Michael Ancram has called for a US-style televised debate between the UK's three main political leaders before the next general election.

In a letter to broadcasting chiefs the Tory party chairman proposed three head-to-head contests between prime minister Tony Blair, Tory leader William Hague and the Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy. Blair would debate with Hague, Hague with Kennedy and then the Lib Dem leader against the prime minister.

Tory strategists believe the contest would highlight Hague's strengths as a debater - which he has used to good effect during his performances at the dispatch box during prime minister's questions. Ancram also suggested separate debates for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The idea nearly happened in the 1997 election but a dispute over the format - and reticence by Paddy Ashdown - led to it being shelved.

Ancram said: "We got pretty close to having leader debates in the 1997 election. We are hopeful that this time they will become a reality."

Ancram added that only two party leaders were "in a position to lead the next government" but "believe the proposal is more than fair in that Charles Kennedy receives equality of time, which the Liberal Democrats would not normally merit".

Charles Kennedy is known to prefer debating simultaneously with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Liberal Democrat campaign chairman Lord Razzall said a three-way debate was preferable to "a series of one-to-one gladiatorial contests on the lines which the Conservatives have proposed."