Leader’s debates: Excluding the Green Party fails both the electorate and democracy, says Green Party Leader

Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party, with Abi Jackson, Green Party candidate for Heywood & Middleton by-election

Broadcasters’ joint plans to broadcast a series of multi-platform party leader debates in the run-up to the 2015 General Election without Green Party representation, fails the electorate and democracy, says the Green Party.

The Green Party, which petitioned directly for inclusion in the debates, is considering a legal challenge to this morning’s proposals.

Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said: "With these proposals the broadcasters are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the public mood, and how ridiculously they cling to the idea that the future of politics looks like the past.

"It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives.

"That is also demonstrated by the soaring membership of the Green parties of England and Wales and Scotland, now exceeding 27,000.

"Those members, the fast-growing numbers of likely Green voters (matching Lib Dems numbers), and the majority who back Green policies like bringing the railways back into public hands and the living wage for all workers would be seriously short-changed by debates from which we were excluded."

Prime Minster David Cameron has indicated that if Ukip are involved in any potential debate then the Greens should be too.

Green Party of England and Wales membership passed 21,000 this week and is up 52% in 2014 alone.

The Greens are polling at 7% and above ahead of the 2015 General Election. The polling puts the Party neck and neck with the Liberal Democrats, who the Greens out-performed in the May 22 European Elections, both in terms of total vote received and MEPs returned.

The Green Party welcomes members and non-members' concerted efforts via online petitions, social media and direct appeals to the broadcasters to modify the proposals.

Greens are standing in at least 75% of constituencies at the 2015 General Election – 50% more than 2014.