Jeremy Corbyn ambushes Theresa May with surprise TV debate appearance
Corbyn manifesto - Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Jeremy Corbyn has piled pressure on Theresa May by announcing he will take part in this evening’s televised leaders’ debate.
The Labour leader ambushed the Prime Minister this lunchtime after confirming he will represent Labour at the 90-minute, seven-way debate to be broadcast on the BBC tonight.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd, rather than the Prime Minister, will take part for the Conservatives.
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The Labour leader had previously said he would not take part in a debate that didn't also feature May.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Reading, Corbyn said: “It’s very odd that you have an election campaign where we go out and talk to people all the time and the Prime Minister seems to have difficulty in meeting anyone or having a debate.
“There is a debate in Cambridge tonight, I don’t know what she’s doing this evening but it’s not far from London, I invite her to go to Cambridge and debate her policies, debate her record, debate their plans, debate their proposals and let the public make up their minds.
“Is it to be this [for the many, not the few], or is it to be the opposite: more cuts, more closures, more division, more stress, more pressure. It’s time to get out there and get that message. It’s time to get people fully behind our message. It’s time to vote Labour on June 8th.”
He added: “I hope you will forgive me, I have to go now because I am going to go to Cambridge to get ready for the debate tonight because there is no hiding place. We’ll put our views out there and let the people decide. For the many, not the few.”
Corbyn had earlier made a direct appeal to Mrs May to change her mind and "come and have a chat" with him face-to-face.
In a later statement, he added: "I have never been afraid of a debate in my life. Labour’s campaign has been about taking our polices to people across the country and listening to the concerns of voters.
"The Tories have been conducting a stage-managed arms-length campaign and have treated the public with contempt. Refusing to join me in Cambridge tonight would be another sign of Theresa May’s weakness, not strength."
Theresa May has declined the challenge, telling the BBC "I'm interested, you know, in the fact Jeremy Corbyn seems to be paying far more attention to how many appearances on telly he's doing. I think he ought to be paying a little more attention thinking about Brexit negotiations. That's what I'm doing, to make sure we get the best possible deal for Britian."
The others taking part in the debate are Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas, Ukip boss Paul Nuttall and Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader at Westminster.
The event, which will be moderated by journalist Mishal Husain, will begin at 7.30pm.
So far Corbyn and May have both faced a half-hour grilling from Andrew Neil and this week appeared in a Sky News and Channel 4 election show, where they were separately taken to task by a studio audience and veteran journalist, Jeremy Paxman.
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