Channel 4 today announces that the would-be chancellors from the three major political parties - Labour, The Conservatives and The Liberal Democrats - will participate in a live election programme.

Commissioned by Head of Channel 4 News and Current Affairs Dorothy Byrne, the one hour programme - Ask the Chancellors - will be a highlight of Channel 4's election coverage. Alistair Darling, George Osborne and Vince Cable will debate with each other and also face questions from a studio audience and from the presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

Dorothy Byrne said: "With the economy being the key issue of the election, this debate - which will air just after the budget is announced - will provide an opportunity for the audience to question each of the prospective chancellors - holding them and their policies to account"