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The Greens are "not a major political party", according to TV regulator Ofcom.

The parties that DID make the cut? The Tories, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP.

The Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Democratic Ulster Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party and Sinn Fein also make the list – classed as national parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

What does being a major party mean? More TV time and that’s an important thing.

But Ofcom left out the Greens - here's six reasons that was wrong

1) The Greens have more members than UKIP

The Greens have more members than UKIP and recently overtook the Lib Dems too, and are the THIRD biggest party by membership numbers in England. They're fourth-biggest in Britain, once you bring the SNP into it. The Lib Dems have 44,680 members according to the latest data, and the Greens have 56,667.

2) The Greens beat the Lib Dems in the European Elections

The last national elections were for the European Parliament and the Green Party picked up a respectable 8% of the vote in England. The Lib Dems only managed 7%. That made the Greens Britain’s fourth-biggest party. Again. Labour and the Tories both managed 25%.

3) The next government is 97% likely to be a coalition

While Labour and the Conservatives are MUCH bigger, the difference between major and minor parties is being swiftly eroded. A Populus poll for the FT suggests that there's only a 2.4% chance that either the Tories or Labour will get an outright majority.

The breakup of power gives the smaller parties a much bigger say in future parliaments. And that means...

4) The Greens have a 20.5% chance of being in the next government!

According to the same poll, there's a one-in-five chance that the Greens will end up in a coalition government. If Labour beats the Tories but can't control the Commons, it'll have to build a patchwork of left-wing alliances to make up the seats. The Green Party will very likely be top of the list.

5) The Greens got a seat in the last election - that's ONE MORE than UKIP

The Greens did pick up a seat in the 2010 election. UKIP actually polled better than the Greens here - 3.5% of the vote - but, crucially, didn't win seats.

6) The Greens are currently polling at 6% of the vote

The Greens have increased their vote share sixfold since 2010 when the party only mustered 1%. That's, again, just 2 points below the Lib Dems who are currently on 8%.

Ofcom says it based its decision on recent performance in elections and opinion poll data.

The Greens say:

"The decision by Ofcom not to consider the Green Party a ‘major’ party is deeply disappointing. The regulatory body has failed to recognise that the future of British politics does not have to look like the politics of the past."

What do you think?

poll loading Should the Greens count as a major party? 500+ VOTES SO FAR YES NO

[Source: Ofcom]