article_snippet.sent: Mr Cameron and Nick Clegg are not taking part because David Cameron and Nick Clegg have been in power for the last five years.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Clegg, who was campaigning in the north-west, said Mr Clegg, who was campaigning in the north-west asked to take part in the BBC debate, but was 'denied the opportunity' by broadcasters.
article_snippet.sent: The Liberal Democrat leader told LBC radio: 'Mr Cameron, I know, didn't want to participate in it, but I don't see why I should have been denied the opportunity to put the side of the story of what the coalition government has done, even if The Liberal Democrat leader didn't want to. '
article_snippet.sent: I find it very odd that the debate tonight doesn't have anybody from one of the parties that have actually been trying to govern our country.'
highlights_snippet.sent: Comes ahead of tonight's live TV debate between the main 'challengers'
  Mr Cameron and the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will not take part .