Downing Street rejects calls for Nicola Sturgeon to take part in TV Brexit debate

Downing Street has rejected calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be included in a planned TV debate ahead of next month's crucial Commons vote on the Brexit deal.

The First Minister said she was keen to take part in debate with Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, but a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said the SNP leader cannot take part because she is not an MP.

They also rejected calls from Boris Johnson for someone who campaigned for Leave to be included in the debate, insisting it should just be a head-to-head clash between the Prime Minister and Labour leader.

The spokesman said: "Between the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition, those two parties represent roughly nine in 10 MPs who currently sit in the House.

"The PM has arrived at a deal that she believes delivers on the vote of the referendum, protects jobs, protects security, also ensures higher environmental standards, protections for workers and a range of other things that the leader of the opposition has professed too be very interested in. She believes it is his responsibility to set out, if he is going to vote against it, why."

Asked about Sturgeon's offer, he said: "The meaningful vote on 11 December is a vote amongst MPs who sit in the House of Commons and the last time I looked Nicola Sturgeon is not included in that description."

May and Sturgeon are set to meet in Scotland this afternoon - so the rejection could make for an awkward bilateral summit.

Lib Dem leader Vince Cable has also demanded to be involved in any debate - pencilled in for Sunday 9 December - as have figures from the Green party and Plaid Cymru.

A spokesman for Corbyn said: "Jeremy would relish the chance to debate the Government's botched Brexit deal with the Prime Minister and the future of the country. We've had discussions with broadcasters about different options and we're ready to press ahead.

"The proposal from Downing Street was for a head-to-head and there are obvious advantages in that there would be simplicity and clarity about it. These are the only two party leaders who could potentially form a government and command the large majority of MPs in parliament, but we're not laying down red lines about the whole issue.

"If the broadcasters want to find ways of having other parties or other interests involved in the debate, that's more than fine."