A last-ditch bid to get a TV debate on the air has been slapped on the table, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Premier Pamela Gordon is understood to have issued a Thursday lunchtime deadline for the PLP to agree to a Friday night debate.

The Premier is believed to have said that both the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party are agreed there should be no debate in the final week of the General Election campaign.

So that leaves only a few days for Ms Gordon and PLP leader Jennifer Smith to meet in a televised head-to-head, still hoped to be shown on both TV stations.

And if the PLP fail to pick up the gauntlet, the debates idea will die completely.

Premier Pamela Gordon -- who issued the original challenge for a debate nearly four months ago -- could not be reached for comment.

UBP campaign committee chairman Mr. Winfield has been negotiating with his opposite number Calvin Smith on the debates.

Mr. Winfield said last night that there was an agreement in place with the PLP that neither side would make public comment on negotations.

But he confirmed a letter had been sent yesterday -- although he declined to say what was in it.

A PLP spokesman last night also confirmed a letter had been received -- but declined to discuss that or the PLP's likely reply.

The challenge to a debate ran into trouble shortly after Ms Gordon threw down the gauntlet to Ms Smith -- who accepted and then asked for two debates.

Negotiations bogged down over the formats for the clashes, with the UBP insisting on a one-hour TV studio contest.

The PLP wanted a town hall-style tussle with an audience and public participation.

An early PLP suggestion for three-hour debates was shot down as contrary to political broadcasting regulations.

And, nine days after the initial challenge, Ms Smith unveiled the slogan "no debate without a date'' -- linking the debate with a date for the General Election being announced.

The UBP accused the PLP of running scared over the prospect of slugging it out on TV.

But the PLP hit back with a suggestion Ms Gordon feared having to face the public as well as Ms Smith.

It later emerged that National Liberal Party chairman Charles Jeffers would also have to be included to ensure fairness under broadcasting rules.

Mr. Jeffers backed the UBP stance for a studio environment for the debates.

But Mr. Jeffers said it was ironic that because of the debate about the debates, the clashes would probably never take place.