A LIBERAL Democrat Cabinet minister has rejected a call for the SNP to replace his party in the 2015 televised leaders' debates.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael had been asked if higher polls ratings should see the SNP receive a place instead of the LibDems.
During Scottish Questions in the House of Commons, he replied: "No".
The SNP is pressing broadcasters to allow First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to take part - but says it does not want to see the LibDems excluded.
The SNP argues that its membership numbers, which have soared since the independence referendum, puts it ahead of the LibDems as the third largest party across the UK.
Last night Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, said: "The SNP are far and away the third biggest party in the UK, with more than twice as many members as the LibDems, and polls showing support for the SNP surging."
But, he added: "We are not calling on the LibDems to be removed, and equally there is absolutely no justification for attempting to exclude the SNP from the leader debates at the next election. "
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