UKIP role in 2015 general election TV leader debates

UKIP's rising poll rating means some think the party should be involved in any televised leaders' debates leading up to the 2015 general election.

Conservative MP Tim Loughton said bringing in the eurosceptic party would show it to be a "complete load of old hot air with a very charismatic and beaming person in charge and not much else".

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said "politics has changed a lot since 2010" and excluding his party "would probably give us the benefit of the underdog".

Lib Dem Julian Huppert claimed it would be a chance to "bring down" UKIP arguments, while Labour's Lucy Powell said it "would be a bit of stretch" to include UKIP when it had no MPs, while excluding the Greens which have an MP and run councils.

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