By Matthew Champion.
Gordon Brown is the only leader of the main three parties not to commit to a live televised debate before the next general election.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg accepted an invitation from Sky News on Wednesday to take part in such a debate, which would make UK political history.
Live debates are commonplace in the run-up to major elections in the US but have never been held in Britain between the leaders of the main political parties.
Lord Mandelson brought the issue back into the public eye earlier this summer when he said the prime minister would not have a problem with going head-to-head with his main rivals.
Today Sky News took the initiative to directly appeal to the leaders of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
'There is a chance here, not just to do something that has never been done, but to energise an electorate, to reconnect with the millions of people who have been alienated by politics and the way it is so often covered, to achieve something that is truly democratic,' head of Sky News John Ryley wrote.
Tory leader Mr Cameron was the first to take up the call, saying: 'At the next general election, people are going to face a huge choice about the future of our country.
'They want politicians to be clear about where they stand. A full-length television debate has a big part to play in providing this and I look forward to working with you to make it happen.'
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg followed, saying he would 'relish the opportunity' to take part in a live-televised debate.
'People are really in a state of despair after the expenses scandal,' he said. 'It's important to do something different.'
Sky News said that if Mr Brown did not accept the invitation to take part the debate would go ahead with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, with the prime minister replaced with an 'empty chair'.
But that prospect appears next-to-non-existent. Speaking in July, Lord Mandelson said: 'I don't think Gordon would have a problem with [a live debate].
'While Cameron is good with words, he doesn't have the ideas or policies to back them. I think people would see through the smile.
'The more the public sees of them, the more they'd realise that Gordon is the man with the substance.'
Gordon Brown is the only leader of the main three parties not to commit to a live televised debate before the next general election.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg accepted an invitation from Sky News on Wednesday to take part in such a debate, which would make UK political history.
Live debates are commonplace in the run-up to major elections in the US but have never been held in Britain between the leaders of the main political parties.
Lord Mandelson brought the issue back into the public eye earlier this summer when he said the prime minister would not have a problem with going head-to-head with his main rivals.
Today Sky News took the initiative to directly appeal to the leaders of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
'There is a chance here, not just to do something that has never been done, but to energise an electorate, to reconnect with the millions of people who have been alienated by politics and the way it is so often covered, to achieve something that is truly democratic,' head of Sky News John Ryley wrote.
Tory leader Mr Cameron was the first to take up the call, saying: 'At the next general election, people are going to face a huge choice about the future of our country.
'They want politicians to be clear about where they stand. A full-length television debate has a big part to play in providing this and I look forward to working with you to make it happen.'
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg followed, saying he would 'relish the opportunity' to take part in a live-televised debate.
'People are really in a state of despair after the expenses scandal,' he said. 'It's important to do something different.'
Sky News said that if Mr Brown did not accept the invitation to take part the debate would go ahead with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, with the prime minister replaced with an 'empty chair'.
But that prospect appears next-to-non-existent. Speaking in July, Lord Mandelson said: 'I don't think Gordon would have a problem with [a live debate].
'While Cameron is good with words, he doesn't have the ideas or policies to back them. I think people would see through the smile.
'The more the public sees of them, the more they'd realise that Gordon is the man with the substance.'
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