Johnson and Corbyn agree to head-to-head election debate on ITV
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have confirmed that they will take part in the first head-to-head debate of the election campaign on 19 November.
The Labour and Conservative party leaders will face each other in the debate on ITV, chaired by presenter Julie Etchingham.
Corbyn had challenged Johnson to a debate earlier in the week and on Friday said it was “welcome” that the offer had been accepted.
“The choice could not be clearer: Boris Johnson’s Conservatives protecting the privileged few or a Labour government on the side of the many,” Corbyn tweeted on Friday.
Johnson tweeted: “Looking forward to making the positive case to the country that we should get Brexit done and deliver on the people’s priorities – our NHS, schools, tackling crime and the cost of living.”
The Liberal Democrats said it was
“considering all options” on how to respond, and accused both party leaders of “running scared” from Jo Swinson.
“They appear determined to block the woman leader of the strongest party of remain from the debate stage,” said a Lib Dem spokesperson.
ITV has said it will run a live interview-based programme later on Tuesday evening in which other parties will have the opportunity to comment on the head-to-head debate and set out their own electoral agenda.
This will feature the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, the Brexit party, SNP and the Green party.
ITV will also offer the Lib Dems, the SNP, the Brexit party, Plaid Cymru, as well as Labour and the Tories, another opportunity to take part in a second debate – between their party leaders or another senior figure – which it will host at a later date.
Separate debates will be held for Northern Ireland and Wales. STV, which broadcasts to parts of Scotland, plans to hold its own debate between Scottish candidates.