'Absolute disgrace' if election leaders' debate not held, says Sky News political editor

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Sky News is 'absolutely confident' that a televised leaders' debate will happen in the UK, the broadcaster's political editor Adam Boulton said last night.

"It would be an absolute disgrace to squander this chance to reengage the public," Boulton said at the annual Tom Olsen lecture, at St Brides Church, Fleet Street in London on Wednesday (4 November).

If it went ahead it would be the first televised leaders' election debate in the UK: "We have not only lagged behind the US for 50 years, but also Iran," said Boulton, in his speech questioning the implications of 24/7 news. Footage of party leaders on the campaign trail, despite being the most 'beautifully crafted package' was 'bogus', Boulton claimed, adding that 'the general public is not involved at all.'

"At the moment we are putting all our effort into trying to get a debate with the leaders (...) We are absolutely confident these debates will happen," he said. Last month ITV, BBC and Sky News came together to submit a joint appeal to the party heads, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

With Sky News leading the call, the BBC and ITV are now rallying together  to push for solid confirmation that the live debates will happen in the run up in the general election, which has to be held before 3 June 2010.

"ITV first accused Sky of a PR stunt. But we are now pleased to say we have agreed to come together," added Boulton.

Even though Gordon Brown infamously stormed out of a televised interview with Boulton at the Labour party's annual conference in Brighton in September, the prime minister has made positive noises to the debate proposal. "Gordon Brown agreed, despite the grumpy interview, four weeks later," claimed Boulton.

Chris Kay ( @christopherkay ) is a postgraduate newspaper journalism student at City University.