TV debates: Anger as major broadcasters back down from threat to 'empty chair' PM if he refuses to take part

New proposals involve just one seven-way televised leadership clash - with no direct head-to-head between Cameron and Miliband

David Cameron and Nick Clegg speak to Crossrail workers in London on Tuesday (PA)

Britain’s major broadcasters have “blinked” in their battle with Downing Street over televised election debates and backed off from their threat to “empty chair” David Cameron if he refuses to take part.

In a significant climb down, the broadcasters – led by the BBC – have proposed a new format for their election coverage which would include just one seven-way television debate. Under the new plan, Mr Cameron would not have to face Ed Miliband in a head-to-head debate and the second seven-way debate would be scrapped. In its place the broadcasters would air three other “debate-lite” programmes during the campaign.

Mr Cameron said he had accepted the new proposals which had been “formally” put to him by the broadcasters on Saturday. But The Independent understands that Labour was kept in the dark about the plan until the following day – and even then no formal proposal was put to them. Under the new proposals the first election event would be on held on 26 March when Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband would be interviewed by Jeremy Paxman and then questioned by a studio audience. Crucially, the two leaders would appear separately – never sharing the stage.

There would then be a “challengers” programme involving the SNP, Ukip, Plaid Cymru and the Greens. Finally, on 30 April, Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Nick Clegg would each have separate half hours in a Question Time-style event with David Dimbleby.

Jeremy Paxman will interview the two main party leaders in the first of the televised election events (BBC)

In the middle of this on 2 April, there would be a seven-way televised leaders’ debate.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats both responded enthusiastically to the new proposals. For the Tories the new plan avoids their principal private objection – appearing with Mr Miliband in a head-to-head debate where they fear the Labour leader would win the expectation-management battle. For the Lib Dems it ensures that Mr Clegg gets the chance to put his case directly to voters a week before polling day rather than being lumped in with the smaller parties.

Both parties said they would accept the broadcasters’ latest proposals.

Mr Cameron said: “This was an offer put together by the broadcasters, accepted by me on Saturday. The other parties have now got to stop running away from this and agree to the debate that the broadcasters have now suggested.”

Sky News presenter Adam Boulton criticised the debates deal. 'The BBC should be ashamed of itself,' he tweeted (Getty) (Getty Images)

A spokesman for Mr Clegg said: “The latest proposals from the broadcasters are welcomed by the Liberal Democrats and Nick Clegg will take part in the events that he’s been invited to.”

But Labour strategists are privately furious and demanded that the broadcasters stick to their original proposals.

In a statement, the party said: “Based on the broadcasters’ proposals we have accepted and plan to attend all three debates on April 2nd, 16th and the 30th. If the Tories have confirmed they are to attend one of these debates then that is progress.

“It is one down, two to go. But no one should be fooled: David Cameron is still running scared of a head-to-head televised debate with Ed Miliband.”

The Sky presenter Adam Boulton hit out at the apparent change of heart from the broadcasters, blaming the BBC: “If this is the TV debates deal it’s rubbish and the BBC should be ashamed of itself,” he wrote on Twitter.