BBC abandons live Brexit TV debate as May, Corbyn fail to agree format

The BBC has abandoned plans to host a live TV debate on the proposed Brexit deal after Downing Street and the Labour Party failed to agree on the format.

Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May have both said they want to debate each other on the deal, but Mr Corbyn insisted on rival broadcaster ITV’S head-to-head format.

The BBC had proposed including a panel of commentators as part of the programme. Its decision puts pressure on Downing Street to agree Mr Corbyn’s preferred format.

The BBC had been criticised by the SNP for not inviting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to take part, and by Brexiteers who felt their opposition to the Prime Minister’s deal was not being reflected in the format.

“We have been clear throughout the whole of this process that, as well as a substantive head-to-head debate, any programme we broadcast would need to include other voices, including other political parties, to reflect the wide range of views the public and parliamentarians hold about Brexit,” a BBC spokesman said. “It is a shame we will not be able to bring [the public] this programme.”

A Downing Street spokesman suggested ITV should change its format and said the Prime Minister still wanted a debate, claiming Mr Corbyn was “running scared of proper scrutiny”.

“The Prime Minister issued the original challenge to Jeremy Corbyn for a head-to-head debate and, despite her flexibility on timing and format, Jeremy Corbyn and Labour have done nothing but raise false and flimsy objections to the BBC’S proposal,” the spokesman said.