Channel 4 Climate Debate: Boris Johnson ‘threatens to review Channel 4’s public service licence’ amid row over ice sculptures Climate debate snub comes amid Labour claims that PM is ducking questioning from Andrew Neil

Boris Johnson was at the centre of an extraordinary row with Channel 4 News over his refusal to take part in their leaders’ debate on climate change.

The Conservatives made a formal complaint to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom after the programme replaced the Prime Minister with a melting ice sculpture instead of accepting former Environment Secretary Michael Gove as a substitute.

In a strongly worded letter to Ofcom, Mr Johnson’s communications director Lee Cain called the refusal to accept Mr Gove and instead use the ice sculpture as a “provocative partisan stunt”.

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In a further escalation of hostilities between Channel 4 News and Mr Johnson, the Tories are also threatening to review the broadcaster’s public service licence in retaliation over the empty chair decision.

PM’s climate meltdown

The row overshadowed the Channel 4 debate, which featured Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price and Green Party chief Sian Berry discussing their parties’ plans to tackle climate change.

Ms Berry stood firm by her pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030 – 20 years sooner than the national target – arguing it was about doing “what science demands, not what’s politically convenient”.

Asked what he personally did to back up his climate pledges, Mr Corbyn encouraged voters to follow his lead in growing plants “in gardens and window-boxes” and said he avoided putting the heating on when possible.

Ms Sturgeon revealed she uses a renewable energy provider and is “much more conscious” about where her food is sourced. Ms Swinson said she uses a keep cup and recycles more, adding that her election campaign bus is electric, and Mr Price said he persuaded his partner to use reusable nappies for their young son.

Green pledges

Mr Johnson and Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party leader who also turned down a podium position, were replaced by ice sculptures featuring an image of the Earth above their party logos, which visibly melted under the studio lights during the 50-minute debate.

Just before the debate began, Mr Cain wrote a formal letter of complaint to Tim Suter, the chairman of the Ofcom Election Committee in which he said the refusal by Channel 4 News to “empty chair” the Conservatives instead of accepting Mr Gove “effectively seeks to deprive the Conservative Party of any representation and attendance”.

He called the ice sculpture a “stunt” which “would itself constitute making a political opinion in its own right”.

Mr Gove turned up at Channel 4 News’ studio to take part but Tory sources claim Channel 4 News said they would consult with other leaders about his inclusion and Mr Corbyn refused. Labour sources pointed out it was a leaders’ debate.

Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy said the invitation for Mr Johnson and Mr Farage debate the climate emergency “remains open”.

The Prime Minister has still not confirmed his participation in an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Neil but there are suggestions he could go on Andrew Marr’s programme on Sunday, which would be shorter and is expected to be less probing.

In a further snub to Channel 4, Mr Johnson gave an interview to ITV that was aired almost at the same time.

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Face-off between Johnson and C4 not getting better

There’s no need for ice sculptures to demonstrate that relations between the Conservative leadership and Channel 4 News are in deep freeze, writes Nigel Morris.

The party had always viewed the broadcaster with suspicion – not helped by reports that presenter Jon Snow joined in with chants of ‘F*** the Tories’ at the Glastonbury festival a while back.

During the Conservative leadership contest, Boris Johnson was “empty chaired” by Channel 4 after he refused to take part in its debate for candidates.

Things went from bad to worse in August when Channel 4’s head of news, Dorothy Byrne, described him as a “known liar”, likened his media methods to Vladimir Putin’s and called him a “coward” for not submitting to interviews.

Downing Street took its revenge days later when a Channel 4 team flew to the G20 summit in the French city of Biarritz expecting to interview the new Prime Minister. The interview never took place.

Tory sources said they are prepared for robust political debate, but believe the broadcaster has crossed the line over impartiality. As long ago as last week they were making clear that Mr Johnson had no intention of setting foot in the Channel 4 studio.