Should the Greens be in the TV election debates?

THE proposals put forward by the broadcasters for the election debates have yet to win the acceptance of all the political party leaders and this puts the whole process at risk.

In particular, David Cameron has stated that he will not participate if the Green Party is excluded.

Staging the debates without the Prime Minister might score a point, but would not serve the public, who rightly expect the political parties and the broadcasters to find a format that is acceptable to all concerned.

As many members of the public would like to see the Green Party included in the debates, the way forward would be to agree to this, as it would best serve both democracy and the electorate.

The presence of the Greens in one of the three debates will also enrich the process by drawing on a wider range of views about the future of our country, and also appeal to a wider audience — particularly among young people.

NATALIE BENNETT, Leader, Green Party of England and Wales.

is it not a measure of David Cameron’s cynical, mendacious nature that he chooses a week in which he parades in France for a photo opportunity to also choose, amid all the furore of those events, to announce that he won’t take part in a tV debate except under certain conditions? Everyone knows why. think of the phrase A&E for just one reason.

T. MAUNDER, Kirkstall, West Yorks.

DAVID CAMERON is right to decline to take part in the TV debates — and not just because the Greens are excluded.

The last time they had a debate and a minority leader was included, Nick Clegg came across as a sensible politician who could be trusted. And look what happened: we ended up with a dog’s dinner of a coalition.

Fast forward a few months and can you imagine what chaos would ensue if the Greens and/or the SNP held the balance of power?

BRIAN LIVING, West Moors, Dorset.