TV debates: Plaid Cymru tell Starmer and Sunak - ‘Come to Wales to debate Rhun ap Iorwerth’

'This election is not a two-horse race', says Liz Saville Roberts

Plaid Cymru campaign political lead, Liz Saville Roberts, has written to Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak telling them to come to Wales to debate Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The Labour and the Tory leaders are set to refuse to debate smaller parties during the upcoming election period. Ms Saville Roberts said voters deserve “a full picture” of the democratic choices facing them. She said any debate that excluded her party would “mislead viewers in Wales about the choice faced by them in this election.”

She urged Starmer and Sunak to “defend and debate” their two parties’ record in Wales, from the “chronic mismanagement” of the NHS by Labour, to the “severe underfunding of our public realm” by the Conservatives.

Liz Saville Roberts writes:

“I’m writing to you as leaders of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, to urge you to be open to debating Plaid Cymru’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth in this election.

“As democrats, we should all seek to give a full picture of the choices facing voters in this election. I urge you to make clear you will be happy to participate in a debate which ensures that all main parties in Wales are given fair treatment in this election. Any TV debate that excludes my party will mislead viewers in Wales about the choice faced by them in this election; this election is not a two-horse race.

“Given the weak media landscape in Wales, this election is framed through an English lens. Broadcasters have a duty to give an accurate reflection of the choices at the ballot box in all countries across Britain. But as your parties call the shots when it comes to broadcasters’ decisions for debates in this election, you must show leadership.

“I therefore invite both of you to make clear that you would be happy to debate Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth in a Wales-specific TV debate. Come and defend and debate your own parties’ record here in Wales: from the chronic mismanagement of our NHS to the severe underfunding of our public realm.

“Plaid Cymru is committed to delivering the fair funding which your parties have continually failed to make the case for, ensuring parity of powers with Scotland through a Welsh welfare system, and restoring pay for hardworking NHS workers; we would relish the opportunity to set out our stall at this election.

“A multi-party leaders’ debate is the only way to reflect the democratic choice facing people in this election. I implore you to accept our offer, so that voters in Wales can have a true sense of the choice facing them in this election.”