Aitken backs Greens in TV debate row

LABOUR Holyrood hopeful Ewan Aitken has backed calls for the Greens to be included in televised leadership debates in the run-up to the elections.

The former council leader and candidate for Edinburgh Eastern in May's poll has signed a petition calling for the Greens' Patrick Harvie to be invited to appear alongside the other leaders.

He said: "Leaders' debates are a mixed blessing in elections - just ask Nick Clegg - but they should be as inclusive as possible. That doesn't mean everyone who is standing, but where a party already has seats then they should be considered.

"The Scottish Parliament has been able, especially between 2003 and 2007, to be a place where minority voices were heard and were influential. Our preparations to elect a new parliament should have that ideal built into them."