Brexit TV debate: BBC reveals date for live Theresa May-Jeremy Corbyn showdown over EU deal

A row has broken out over which channel should host a live TV Brexit debate after the BBC secured Theresa May’s backing while Jeremy Corbyn said he favoured ITV.

The publicly-funded corporation claimed to have won a battle of the broadcasters for a televised debate scheduled to take place on Sunday 9 December – two days before MPs are due to take part in a Commons “meaningful vote” on Ms May’s deal.

A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster was “delighted” the prime minister had accepted the offer and hoped to hear confirmation from the Labour leader soon.

Mr Corbyn has previously said he would ”relish” the chance to take part in a live debate on Ms May’s Brexit deal, which has faced significant opposition from MPs on both sides of the house.

However a Labour spokesperson said negotiations were still ongoing and Mr Corbyn indicated he would prefer the debate be hosted by rival broadcaster ITV.

“The ITV offer seemed a sensible one,” the Labour leader told the channel’s This Morning programme. “We want to get the widest possible and most diverse audience.”

In a tweet the BBC News press feed said: “We’ve just heard the prime minister has accepted the BBC’s offer to take part in a debate on the Brexit deal on Sunday 9 December.

“We’re delighted she’s agreed and hope to hear soon from the Labour Party.

“We have been discussing debate formats with both parties and will announce further details soon.”

Asked for more details on the timing and format of the debate, the BBC declined to comment to The Independent.

Reports suggested it could take place at 8pm to avoid clashing with the final of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, which is scheduled for an hour later. That would involve the BBC rescheduling Sir David Attenborough's documentary, Dynasties.

A head-to-head clash involving just the prime minister and the leader of the opposition is likely to prove controversial among the smaller parties in Westminster, which had argued they too should be involved.

Commenting on the BBC announcement, Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, said it would be “an absolute travesty of democracy” if proponents of all the options – including remaining in the EU – were not given a voice.

Peter Murrell, SNP chief executive, tweeted:

Ms May was in Scotland on Wednesday as part of her tour of the country in a bid to sell the package directly to voters.

She stressed that as the planned TV debate was “about a vote that’s going to take place in the House of Commons”, the SNP leader had no part to play in it.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, said he was “raring and willing” to take part.

“Neither of them [Ms May and Ms Corbyn] believe that the public should be able to have the final say on the deal, including the option of remaining the EU,” he said. “The Liberal Democrats have argued for the People’s Vote from the outset and that view must be aired within that debate.”

The apparent success of the BBC in securing the debate will come as a blow to other broadcasters including Sky, which is campaigning for TV debates to become a regular fixture of UK elections.