Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, commenting on the TV election debates as Ed Miliband responds to the broadcasters’ letter, said:

“We’ve had enough excuses from David Cameron.

“He should stop trying to derail the debates, immediately announce his negotiating team and sit down with the other parties and broadcasters.

“Labour is ready to negotiate in the coming days, but David Cameron is trying to wreck the debates because he’s too scared to face up to his record of failure, broken promises and only standing up for the privileged few.”

Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, in a letter to broadcasters sent this afternoon, said:

Thank you for your letter about the broadcasters’ proposals for televised election debates during the 2015 General Election campaign.

 Britain is desperate for change and these election debates are an opportunity for the British people to see that change debated live on TV.

I welcome your initiative in laying out proposals for the format of these leaders’ debates and accept your invitation to commence negotiations based on these proposals.

My negotiating team of Michael Dugher MP and Greg Beales will take forward these negotiations on behalf of the Labour Party.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP

Leader of the Labour Party