(03 Nov 2014, 8:23 pm)aureolin wrote I think there should be two factors. First being that you are already represented in parliament, and the second being opinion polls. That would make a 5 way debate of Labour, Tories, UKIP, Greens and Lib Dems, now that the Greens are ahead of the Lib Dems!
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014...der-debate
Regional debates should always have regional parties represented, i.e. Plaid Cymru in Wales, and SNP in Scotland.
Although I appreciate it's probably infeasible, I think any party (or individual) willing to cough up the £500 deposit needed to stand for election should be entitled to argue their case in front of a televised public forum.
This is a fundamental tenet of democratised politics. Having to meet criteria based upon the number of MP's and opinion polls is deeply undemocratic in my opinion. How is an unfunded, upstart, grassroots (fringe) party ever going to their message across to a wider audience if they are deemed unworthy of participation by those already embedded within the established order?
This is why politics needs to change in this country!