May WILL take part in TV grilling

THERESA May will take part in a Question Time- style TV programme ahead of the General Election – but not a full debate, it emerged last night.

In a partial climbdown, sources said the Prime Minister will still refuse a head-to-head debate with other political leaders similar to those in 2010 and 2015.

She appeared to bow to pressure from MPs who urged broadcasters to ‘empty chair’ her and accused her of ‘running scared’.

The BBC and ITV indicated yesterday that they would screen a leaders’ debate regardless of whether or not she took part. The row began yesterday morning when she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: ‘I believe in campaigns where politicians actually get out and about and meet with voters.

‘As Prime Minister, as a constituency MP, I still go out and knock on doors in my constituency.’

As the clear front runner, she may have the most to lose from a TV debate as the format tends to benefit opposition candidates.

But she faced taunts of ‘frit’ from Labour backbenchers at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday. The criticism was levelled at David Cameron when he initially refused to take part in the 2015 debates.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: ‘If Theresa May is so proud of her record, why won’t she debate it? She cannot be allowed to run away from her duty to democracy and refuse to let the British people hear the arguments directly.’

SNP deputy leader Angus Rob- ertson accused Mrs May of ‘running scared of a televised debate with Nicola Sturgeon’.

SNP leader Miss Sturgeon tweeted: ‘If PM doesn’t have the confidence to debate her plans on TV with other leaders, broadcasters should empty chair her and go ahead anyway.’

Jonathan Munro, head of news gathering at the BBC, said it was ‘ working hard’ on plans for a debate because it was ‘overwhelmingly’ in the public interest. Broadcasters have said televised debates reach young voters who are not usually interested in politics.

‘Cannot be allowed to run away’