The Green Party of the UK is threatening legal action after the four major broadcasters announced plans to include the ultra-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) in next year’s televised debates, but not the Greens.  The reasoning of the broadcasters seems to defy the reality of Parliament.

Sky, the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 want UKIP’s Nigel Farage should join PM David Cameron (Conservative), Ed Milliband (Labour), and Nick Clegg (Lib-Dem, Coalition partner) for one debate.

The reason is that the UKIP has a seat in Parliament.  “A” seat.  As in “one”.  And it didn’t get that seat until last week, when Clacton-on-Sea MP Douglas Carswell bailed on the ruling party and ran for reelection for the seat he held since its creation in 2010 as a member of UKIP.

The Green Party is represented in Parliament by Caroline Lucas of Brighton Pavilion – since 2010.  Just a little bit longer.

But even the single seat argument doesn’t hold water, especially since there are other minor parties which have more than one seat and have held them for a much longer time:  Sinn Fein, Plaid Cymru, The Social Democrats and Labour (SDLP).  Even good ol’ George Galloway’s RESPECT Party ties the UKIP and Greens.

“We are deadly serious about taking legal action over this, and seeing how we can raise the necessary funds.  The public want a serious debate in which they hear the full range of views, including a party that stands up against Ukip on immigration,” said Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.

The broadcasters also propose holding one debate involving Clegg, Miliband, and Cameron; as well as a single head-to-head between Miliband and Cameron.  Cameron, the Lib-Dems, Galloway, and other parties rejected this plan, and the final debate schedule isn’t settled.