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Parties agree on rules for first televised political TV debate
3 Mar 2010The three main parties have reached agreement with broadcasters over the first televised leaders' debates in a UK general election, it has been announced.
Three live face-to-face debates between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will take place in mid-evening weekday slots in front of studio audiences on BBC, ITV and Sky News.
Members of the audience will be able to put questions to the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders directly and viewers will be invited to submit their own questions by email in advance of the programmes, said the three broadcasters in a joint statement.
Each programme will have a pre-determined theme for half of its airtime, with the remaining time open to questions on any election issue.
The broadcasters drew lots to determine the order of the debates and the allocation of themes, while representatives of the parties drew lots to determine the order of speaking. Mr Clegg will open the first debate, Mr Brown the second, and Mr Cameron the third.
According to a strict set of rules thrashed out in negotiations between the broadcasters and parties, each leader will make an opening statement on the programme's theme before taking questions. Each leader will answer all questions and be given time to react to opponents' answers and make further points of their own. A period of free debate may follow.
The leaders will have no prior notice of questions and all statements, answers and rebuttals will be subject to time restrictions - usually one minute, but with a longer 90-second closing statement at the end of each programme.
The first debate, screened on ITV1 and moderated by Alastair Stewart, will be filmed in the North West of England and look at the theme of domestic affairs.
The second debate will be screened on Sky News and moderated by Adam Boulton. Its themed section will be on international affairs and it will come from the South West.
The final debate will be screened on BBC1, moderated by David Dimbleby, and will focus on the theme of economic affairs. The programme will be based in the Midlands.
Reader views (9)
"Parties agree on rules ..."
After the bell rings, the three contestants will come out of their corners and grab as much expenses money from the centre of the ring as their sweaty paws can grasp. Extra points gained for the number of times they can flick V signs at the spectators/voters.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 03/03/2010 12:47
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Will they have stunt-doubles?
Dave's should be The Hoff; Brown's can be The Incredible Hulk; and Clegg's stand-in would be The Invisible Man.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 03/03/2010 11:47
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So What, who cares? The same lies and mealy mouthed platitudes will ooze from their stiffly smiling heads as have always done.
- Steve, Brentford, 03/03/2010 11:28
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With the choice of these 3 the country is doomed. I know you're meant to vote for the party, but with these three gormless, narcissistic self obsessed creatures the party policies do not get a look in. What a shambles politics and the politicans have become.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 03/03/2010 11:13
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R.F.York
I don't think the debate is particularly aimed at you as you seem to have made up your mind already....clearly it is focusing on the undecided which is a very large proportion of the popoulation.
so that's 90 minutes you have saved youirself to do someting more exciting.....
- Martin_Clerkenwell, london, 03/03/2010 10:29
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YAWN!
- Steve, Brentford, 03/03/2010 10:24
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surely this must go out after the watershed time of 9 0'clock as it will make for scarey viewing you have brown who would'nt know the truth if it hit him in the back of the neck cameron looking like willie wonker i hope i spelt that right who is incapable of stating a policy even if he knew one and some other non discript fellow who everyone say's "who is he" sky tv have a problem of who to use as an interviewer as adam bolton is married to a labour party worker and brown went to his wedding so there could be a bit of bias there?
- Anon Leicester, leicester, 03/03/2010 09:32
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Why are the politicians allowed to lay down so many ground rules !
- Shallotman, Basildon, 03/03/2010 09:20
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I cringe when I see Gordon Brown on television. His mannerisms, mandibular tics, inane grin and general demeanour are a complete "turn off". Even if he had something intelligent or meaningful to say - which he won't have - I couldn't bear to watch or listen to him for 90 minutes.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 03/03/2010 08:38
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