GETTY Farage was at war with the BBC over an alleged attempt to freeze him out of a Brexit debate

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Ukip sources say the broadcaster has decided not to include anyone from the anti-Brussels party in a live clash to be shown on BBC1 two days before the historic national vote on the country's European future. Corporation bosses have decided that a senior Tory, almost certainly Boris Johnson or Michael Gove, will line up with another politician, probably a Labour figure, to make the case for the UK quitting the EU on the show, Ukip insiders claim. A BBC spokeswoman tonight insisted that no final decision had been made, however. Ukip today launched a formal complaint about the party's alleged exclusion from the event.

Thousands of voters are expected to be in the audience for the televised clash at Wembley Arena on June 21. Producers are expecting the debate to have a "bear pit" atmosphere with the poll just two days later. Mr Farage said: "For the BBC's main EU referendum debate not to include UKIP would be a ludicrous decision. "As the only national pro-Brexit party and having won the European Elections and secured four million votes at the General Election, it would be outrageous for millions of UKIP voters to go unrepresented in the BBC's biggest referendum debate."

GETTY A BBC spokeswoman insisted that no final decision had been made

For the BBC's main EU referendum debate not to include UKIP would be a ludicrous decision Mr Faragen

Senior officials from Ukip recently met BBC executives.



Ukip insiders say they were told at the meeting that the party would not be represented and that a "final decision" had already been taken. Ukip chairman wrote to the two executives today to formally complain. His letter said: "It is widely accepted that without Ukip there would be no referendum at all.

The pros and cons of Brexit Fri, February 26, 2016 The pros and cons of Brexit. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 12 Pros and cons of Brexit

"As the only nationwide political party that advocates leaving the European Union, which won the national European election in 2014 and secured close to four million votes at the general election last year, and which has its own separate and substantial campaigning allowance from the Electoral Commission, we believe that UKIP has an unassailable claim to be included on the main panel in this important debate." The planned format will include teams of three speakers from each side of the referendum divide address the audience and take questions. It is expected that two speakers on each side will be polticians while the third will be from a non-political background such as a celebrity or senior business leader. Mr Crowther's letter added: "For the politicians not to include Nigel Farage, the political figure most associated with the campaign to leave the EU, leaves millions unrepresented in what is undoubtedly the BBC's biggest Referendum event." Ukip say the BBC have offered Mr Farage two other broadcast slots in the run up to the referendum instead, including an interview and an appearance in a "youth" debate to be staged in Glasgow and hosted by the BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire.

GETTY Ukip sources say the broadcaster has decided not to include anyone from the anti-Brussels party

GETTY Thousands of voters are expected to be in the audience for the televised clash at Wembley Arena