THE prospect of Nicola Sturgeon going head-to-head with Boris Johnson in a live televised EU debate has been raised.
A source close to the First Minister confirmed talks with ITV are continuing for the First Minister to appear in the channel’s two-hour referendum debate on Thursday June 9, starting at 8pm.
Asked about Ms Sturgeon being in next week’s line-up, the source said: “Discussions are ongoing but nothing is confirmed as yet.”
The format will be similar to those in last year’s General Election when, by common consent, the SNP leader performed well; so much so that at the time many English voters wanted to know how they could vote SNP. Presenter Julie Etchingham will moderate.
It has been suggested the line-up will be of six senior political figures, three arguing for Remain and three for Leave.
It is thought that Alan Johnson, who is leading Labour’s In campaign, as well as Michael Fallon, the Conservative Defence Secetary, could join Ms Sturgeon arguing for Britain to stay in the EU while Mr Johnson will be joined on the Brexit side by Tory colleague Andrea Leadsom, the UK energy minister, and Labour’s Gisela Stuart.
Last year, the FM made clear she had “no plans to share platforms with David Cameron or George Osborne or anybody else in the Conservative Party” during the EU referendum campaign. While this is not a categoric refusal, if she did take part in a TV debate alongside a senior Tory, some Nationalist eyebrows would be raised.
On Tuesday June 7 at 9pm, Ms Etchingham will moderate a live hourlong Q&A when an audience will fire questions separately at the Prime Minister David Cameron and then at Ukip’s Nigel Farage.
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