Ed Balls MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, speaking after the discussion on TV debates on The Andrew Marr Show, said:

“It’s good that George Osborne shook hands on a head-to-head TV debate with me during the election campaign. But he’s already trying to wriggle out of that by insisting on bringing his deputy along.

“If George Osborne wants a debate with all the main parties, as well as a head-to-head debate, that’s fine by me. But we need a head-to-head debate because there’s a big choice between an extreme Tory plan which will put our NHS at risk and Labour’s better plan which will put working families first and save the NHS.

“And David Cameron must now stop running scared of his record and finally agree to a head-to-head TV debate with Ed Miliband.”