I’m expecting to learn more details later today. But I’m told that the three political parties have agreed the details of April’s* three-way debates on ITV, Sky and the BBC which will be held in Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. My understanding is that the agreement was struck last night.
I should emphasise that a preliminary announcement was made in December to have three 90-minute debates between the trio of leaders. Since then though there have been two months of grinding multi-lateral talks to sort out how the debates would work in practice. With the threat of legal action from the SNP it was never guaranteed that they would take place.
What will be interesting is the grit of the agreement, eg how will the questions be taken and who will form the audience. And: will the crowd have to sit in silence, as some politicians requested….?
* Presuming a May 6 election.
UPDATE
The announcement is coming at 5pm. The main debates have been decided, but there are more discussions still to come on the side debates; Darling-Osborne-Cable (economics); Miliband-Hague-Davey (foreign affairs) and possibly Balls-Gove-Laws (education).
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey