The leaders of Scotland’s main political parties have called for the Scottish Greens to be included in STV’s televised election debates, as over 7,500 supporters sign an online petition.

The leaders of Scotland’s main political parties have called on broadcaster STV to invite the Scottish Green Party to take part in a televised debate ahead of the UK general election.

The two-hour programme, broadcast live on 7 April, is set to include first minister Nicola Sturgeon as well as the Scottish leaders of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

But Green supporters have been angered by the exclusion of the party’s co-convenor, Patrick Harvie. Over 7,500 people have signed an online petition demanding he be included in the debate - a call that other leaders have been quick to take up.



SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon tweeted:

Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) For the record, I agree that @patrickharvie should be included in Scottish #GE15 debates.

While Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said:

I am happy to debate with anyone about Labour’s policies to make Scotland a fairer country. The Greens have their point of view and it deserves to be heard. At the end of the day it is up to the broadcasters to decide who they invite and I’ll happily debate against whoever they decide to put against me.

There’s still time for STV to reconsider, which I hope they will do.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, also said they would be willing to include Harvie:



Ruth Davidson MSP (@RuthDavidsonMSP) Already signed up to 6-party debate for BBC & more than happy for Greens to be included in @STVNews one - can only split the left vote... 😉

Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) .@scotgp I'm relaxed about this. If STV and Ofcom are happy, so am I. #InviteTheGreens

A spokesperson for STV said the decision not to invite the Greens had been taken in line with advice from Ofcom, which found that the party had not achieved sufficient electoral success to merit automatic inclusion in televised debates.

But Harvie, whose party boasts two MSPs and more than 8,500 members, said growing support meant that they should be represented:

Our membership has surged hugely in the past year. We’re now a considerably bigger party than the Liberal Democrats, and I think it’s time that Ofcom caught up with events and with the new political reality in Scotland. In the past few years there’s been a growing understanding that the diversity of views needs to be represented. It’s a shame that we’re still having to make that case.

He added that the run-up to the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 had boosted political engagement in the country.

Harvie took part in a number of televised debates in the weeks before the vote. In a particularly spirited clash in front of an audience of 8,000 young people at Glasgow’s Hydro arena, he represented the Yes campaign alongside then deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Conservatives’ Ruth Davidson and the Respect MP George Galloway argued against independence.



If you look at the referendum debates, the tone was creative, constructive and challenging with different voices represented from across the political landscape. I think the independence referendum showed that you can have a wide range of views and present them in a balanced way, and that that’s absolutely manageable for a broadcaster. It’s disappointing that STV is still stuck at this point, but with the other party leaders showing their support I hope there’s a chance that they’ll reconsider.

He added that his party was considering legal action if the broadcaster maintained its stance.

The debate will be broadcast from the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh and moderated by STV’s political editor Bernard Ponsomby. The channel previously drew a peak audience of nearly 1m viewers with a debate on independence between Alex Salmond and Better Together campaign leader Alistair Darling.

