article_snippet: It's not for the Conservatives to start telling people how the debates are going to happen, the debates belong to the British people. '
article_snippet: Speaking during a visit to Staffordshire, the Prime Minister insisted the Prime Minister had been 'completely consistent' on the debates, saying: 'I haven't put hurdles in the way, broadcasters' came up with a series of proposals that other people realised were flawed. '
article_snippet: I am unblocking the log jam and saying let's have this seven-cornered debate and get on with this seven-cornered debate before the campaign.
article_snippet: the Prime Minister rejected claims that staging the debates before party manifestos are published would limit the opportunity to scrutinise party manifestos plans, insisting: 'Everyone knows what the Conservative proposals are and the Labour proposals are, and the other parties can speak for the other parties.'
article_snippet: The British people deserve the debate.
article_snippet: Mr Cameron has now said Mr Cameron will do one debate, but Mr Cameron will do one debate before the proper campaign starts, so one debate's not going to be a proper debate.'
article_snippet: Mr Cameron told ITV's Loose Women: 'I suspect, had it been a four-headed debate, there are one or two conversations I wanted to have with the Prime Minister that I don't think Mr Cameron would have been able to answer.
article_snippet: Electoral Reform Society chief executive Katie Ghose said: 'This unseemly squabble over TV debates has to end now. '
article_snippet: I have to say to the Prime Minister that if the Prime Minister really thinks that these exchanges once a week are a substitute for a proper television debate, then the Prime Minister is even more out of touch than I thought …
article_snippet: What I have done is to unblock the logjam the broadcasters helped to create and said let’s get on and have the debate that I think matters the most, which is the one that gives everybody a say, and let’s get on with a say before the campaign.
article_snippet: So hopefully, by putting forward this proposal for a debate, we will actually see one take place.' - David Cameron, 2015 . '
article_snippet: Compared to other advanced democracies around the world, Britain has been extremely late to the party when Britain comes to TV debates.
article_snippet: No TV debates in 2015 would be a backward step in terms of our democratic development.'
article_snippet: However we have accepted the broadcasters' proposals, and believe we should stick with that, rather than allow a Tory Prime Minister to dictate the terms of debate.'
highlights_snippet: The debate would also have to take place before the start of the campaign .
  