STV is set to broadcast a televised debate between four Scottish party leaders, it has been announced.
The broadcaster said that SNP leader John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, and Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton will all feature in a 90-minute debate broadcast by the channel on Monday, June 3 from 9pm to 10:30pm.
STV's political editor Colin Mackay is set to oversee proceedings from the broadcaster's Pacific Quay headquarters in Glasgow, grilling each leader in turn before allowing them to cross examine one another.
It comes after John Swinney said it was "ridiculous" that the SNP were being excluded from ITV's head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, which will be broadcast the following day on June 4.
STV's head of news and current affairs, Linda Grimes Douglas, said: “Ahead of major votes like the forthcoming General Election, we know many viewers value having the opportunity to hear political leaders set out their plans for the country and debate the issues that matter most to the electorate.
“STV is pleased to be broadcasting the first leaders’ debate of the election campaign. An in-depth and robust head-to-head, it will likely set the agenda for the coming weeks in Scotland.”
