Leaders to hold TV debate
Updated on 21 December 2009
Televised debates between the leaders of the three main political parties are set to take place in the run-up to the general election, for the first time.
The broadcasters ITV, Sky, and the BBC will each hold one of three TV debates over the course of the general election campaign.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative party leader David Cameron, and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are all set to take part in the US-style clashes.
The general election is now widely expected to take place on 6 May 2010, although there has been speculation it could instead be held as early as late March.
Sky News started to campaign for televised live debates at the start of September.
After opposition leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg had voiced their support, Gordon Brown gave his support a month later, on the eve of the Conservative party conference, saying he "would relish the opportunity" to take part.
Labour called for debates to take place sooner, rather than later, however, and to include head to heads between the cabinet and their shadows, as well as the PM.
In the USA, Barack Obama and John McCain went head to head three times on primetime television in the race for the presidential election.