THE Conservatives have launched a complaint to Ofcom after Channel 4 replaced Boris Johnson with a melting ice sculpture in tonight's debate on climate change.
The broadcaster confirmed that the PM would be replaced with the monument as he is not taking part in the party leaders' discussion from 7pm.
Channel 4 had also refused to allow Michael Gove to replace the PM.
In an escalation of the row, Downing Street immediately filed a formal complaint to the regulator and are said to be threatening to review the state-owned broadcaster's licence.
In a letter to Ofcom, Number 10's director of communications Lee Cain branded Channel 4's move "a provocative, partisan stunt".
He wrote: "It has even been reported that Channel 4 has commissioned an ice sculpture of the Prime Minister to represent the Conservative Party.
"Were this the case, this would represent a significant breach of the Code through such a provocative partisan stunt, which would itself constitute making a political opinion in its own right."
FROZEN OUT
He added: "This is part of a wider pattern of bias by Channel 4 in recent months.
“It follows Dorothy Byrne, C4’s head of news and current affairs, making highly personal and unpleasant attacks on the Prime Minister at the Edinburgh Television Festival in August.”
The hour-long Emergency On Planet Earth debate features Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, Ms Sturgeon, Plaid Cymru's Adam Price and Green co-leader Sian Berry.
During tonight's debate, the ice sculpture could be seen next to the party leaders.
An ice installation also take the place of Nigel Farage, who is also not taking part in the debate.
Channel 4 tweeted: "These two ice sculptures – which represent the emergency on planet earth – will take the place of Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage tonight after they declined our invitation to attend a party leaders' climate debate"..
Mr Johnson is understood to not be taking part because of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon's involvement.
DEEP FREEZE
The PM refused to debate with Scotland's First Minister ahead of the December 12 general election as she is not standing as an MP.
Michael Gove arrived at the Channel 4 studio tonight – but bosses refused to let him debate in Mr Johnson's place.
Stanley Johnson, the PM's dad who attended last month's Extinction Rebellion protests, also tried to "argue…into a programme only for leaders", according to Channel 4 news editor Ben de Pear.
Mr de Pear said: "These two ice sculptures represent the emergency on planet earth, not in any human form but are a visual metaphor for the Conservative & Brexit parties after their leaders declined our repeated invitations to attend tonight's vital climate debate."
Tonight, it was reported that the Conservative Party is threatening to review Channel 4's public service broadcasting licence after the decision to replace the PM with the ice.
A Conservative Party source told Buzzfeed News: “If we are re-elected we will have to review Channel 4’s Public Services Broadcasting obligations”
“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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