Party chiefs back Scottish leaders’ debates

Televised leaders’ debates are to be the showpiece of the general election campaign in Scotland, after the main Holyrood parties backed the plan.

Theresa May came under renewed pressure yesterday to take part in a UK version of the live head-to-heads after ITV confirmed it will host one regardless of whether the Prime Minister signs up.

A senior BBC journalist told The Telegraph he did not want to be in a “position where any party leader stops us doing a programme that we think is in the public interest”.

But Mrs May told Radio 4: “We won’t be doing television debates.” Explaining her stance, she added: “I believe in campaigns where politicians actually get out and about and meet with voters.”

Ms Sturgeon has called for broadcaster should “empty chair” the PM and go ahead regardless.

Ruth Davidson, the Conservative leader in Scotland, holds a different stance to her boss. She said “bring it on” in response to a question about taking part in Scotland-only TV debates.

“I think we have got a really strong message going into this general election campaign and I’m happy to go on telly and all my team are happy to go on telly and speak to the nation about it,” she said.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “I relish the opportunity to challenge Nicola Sturgeon face-to-face about her reckless plans for a second independence referendum, and to challenge Ruth Davidson about her support for Theresa May’s reckless plans for a hard Brexit.”

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: “From the impact of a hard Tory Brexit in Scotland to the SNP’s attempt to break up the UK; all areas must be under public scrutiny and a leaders’ debate would be the right thing to do.”