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Deal reached on TV leadership election debates

Broadcasters have confirmed the dates when the televised leaders debates will go ahead.

David Cameron and Ed Miliband will take part in a live question and answer programme on Channel 4 and Sky News on March 26th but will not have a debate.

A debate with all of the seven party leaders will be broadcast on ITV on April 2nd.

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Ukip leader brands TV leaders debate row an 'utter farce'

Nigel Farage described the TV leadership debate row as 'an utter farce'. Credit: Gareth Fuller / PA WIRE

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has called the ongoing TV leadership debate row "an utter farce" after broadcasters confirmed dates for the programmes including a show featuring David Cameron and Ed Miliband but without a debate.

Mr Farage said: "Essentially they are no longer what anyone could sensibly call Leaders' Debates. It's an utter farce."

The final line-up follows years of wrangling between parties and broadcasters over whether and how to repeat the debates from the 2010 election campaign - which saw Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg face each other three times.

Mr Cameron rejected previous proposals on the basis they did not include the Green party, and insisted the sessions should not take place during the short election campaign that starts on March 30th.

However, last week he appeared to surprise other parties and the broadcasters by announcing that he had accepted plans for the seven-way debate on April 2nd and had agreed to participate in a variety of other programmes.

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