Salmond seeks slot in TV debate for next election

Published on Saturday 1 August 2009 20:01

ALEX Salmond is demanding a podium place in any TV debate between the main party leaders ahead of next year's general election, and has not ruled out court action to get his way.

The SNP leader and First Minister is to write to broadcasters to make sure both he and leaders of other smaller parties take part in any UK-wide programme.

The prospect of the UK's first American-style debate moved a step closer last week after First Secretary Lord Mandelson claimed that Gordon Brown would be happy to take part.

Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have welcomed the idea. But if either the BBC or ITV were to insist on a debate solely between Brown, Cameron and Clegg, the SNP has not ruled out taking legal action to prevent it going ahead.

An SNP spokesman said last night: "Scotland has a long tradition of party leader debates, and it is high time that we had them at UK level for the next General Election. Peter Mandelson has raised the issue again, and although it might have made Gordon Brown choke on his cornflakes when he heard it, the political parties and broadcasters should seize the initiative.

"The broadcasters must meet their obligations to audiences across the UK – and that has to include Alex Salmond's participation in any election debates involving Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

"We are obviously prepared to be flexible about options for the format, but the broadcasters' public service obligations require them to be fair to their audiences in Scotland, and indeed Wales. Both the SNP and Plaid Cymru are now parties of government and our voice must be heard. We will certainly be writing to the broadcasters at an early stage about this issue, so that they can be in no doubt about the position."

The SNP threatened legal action in 2001 when there were tentative plans for a TV debate between Tony Blair and the then Conservative leader William Hague. If a debate were to go ahead, broadcasters would be faced with enormous political difficulties to decide what to do about the smaller parties. While the SNP is classified by the broadcasting authorities as a major party in Scotland, it is not in England.

The prospect of a showdown between Brown and Cameron was raised last week by Lord Mandelson. Questioned about the possibility, he said: "I don't think Gordon would have a problem with that."