Grant Shapps on TV election leaders' debate plans

Political parties have been "locked out of the discussions" over leaders' election debates, says the Conservative Party chairman.

Grant Shapps claimed TV debates "sucked the life" out of the 2010 general election campaign.

And he suggested 23 or 25 March for a TV debate, ahead of the formal campaign which starts a few days later when the current Parliament dissolves, before the 7 May election.

When Andrew Neil, on the Daily Politics, suggested the Conservatives do not want to take part, Mr Shapps said: "That is just not the case."

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