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UKIP on TV in minor parties' slot

Friday, 5th March 2010

UKIP’s Nigel Farage will appear in a television debate with other political leaders in the run up to the General Election this spring – but not alongside the leaders of the three main parties.

The BBC and ITV have already agreed to give UKIP, the Green Party and the BNP a chance to air their policies with Sky expected to follow suit.

However, the scheduling has been criticised by Mr Farage and Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, who both point out that they have every right to air their party's views alongside Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg in the three main debates to be hosted one each on the BBC, ITV and Sky.

Mr Farage explains that UKIP's recent election success entitles the Party to more media coverage. "We think the way it has been set up is unfair,” he said. “We came second across the UK in the European elections last year."

The so-called 'minor parties debate', which will also feature BNP leader Nick Griffin, is due to be broadcast on BBC1’s News at Ten, BBC2's Newsnight and Radio 4’s The Today programme.

A BBC spokesman said: "There will be arrangements in the programming around the BBC debate, a week before polling day, to ensure other parties which have demonstrated they have some electoral support - UKIP, the Green Party and the BNP - will have their say."

An ITV spokesman said his channel would come up with a similar scheduling plan.

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