Theresa May defends her boycott of TV debates saying she faces Jeremy Corbyn every week at PMQs

THERESA MAY was today forced to defend her decision to boycott the leaders' debates, describing the event as "politicians squabbling among themselves".

The Prime Minister was spotted munching cheese on a trip to the British Cheese Awards in the West Country, before she was grilled by workers at a factory.

Mrs May faced questions about why she would not join Jeremy Corbyn in tonight's BBC debate with several other party leaders.

Speaking at the Cross factory in Bath, the PM said: "I'm interested in the fact that Jeremy Corbyn seems to be paying far more attention to how many appearances on telly he's doing.

"I think he ought to be paying a little bit more attention to Brexit negotiations - that's what I'm doing."

Asked if she was scared of confronting the Labour leader directly, Mrs May replied: "I've been taking Jeremy Corbyn on directly week in week out at Prime Minister's Questions.

"Public scrutiny is part of an election campaign, but that's why taking questions from members of the public who are actually going to be voting on June 8 is so important.

"Debates where the politicians are squabbling among themselves doesn't doing anything for the process of electioneering."

Mr Corbyn announced today that he would attend the debate in Cambridge, after previously suggesting that he would not turn up without the PM.

The Tories are sending Home Secretary Amber Rudd to debate against Mr Corbyn, Tim Farron, Paul Nuttall and other leaders.

Before her talk in a factory, Mrs May sampled the wares at the British Cheese Awards, part of the Royal Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

And she also talked to fishermen during an early-morning trip to Plymouth docks.

Asked if she will resign if the Tories lose seats next Thursday, the PM said: "There is only one poll that matters and that's the poll that takes place on June 8.

"When it comes to that poll people have a very clear choice and that choice is about who is going to be the Prime Minister.

"It's about who is going to lead the UK in those Brexit negotiations, who has the plan to do that, the determination to get the best deal, who has the strong and stable leadership to do that.

Mrs May added: "You can vote for any other party and risk Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister in just nine days' time and a Prime Minister with a chaotic hung Parliament.

"If I lose just six of those [seats] then the government loses its majority and we risk Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister."