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David Cameron looks set to avoid facing either Boris Johnson or Michael Gove in the EU referendum live television debates, despite the leave campaign threatening to complain to Ofcom or launch legal action.

The prime minister has so far agreed to two events – an interview with Sky and another ITV interview back-to-back with the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage.

But senior Brexit campaigners, including John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, have called on ITV to think again about its format, arguing No 10 should not be allowed to pick its opponents and Farage is not representative of the official out campaign.

Both Cameron and George Osborne are now almost certain to refuse to appear at the main BBC live rally and the prime minister is unlikely to agree to debate senior Conservatives at any of the seven planned broadcast events.

It is understood Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, is also declining to appear at the main BBC rally because he will not share a stage with Conservatives, leaving the Wembley event without either of the two main party leaders.

A source said Labour was pushing hard to ensure the debate was not too dominated by rightwingers because it “can’t just be left to the Tories to make the case to remain” but they would only look at a format for Corbyn that “recognised his position”.

They would want the Labour leader to have “equal billing” and “the same status” as the kind of interview formats offered to Cameron – so that he was not just one voice among many in a crowded debate field.

In campaign sources suggested they would want to use a variety of political voices from across the spectrum in the live television events, highlighting Corbyn, Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, and Caroline Lucas, the Green leader, as supporters of the remain cause.

The format of the debate has been the subject of painstaking negotiations between the parties, campaigns and broadcasters, as the live event could have a powerful influence on the electorate in the run-up to the 23 June vote.

WHO-David Cameron

     WHEN-23 June

     WHAT-The prime minister has so far agreed to two events – an interview with Sky and another ITV interview back-to-back with the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage.

     WHY-the leave campaign threatening to complain to Ofcom or launch legal action.

     WHERE-in Uk

     HOW-  senior Brexit campaigners, including John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, have called on ITV to think again about its format

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/12/robert-peston-vote-leave-mad-slur-eu-referendum-debate

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