PARTIES from Northern Ireland should be included in the TV debates, David Cameron has insisted in his latest contribution to the row over the election head to heads.

The Prime Minister declared he "wanted to take part" in the debates, that they should go ahead and that "good progress" had been made.

He told a campaign meeting of local Tories in Eastleigh in Hampshire: "I was told it was appalling and outrageous that I had suggested that you couldn't have one minor party without having the other minor party. I'm delighted the broadcasters have gone away and thought again; they've actually come up with more minor parties than I had in mind. I'm sure they've thought it all through and they know what they're doing."

But Mr Cameron then noted: "Although I don't seem to know why Northern Ireland is missing out; because as far as I'm concerned that is as much an important part of our United Kingdom as Wales or Scotland."

The current offer on the table from the broadcasters is a 7-7-2 format, whereby two of the debates involve not only the three main UK parties - the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats - but also Ukip, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens. Involving the Northern Irish parties could increase the numbers, theoretically, to 11. George Galloway, the Respect leader, has already suggested he could take legal action if his party is excluded.

The broadcasters have warned that any leader who does not agree to the final format will be "empty-chaired" and the debates will go ahead without them.

Grant Shapps, the Conservative Chairman, has indicated Mr Cameron is likely to accept a new format for TV leaders' debates while senior Tories have suggested the stumbling block could be the timing of them.

Mr Shapps said the various parties involved were "edging towards a solution".