Farage invited to join other party leaders in TV debate
Ukip leader Nigel Farage could appear alongside David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg in a pre-election TV debate. Will he be able to sway young voters?
The announcement – which follows months of detailed negotiations over the format for debates next year – is said to reflect “changes in the political landscape”. Ukip came top in European elections in May, and secured its first elected Commons seat last week – while the Liberal Democrats have been languishing in the polls.
David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg would clash in a BBC debate presented by David Dimbleby. And the trio could be joined by Mr Farage for an ITV programme chaired by Julie Etchingham.
How will Ukip fair in the debates?
The Ukip leader said the proposals recognised growing support for his party. “The decision is better than it could have been. It does at least recognise the increasing popularity of Ukip,” he said. “However if the political landscape continues to change we would expect and ask for inclusion in a second debate.”
Ukip won its first by-election on Friday at the Conservatives’ expense and finished just behind Labour in another parliamentary seat. Ukip managed almost 60 per cent of the vote in Clacton and getting on for 40 per cent in Heywood and Middleton. But nationally, according to YouGov’s latest poll in the Sun, the party is on a more modest 15 per cent.
Earlier this year, Mr Farage was widely seen as emerging victorious from two debates with Mr Clegg on the EU in the run-up to European elections. However, a leaders’ debate will test Mr Farage on other topics including immigration, family, politics, international relations and banking.
The leaders debate in 2010 successfully attracted first-time voters. The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism research, based on YouGov survey data, showed that among 18-24-year-olds “a special relationship [was formed] with the TV debates compared with more jaded older people”.
More than half of those surveyed in this age group said they had become more interested in the election, compared with a quarter of people aged 55 and over. Meanwhile, 74 per cent of first-time voters said they had learned something.
Some 55 per cent of the 18-24-year-olds surveyed said it had helped them make up their minds on voting.
Can the debates influence young votes?
Support for Ukip amongst young voters has been historically low. The over-60s are among the groups most likely to vote Ukip, with the under-40s least likely.
YouGov polling shows the difficulties Ukip has in attracting young people. When asked if Ukip is a racist party, 54 per cent of 18-24s say it is, compared with 30 per cent of over-60s.
In 2010, instant polling after the first debate showed Mr Clegg as the winner, with most showing Mr Cameron came second and Gordon Brown last.
According to the poll, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed a massive 40 per cent of support amongst 25 to 34-year-olds, and similarly strong support among 18 to 24-year-olds.
However, on polling day their share of the vote increased by only 1 per cent over the previous general election, and they suffered a net loss of five seats. Only 44 per cent of young people aged 18-25 voted in the 2010 general election compared to 76 per cent of those aged 65 or over.
