Politics: BBC leaders debate LIVE: Corbyn locks horns with opposition party rivals

All the live action, reaction and analysis from the televised BBC general election leaders debate.

• Opposition leaders do battle in the second televised debate of the 2017 general election.
• Prime Minister Theresa May has refused to take part in the debate.
• Scroll down to catch up on the key moments and all the gossip from inside the spin room.

CAMBRIDGE — The second televised debate of the 2017 UK general election will take place in Cambridge tonight, where the main opposition leaders will do battle in a one and a half hour debate.

The prime minister Theresa May has consistently refused to take part in any televised debates. However, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today announced that he would be joining his other opposition rivals.

The following party leaders will be on stage from 7.30.

• Jeremy Corbyn: Labour
• Tim Farron: Liberal Democrats
• Nicola Sturgeon: SNP
• Paul Nuttall: UKIP
• Caroline Lucas: Green Party
• Leanne Wood: Plaid Cymru

Scroll down for our latest updates.

19:25 — LEANNE WOOD TO KICK US OFF

Here is your running order for tonight's proceedings. Plaid's Leanne Wood — who had an impressive showing at the ITV debate in Manchester — will be kicking off the opening statements. May's Tory understudy Amber Rudd will be having the final word of the evening.

19:19 — CORBYN FEELING CONFIDENT

Just over 10 minutes to go until we get underway and Labour leader Corbyn is feeling confident.

He originally planned to abstain any debates that Prime Minister May wouldn't be partaking in but has changed his mind at the eleventh hour. He is feeling relaxed and confident ahead of tonight's debate, a source close to him tells me.

19:14 — DON'T EXPECT A PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE TONIGHT

The "progressive alliance" parties — i.e Labour, Lib Dems and Greens — will all be represented on stage tonight. But don't expect Green Party leader Caroline Lucas or Lib Dem leader Tim Farron to give Jeremy Corbyn an easy ride.

The word coming out of the Lib Dem camp is that Farron will attack Corbyn over Brexit and the Labour leader's decision to instruct all of his MPs to vote in favour of triggering Article 50.

19:12 — GOOD EVENING!

Business Insider Political Reporter Adam Payne here in the green room ahead of the BBC leaders' debate.

The debate will be getting underway at 19:30.

All the live action, reaction and analysis from the televised BBC general election leaders debate. Read Full Story