Party leaders seek Brown TV debate

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Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell insisted head-to-head debates were needed because the Chancellor was becoming the next Prime Minister without a single vote being cast.

Such events had proved effective for airing "serious policy issues" during the Conservative leadership election in 2005, according to Mr Cameron.

"I said at the time that we should have these debates between the main party leaders before a General Election," Mr Cameron wrote on his 'webcameron' blog.

"I hope in the next few days Gordon Brown will make clear that, once he's actually the Labour leader and Prime Minister, he'll take part in proper TV debates that could really help bring politics to life."

Sir Menzies went a step further, calling on Mr Brown to participate in televised debates during the six-week lull before he becomes Prime Minister.

In a letter to the Chancellor, Sir Menzies said people were being deprived of discussion over his "vision for the country" because there had been no "contested" election for the Labour leadership.

Mr Brown's plan to spend the time touring the country making speeches was "no substitute to the scrutiny that a proper debate would allow and to which the public are entitled", according to Sir Menzies.

He wrote: "To fill the gap arising out of your uncontested election, I would like to suggest that you should take part in a series of televised debates with myself and David Cameron to discuss the direction the country should take on major issues of public concern such as poverty and opportunity, the environment, crime, pensions, the future of our health service and our continued military deployment in Iraq."

Mr Brown is due to be formally confirmed as Labour leader on June 24, after securing 313 of the 353 nominations available from Labour MPs. He will enter No 10 on June 27.