FROZEN OUT
Boris Johnson is replaced with an ice sculpture and Michael Gove storms the studio during eventful Channel 4 debate
A FURIOUS Michael Gove tried to storm Channel 4's studios last night to take part in a climate change debate - but the broadcaster didn't let him.
The Conservatives last night launched a complaint to Ofcom after Channel 4 replaced Boris Johnson with a melting ice sculpture in a TV debate on climate change.
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Senior Tories were angry after the broadcaster turned away Michael Gove and refused to let him take the PM's place for its Emergency On Planet Earth debate.
In a video Mr Gove said he wanted to take part in last night's debate but was turned down as he wasn't the leader.
"Every other party had said no they do not want a Conservative on the platform. They wouldn't accept a Conservative voice," he claimed.
Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear also mocked Mr Gove and the MP's dad Stanley Johnson as "wing men" after refusing to them them take part.
Mr Johnson and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who was also absent, were represented in the studio by melting models of the globe.
The Tories called it a "provocative, partisan stunt" and immediately filed a formal complaint to the broadcasting watchdog, claiming Channel 4 breached impartiality rules.
Tory PR boss Lee Cain wrote: "This is part of a wider pattern of bias by Channel 4 in recent months."
And in a major escalation of the row, a Tory source warned the next government might review Channel 4's public broadcasting licence.
FROZEN OUT
Labour's Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, the SNP Nicola Sturgeon, Plaid Cymru's Adam Price and Green co-leader Sian Berry took part in the hour-long debate.
Mr Gove was filmed arriving at the Channel 4 studio ready to argue his party's case on the environment - but was turned away.
The broadcaster insisted it was only for leaders, and revealed Mr Corbyn and others threatened to walk out if Mr Gove was allowed to take part.
A Tory source told The Sun: "Channel 4 conspired with Corbyn to block the Tories from being represented on the platform."
And Mr Gove tweeted: "Confirmation the other parties no platformed the Conservatives - a denial of debate."
'DEEP RESERVATIONS'
The PM and Mr Farage were replaced with ice sculptures as “a reminder that the ice caps were melting” according to host Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
It had been expected the channel would seek to "empty chair" Mr Johnson after he said he would not take part amid a bias row with Channel 4.
The Tories had said they had “deep reservations” about signing up because of the furore caused by Channel 4 boss Dorothy Byrne in the summer.
She branded Mr Johnson a “known liar” and compared him to Vladimir Putin in a blatant anti-Tory tirade.
And in 2017, veteran C4 news anchor Jon Snow was embroiled in bias allegations after he chanted 'f*** the Tories' at the Glastonbury festival.
Stanley Johnson, the PM's dad who attended last month's Extinction Rebellion protests, was invited to the studio by Channel 4 and tried to give persuade bosses to let Mr Gove go on.
After de Pear's "wing men" jibe, he later rowed back, admitting "sorry, we invited Stanley and he then offered to take his son’s place".
But Mr Corbyn and Ms Sturgeon had "refused to debate someone who was not a leader".
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“Broadcasting organisations are rightly held to a higher standard — and particularly Channel 4 which has a special role enshrined in legislation.
"Any review would of course look at whether its remit should be better focused so it is serving the public in the best way possible.”
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Channel 4 replaces Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage with ice sculptures after they refuse to take part in climate debate
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