Four out of five would like to see Green Party leader in 2015 election's TV leadership debates

Data was gathered by pollster ICM and showed 79 per cent would support inclusion of Green Party leader

Natalie Bennett, the leader of the Green Party (REX/Simon Chapman/LNP)

Four out of five people believe the Green Party leader should be included in the 2015 election’s TV leadership debates.

The ICM poll, which asked 1001 people of different ages from across the country whether they thought the leader of the Green Party should be included, found 79 per cent supported inviting a representative from the environmental party.

The data comes just months after major broadcasters – including the BBC – confirmed they will not include the Green Party in the TV debates, despite inviting Ukip leader Nigel Farage.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: "It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives.”

“The public want a serious debate in which they hear the full range of views.”

Support for a Green member at the debates was highest among individuals aged 35-44 and among women, according to polling data.

Mrs Bennett, who claimed that the Green party has seen membership “more than double” over the last year, argued her party brings a “positive alternative” to the three main parties.

In October the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 all announced joint plans to hold three debates in the six weeks before polling day. The first would be head-to-head between Conservative leader David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband, the second would include Nick Clegg and the third Nigel Farage.

Around 200,000 people signed an online petition calling for the party to receive equal coverage.

The broadcasters’ stood by their decision claiming that the Greens have not seen the same rapid increase in support as Ukip.