Scottish Party Against Classifying UKIP as 'Major Party' in 2015 Elections

EDINBURGH, January 8 (Sputnik) – The Scottish Green Party warned that proposals by British independent broadcasting regulator Ofcom to classify the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) as a major party will distort media coverage in the run-up to the 2015 UK General Elections, the party's co-convenor said in a statement Thursday.

Ofcom has proposed that the Eurosceptic UKIP be regarded as a "major party," making it eligible to take part in all televised election debates in the run-up to the vote.

"Ofcom's proposal, which would lead to further elevation of UKIP in UK-wide TV coverage while excluding the Greens, would undoubtedly skew the range of voices Scottish voters hear," Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Green Party's co-convenor said.

According to Harvie, his party was experiencing a "membership surge" and in polls was regularly beating the Liberal Democrats, who are also considered a major party by Ofcom.

"We will continue to make the case for [the Green Party's] inclusion in set piece TV debates and wider media coverage, both at UK level and here in Scotland," Harvie said.

However, Ofcom has said that the Green Party "has not demonstrated significant past electoral support in General Elections."

During the last UK general election held in 2010, UKIP and the Scottish Greens both secured just 0.7 per cent of the vote in Scotland, but in 2014, UKIP made a historic breakthrough by winning seats in the EU parliament and two UK parliamentary seats in by-elections in England.