Climate debate: Boris Johnson to be replaced with melting ice sculpture after dodging TV clash

Prime minister refused to attend Channel 4 discussion

Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage will be represented in Thursday’s televised debate on climate change by melting ice sculptures, after both leaders decided not to show up.

Channel 4, which is organising the debate, said the sculptures would represent “the emergency on planet earth”.

The prime minister refused to show up to the discussion, which is being attended by the other party leaders. It comes as he also continues to duck an interview with BBC broadcaster Andrew Neil, who was let loose on Jeremy Corbyn earlier this week.

The Conservatives say they had offered to send Mr Johnson’s underling Michael Gove to stand in for the PM in the debate, but that the request was refused.

“Michael Gove is not the party leader,” a spokesperson for Channel 4 said. “The invitation remains open.”

Ben de Pear, editor of Channel 4 News, said: “These two ice sculptures represent the emergency on planet earth, not in any human form but are a visual metaphor for the Conservative and Brexit parties after their leaders declined our repeated invitations to attend tonight’s vital climate debate.”

The Climate Debate will be hosted by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who will quiz the leaders on their policies to fight climate change. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, Green leader Sian Berry, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, and Plaid Cymru Adam Price will attend.

The debate is thought to be the world’s first focusing solely on the environment and climate crisis and comes after a year in which the issue has shot up the political agenda with protests, social movements, and a percieved uptick in extreme weather events.

Asked about his dodging of scrutiny on Thursday Mr Johnson insisted that “many, many interviews over the course of the next few days and I’m sure that people are having all sorts of conversations right now about who I’m going to be talking to, when and where, and I look forward to it very much”.

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for Channel 4 added: “The clock is ticking. The ice caps are melting. Our invitation to the prime minister remains open until 7pm tonight.”