07 June 2024 , 08:32
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The multi-party General Election debate will air tonight on BBC with representatives from seven parties taking part.
Millions of voters are set to watch leaders or senior representatives from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform UK, Green Party and Plaid Cymru take part. The 90-minute debate will be led by Julie Etchingham, who moderated the previous clash between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak.
The line-up will feature party leaders from all major parties, with the exception of Labour, the Scottish National Party and the Conservatives. Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, will represent the Tories and Deputy Leader Angela Rayner will champion Labour's cause.
The full line-up
- Conservatives: Penny Mordaunt
- Green Party: Carla Denyer
- Labour: Angela Rayner
- Liberal Democrats: Daisy Cooper
- Plaid Cymru: Rhun ap Iorwerth
- Refrom UK: Nigel Farage
- Scottish National Party: Stephen Flynn
The debate will be moderated by Mishal Husain and will last 90 minutes. At the end of the debate, each participant will be asked to give a 30-second-long statement.
Key issues for voters
The Conservatives will be hoping to overcome their dismal polling during the upcoming debates as Labour continue to storm ahead according to multiple surveys.
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Other party representatives will want to set out their policies and plans for the UK and will clash over a range of subjects that are of concern to voters.
According to YouGov, the economy, health and immigration are the top three issues for voters this General Election. Other major issues include housing, crime and the environment.
What time is the BBC debate tonight?
The debate will be broadcast from 7.30pm to 9pm tonight and will feature a studio audience who will have the chance to pose questions to the participants.
It is the first multi-party debate of the campaign and the first of a number of BBC programmes covering the election.
BBC TV interview dates
The BBC has now confirmed that Nick Robinson has invited the leaders of the seven biggest parties to take part in a series of Panorama specials.
The confirmed interviews are:
- Monday June 10 at 8pm – Rishi Sunak, Conservative Party
- Tuesday June 11 at 10.40pm – Nigel Farage, Reform UK
- Wednesday June 12 at 7pm (BBC One and BBC One Scotland) – John Swinney, SNP
- Wednesday June 12 at 7pm (BBC One Wales) – Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru
- Tuesday June 18 at 10.40pm - Adrian Ramsay, Green Party
- Friday June 28 at 8.30pm – Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats
Sir Keir Starmer has been invited but is yet to confirm attendence.
Full debate schedule
Sky News announced it will host the leaders' special programme on Wednesday June 12. Both leaders will be interviewed before facing questions from an audience in Grimsby.
ITV will broadcast its Election Debate 2024 on Thursday, June 13, at 8.30pm where leaders or senior representatives from the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform UK, Green Party and Plaid Cymru will take part. The debate will be moderated by Julie Etchingham, who hosted the clash between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak.
The BBC will also host a Question Time Leaders' Special with Fiona Bruce presenting the show involving the four biggest political parties from 8pm to 10pm on June 20.
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The final scheduled debate will take place on Wednesday, June 26, hosted by the BBC's Sophie Raworth with Sunak and Starmer going head-to-head once again from 9pm until 10pm.