David Cameron now the only main party leader not to back 3-3-3 TV debates

Alastair Stewart hosted the historic first leaders' debate, which was broadcast on ITV. Credit: ITV

David Cameron is now the only main party leader who has not backed a repeat of the 2010 TV debates for next year's General Election.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, today said he is ready to sign up to the debates in 2015 using the same format as before.

Ed Miliband has already indicated he would also sign up to the same format for the debates.

David Cameron, however, said he would rather they were more spread out - perhaps over the space of several months - so that they don’t dominate the election campaign in the same way as they did last time.

Asked today if he would still support the same "3-3-3" formula (three debates, over three weeks, with three leaders), Nick Clegg said: "I think they were a success, I think people liked them, I think they were a step forward, people felt they could compare and contrast the political leaders and I think it’s really good news that the Labour party appear to be prepared to do the same.

"So the only major party leader of a major party represented in the House of Commons who still needs to sign along the dotted line is David Cameron."

David Cameron, Nick Clegg and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the Sky News leaders' debate. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Given the Liberal Democrats support in opinion polls is lower than the support for UKIP, there have been demands that Nigel Farage should attend.

The Lib Dem leader stressed that he is happy to debate with Nigel Farage - in fact he'd "relish it" - but Mr Clegg said he hoped the Conservatives "won’t use their anxieties about UKIP and Nigel Farage as an excuse not to give the British people the right to see those leaders' debates take place again next time."