Channel 4 To Air Youth Leaders' Debate

Channel 4 has announced it is to stream Britain's first Youth Leaders' Debate.

With only days to go before the nation votes in the General Election, Channel 4 is to stream the first Youth Leaders' Debate in association with Shout Out UK. In an online exclusive, seven youth party leaders will go up against each other as they tackle a number of key issues for young voters.

The debate will be chaired by Channel 4 News reporter Fatima Manji, with representatives from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, SNP, UKIP, Greens and Plaid Cymru taking part. The leaders will take questions from a studio audience, made up of a diverse group of young voters, some of whom will be voting for the first time.

Tom Porter, Channel 4's News & Current Affairs Commissioning Editor, said: "We are very excited to be hosting this ground-breaking debate on All 4. Young people often feel that their interests are ignored by political parties. We hope that by bringing the youth leaders together we can engage as many young people as possible on the issues that matter to them in this election and encourage them to vote."

The Youth Leaders' Debate, will be produced by ITN Productions and Shout Out UK, and will stream on a new digital service – All 4 – on Monday 28 April from 8pm.

Shout Out UK is an independent news network that aims to show young people that politics has a direct impact on their lives.

Matteo Bergamini, founder of Shout Out UK, adds: "I am 22 and for my generation this is a huge event as for the first time in Britain, we are actively able to debate in our own event. We have the power to speak our mind and engage in anyway we want, it is our right as well as our duty to make the most out of it and demand a better future."

Viewers are encouraged to get involved in the debate using the hashtag #YouthLeaders.

More details can be found at www.channel4.com/youthleaders

(JP/MH)