TV
The political television debates planned for the run-up to May's general election will still go ahead as planned, even though Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to take part, it has been announced.
Instead, the Labour leader will be represented by an empty chair whilst Conservative leader William Hague and the Liberal Democrat's Charles Kennedy battle it out.
An insider told the Media Guardian: "This fight is not over. We have to make the point that ITV is watched by 48 million people a week and that the public has a right to see its leaders debate the issues on television. If Mr Blair is worried about apathy among voters, then what better way to enthuse people than with a totally new television format?"
Meanwhile, Jonathan Dimbleby, tipped to front BBC1's debate, said: "The Labour Party has thrown away a great opportunity to demonstrate that political leaders are not as contemptuous of the voters as they are so frequently thought to be."
Instead, the Labour leader will be represented by an empty chair whilst Conservative leader William Hague and the Liberal Democrat's Charles Kennedy battle it out.
An insider told the Media Guardian: "This fight is not over. We have to make the point that ITV is watched by 48 million people a week and that the public has a right to see its leaders debate the issues on television. If Mr Blair is worried about apathy among voters, then what better way to enthuse people than with a totally new television format?"
Meanwhile, Jonathan Dimbleby, tipped to front BBC1's debate, said: "The Labour Party has thrown away a great opportunity to demonstrate that political leaders are not as contemptuous of the voters as they are so frequently thought to be."
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