E-petition 228572: Make TV election debates happen – establish an Independent Debates Commission

A debate will be held in Westminster Hall on Monday 7 January at 4.30pm on e-petition 228572 relating to an independent commission on televised election debates. Steve Double will lead the debate. The debate will be on the motion that:

“That this House has considered e-petition 228572 relating to an independent commission on televised election debates.”

The petition calls for the creation of an independent commission to organise compulsory televised leaders’ debates during UK general election campaigns.

The petition is backed by a Sky News campaign that has cross-party support, including Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas, Sir Vince Cable, Amber Rudd, Peter Bone and all MPs from the SNP.

The Government’s response to the petition makes it clear it does agree, saying “The Government has no plans to change electoral law to make televised elections debates mandatory.”

There is more information on the background and history of televised leaders’ debates in the UK in the Library briefing, Televised debates between party leaders. The information below is taken from that paper.