. As well as two MEPs and two members of the London Assembly, the Greens have hundreds of local councillors in city, district and parish councils around England and Wales, and their sister party the Scottish Greens are represented in the Scottish Parliament.

It would seem a step backwards to introduce a new element of political media coverage, in the form of a televised leaders debate, only to restrict it to three parties that share very similar policies, said the spokesperson.

The decision was announced today that the BBC, ITV and Sky will broadcast the leader debates, hosted by David Dimbleby, Alastair Stewart and Adam Boulton respectively.

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