SNP demand for TV debate

Nicola Sturgeon has said she would take on Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn in a TV debate “anywhere, anytime”.

The First Minister said she was prepared for a party leaders’ debate after Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson complained to broadcaster ITV about its decision to exclude her from its planned 19 November debate, which will see Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn go head-to-head.

Jo Swinson has said her party will launch legal action if ITV does not include her in its televised leaders’ debate. The party has already complained. Ms Swinson said debates about who will be the next prime minister “cannot and should not exclude the only woman leader who is able to be the next prime minister”.

Sky News is proposing a live TV debate between Mr Johnson, Mr Corbyn and Ms Swinson on Thursday 28 November, but Ms Swinson said the Lib Dems were taking advice on “all of the possible avenues” and “do not rule any out” in relation to the ITV debate.

Yesterday Ms Sturgeon said she too wanted to be invovled. “My message to Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson is: ‘What are you scared of?’ I’ll debate one of them, I’ll debate both of them, anytime, anywhere. Bring it on, stop running scared of meaningful debate in this election. The people can see you.”

Ms Sturgeon warned broadcasters against “going back in time” by only inviting the leaders of the two largest parties to the debate.

“The population, certainly in Scotland, but across the rest of the UK, is moving away from the two-party system. You’ve got the broadcasters not only sticking to that but actually going back the way, because in 2010, 2015 and 2017 they had a different approach.

“My message to the broadcaster is make sure that you’re reflecting politics as it is and not just how you want it to be.”