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Britain's Conservatives, Labor Party leaders quizzed in live TV interviews ahead of general elections

Xinhua, March 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

British Prime Minister David Cameron and the opposition Labor Party leader Ed Miliband were grilled Thursday with a series of tough questions in their first round of televised live interviews ahead of the country's general election in May.

Cameron, also leader of the Conservatives, and Miliband were interviewed separately in a TV studio by veteran British TV presenter Jeremy Paxman, who asked a wide range of difficult questions concerning Britain's economy, immigration target, welfare, European Union (EU) membership, foreign policy and so on.

Cameron and Miliband also took questions from members of the audience in the studio. Britain's membership in the EU proved a major topic discussed in the interviews.

"I think Britain is at its best when we are out there trading and co-operating and working with others in the world," Cameron said while answer a question from a member of the audience.

"We are an open country, we are a trading nation, we are part of all the most important networks, whether NATO or the G8 or the EU and we need them to work for us," he added.

"The problem with the EU at the moment, it has some good aspects but too many things that drive people mad. I think what we need is a new deal with Europe," the prime minister noted.

On his part, Miliband said he wanted Britain to stay in the EU, warning that Britain's exit out of EU will be a "disaster."

"It is not my priority to have a referendum whether we should leave the EU. I think when I look at our country, I know what my priorities would be, to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, to rescue our NHS and build a future for young people, I think leaving the EU would be a disaster," he elaborated.

The interviews, coupled with the question and answer sessions, are believed to the only chance for voters to see the two leaders arguing one after another in the same TV studio. Cameron had refused to participate in a face-to-face televised debate with Miliband. Endit