Poll: Should all political parties be able to take part in the election TV debates?

Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown and David Cameron slogged it out on live television in front of the nation debating a variety of issues.

But these debates might now be under threat.

All the "minor parties" should be involved in TV debates ahead of the general election or they should not go ahead, Chancellor George Osborne said as he defended David Cameron's stance that the Green Party must be represented.

The Prime Minister has been accused of being "chicken" after he said he ruled out taking part if Green leader Natalie Bennett was left out of the debates.

Ed Miliband and Ukip leader Nigel Farage were quick to accuse Mr Cameron of "running scared" and claimed he was finding excuses to avoid taking part.

Under plans agreed by the major broadcasters in October, the Prime Minister would take on not only the Labour leader and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg, but Mr Farage as well.

Mr Cameron immediately raised questions over whether Mr Farage should take part if the Green Party was excluded.

The Green Party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have criticised the proposed "unacceptable" line-up for the debates.

Mr Osborne said: "If you are going to have the minor parties, you have got to have all the minor parties with a presence in Parliament who attract votes at elections.

"The Green Party did better than the Liberal Democrats at the last national election, for the European Parliament, and they have got one Member of Parliament.

"So we are just making a point that, if you are going to have all these parties, you have got to have them all.

" I think that would make a fairer debate and I think around 300,000 people have signed a debate saying that the Green Party should be involved, so it's not as if this is something that is just coming from the politicians. There is a group of the public who also want to see a big, fair debate."