It was inevitable that Alex Salmond would give us a hue and cry about the televised leaders’ debates and the absence of the SNP’s invitation.

I think I agree with the common sentiment that the SNP or Plaid Cymru don’t have a place in the debates, Alex Salmond isn’t even standing for Westminster in the next General Election.  Although the fuss was inevitable it does raise a slight issue with the debates.  What are the criteria for inclusion?

I haven’t read anything that outlines how this was agreed between the parties and the broadcasters.  Have they set an arbitrary share of the national vote criteria?  If they have set one – what is it?  Is it a condition that a party needs to be standing in all parts of the United Kingdom?  Was consideration given to a debate between other ministers and shadow ministers to better reflect the parliamentary nature of our democracy?

There are still a lot of issues that need to be ironed out but I dont think this from the SNP:

“The SNP are seeking to have a substantial influence at Westminster by electing a block of 20 or more MPs, with obvious UK-wide political implications – not least given the perfectly possible outcome of a hung parliament and tight arithmetic.”

has sufficient merit.