Sky News Plan Presidential Style Debate, in the UK

British news channel, Sky News, has today announced its campaign to air the first televised leaders debate at the next general election, due in Spring 2010. Sky News believes the time has come for the leaders of the main parties to take part in a live TV debate. If a leader refuses to take part, they will be represented by an empty chair.

The Head of Sky News, John Ryley, has written to the three main party leaders inviting them to take part in the live debate, saying the democratic process needs reinvigorating.

In the letter to party leaders, Mr Ryley says: "With politics - and dare I say, many politicians - currently held in such low regard, to debate publicly the major issues facing Britain away from Westminster, presents a unique opportunity to re-engage a disillusioned electorate.

So now, there is surely no reason why engagement with the public should not take place via a live television debate. It is done in Washington and Warsaw, Tel Aviv and Tehran, Moscow and Madrid. In each case, the most recent experience shows that such debates have invigorated national elections."

Sky News will offer the debate live and unedited to any of its competitors that want to carry it. Sky News will stream the debate live on its website and Independent Radio News (IRN) will simulcast the debate to all its three hundred stations across Britain.