STV to Kick off Election Coverage with Leaders' Debate

A debate involving the leaders of Scotland's main political parties – ahead of May's Scottish Parliament elections – is to be broadcast on Tuesday by STV.

Involving the SNP's Alex Salmond, Labour's Iain Gray, the Tories' Annabel Goldie and the LibDem's Tavish Scott, the debate kicks off what STV describes as an “extensive line-up of election programming”, including its “biggest-ever Holyrood election night” coverage.

A final leaders' debate will be broadcast on May 3, less than 36 hours before polling stations open. The first debate is to last 70 minutes, the final one 90.

A dedicated election site, stv.tv/election, goes live on Monday.

In a statement issued by STV, Gordon Macmillan, Head of News at STV, is quoted, saying: “The Holyrood election is the most exciting event in the Scottish political calendar and we’re delighted to bring such a comprehensive line-up of election programming to our viewers, headed up by the first-rate political team here at STV. Substantial coverage on-air, online and via the STV News iPhone app will ensure that STV viewers can stay fully up-to-date with all the election news, debate and analysis throughout the campaign, wherever and whenever they want.”