UK Leaders Debate

[Shift]

I searched and strangely found nothing about this yet. But tonight is the UKs first televised public debate between the leaders of the three main parties, Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

I suspect most UKers here will be watching it? Will prove interesting and quite possibly critical in terms of the upcoming general election. And its a landmark moment in UK politics or so the news says.

 

[Eejit]

I suspect Clegg will do pretty well, he managed to hold his own against Paxman the other day and he seems to hold the Lib Dems in contempt. Cameron won't even allow Paxman to interview him.

 

[Shift]

I also think Clegg will prove the strongest candidate tonight, BUT time will tell.

 

[pomegranate]

Someone else summarised expressed my feelings about this 'historic' occasion: "I don't want to vote on policies, I want to see which one of three similar men comes across best on television"

 

[Eejit]

I don't think (hope) it will devolve to being as superficial as the American debates quite so quickly. They're going to be (meant to be?) answering questions on policy and then challenging each others' answers, not just preening for the cameras.

 

[jimbo118]

8:30, right?

I hope ITV can refrain from ads for the full 90 minutes.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

8:30, right?

I hope ITV can refrain from ads for the full 90 minutes.

QFT. I detest ITV for that reason. Most interested in the BBC debate to avoid the ads.

And yep, starts in 3 mins.

 

[Shift]

Interesting that it was on ITV, would have thought the BBC would have the rights for it. On at the moment, interesting and entertaining so far.

 

[Jimmeh]

Holy anecdotes batman.

 

[The Monkey]

This is your first party leader debate ever? WTF?

 

[Shakermaker]

This is your first party leader debate ever? WTF?

Yeah, that surprised me as well.

 

[stemot]

Clegg actually made me want to vote for Lib Dems.

EDIT: Also, I really enjoyed watching that.

 

[Eejit]

Clegg won, Cameron floundered, Brown more or less held his own.

David looked so uncomfortable any time the camera showed him when he wasn't speaking. Ugly big slug faced nancy boy git.

 

[Shift]

Brown is just a liar and Clegg, although was definitely very persuasive, is sitting on the whim of an inexperienced party and tbh a lot of his promises felt highly superficial, he was more focused on distancing himself from the others rather than actually tackling the questions with clarity and realism which I think Cameron was achieving the most out of the three.

The Lib Dems have probably earned themselves more seats after this and established themselves as a clear contender but I just didn't buy much of what Clegg was saying tbh.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Interesting that it was on ITV, would have thought the BBC would have the rights for it. On at the moment, interesting and entertaining so far.

There will be 3 debates. ITV had the first. The other two will be on BBC and Sky.

Enjoyed watching it, Clegg did the best for me. Doesn't really mean anything at this stage though.

Also, yes this is the first time we've had these kind of debates. We do our politics in a pretty archaic style, the tv debate thing is an American idea which we've never adopted till now (mainly because the loss of confidence in politics since the expenses scandal this year).

 

[Shift]

Will be interesting to see how the debates progress, how Clegg takes his general victory in the first and how the other intend to come back in that respect. Shall keep updated in this thread I think

 

[Shyam]

So this is the first televised U.K. electorial debate.

Kinda surprised actually.

 

[PJ]

Yeah the 4000 person poll results came through on ITV news, and 40% thought Clegg won (tbh I strongly agree) And something like 33% Cameron and 26% Brown, although I feel Brown did pretty well considering what the public thought of him going into the debate. 11% thought nobody really won btw.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Excellent debate and for me Clegg totally won that. He was so calm and had clearly done his research and really impressed me enough to actually vote for him. Brown did alot better than i thought he would do when he relaxed and got into gear he really put up a good fight. Cameron for me was a disaster he was uncomfortable thought out and just kept rehashing his sound bites for his election.
We still have 2 more debates and everything could change, looking really forward to it

 

[Eejit]

Brown is just a liar and Clegg, although was definitely very persuasive, is sitting on the whim of an inexperienced party and tbh a lot of his promises felt highly superficial, he was more focused on distancing himself from the others rather than actually tackling the questions with clarity and realism which I think Cameron was achieving the most out of the three.

The Lib Dems have probably earned themselves more seats after this and established themselves as a clear contender but I just didn't buy much of what Clegg was saying tbh.

You serious? Lib Dems produced the only manifesto which had actual figures and costing for their promises, its the Tories and Labour who are making superficial policies imo.
Also Cameron definitely waffled more than the other two, speaking in broad, overly general terms. I noted he talked about 'values' a lot in his closing statement. I'd rather not import the overriding emphasis on 'values' you see in American politics, thanks. Cameron also can never convince me when talking about public education, having never had first-hand experience with it. I'm certain the only reason his kids are currently in state schools is because he couldn't afford the political fallout otherwise.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Yeah, people can call the Lib Dem figures inaccurate or empty but at least they are there to be scrutinised and nobody is pretending that they can possibly be cast-iron estimates before they're even in government.

Anyway, I missed this as I had to go out to see some friends before they leave for the final uni term of the year. I'm hoping it's available for repeat viewing somewehere? iPlayer, perhaps? I did however catch a tiny bit of it both before I went and then at the pub where it was subtitled on TV. I was greatly amused by how wary Brown was of attacking Clegg even as Clegg savaged him in turn. Clegg seemed to feel that Brown needed him but that he did not need Brown. Hell, I lost track of the number of times I heard Gordie say "well, Nick has supported me on x..." or "I think, and the Lib Dems agree, by the way..." He's clearly trying to make sure a coalition with the Lib Dems will be possible in a pinch, but I've been contemplating the hilarious, depressing possibility that, come a hung parliament, Labour and the Conservatives unite in a coalition to the absolute dismay of Clegg and everyone else in the country.

 

[Eejit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk5HvJmy_yg
Enjoy.

Cameron also hung back from attacking Clegg much. David and Gordon both know they would need him in the very possible event of a hung parliament and even (oh god I hope so) a kind of floating minority government, where either Tories or Labour could take turns passing laws with Lib Dem supporting those they choose.

 

[Dynasty]

Personally I will be voting Lib Dem. The Tories and Labour battle seems to be some kind of personal battle between Cameron and Brown.

Brown I dont want as he's...some vague reference to Bush as I dont want to get banned again.

Cameron I fear will be no better.

Clegg is actually, you know, ANSWERING THE ***KING QUESTIONS WE ASK HIM. And he seems to have the best finiancial plans. By that I mean, you know, he actually has one.

''Mr Brown, what do you propose to do about x?''

''Well theres many things you have to take into consideration, like how we have reduced...''

*punch*

''Shut the ***k up and just answer the question you gupper fish!''.

 

[Solaris]

I thought that was a brilliant debate. Thought Brown and Clegg did great, I'll definitely be supporting Brown. Cannot wait for the election night though, gonna have such a party.

 

[Eejit]

The Cameron China gaffe doesn't seem to have been picked up that much by the papers, it rather tickled me. As did his claim to have met a 40 year old "black man" who had served in the royal navy for 30 years.

 

[Solaris]

The Cameron China gaffe doesn't seem to have been picked up that much by the papers, it rather tickled me. As did his claim to have met a 40 year old "black man" who had served in the royal navy for 30 years.

Yes I loved that black man bit.

 

[Asknoone]

I almost wanted to play a drinking game with the anecdotes.

Brown is just a liar and Clegg, although was definitely very persuasive, is sitting on the whim of an inexperienced party and tbh a lot of his promises felt highly superficial, he was more focused on distancing himself from the others rather than actually tackling the questions with clarity and realism which I think Cameron was achieving the most out of the three.

Clegg is quite concise and his reasoning skills are good. Yes, he's young and out of his depths in terms of experience, but why continue to support bureaucratic cynicism and round-about policies when we could give Clegg a chance - optimism and appropriately tethered idealism, right there in a well-presented package.

Brown held his own, but that doesn't impress anymore. Cameron was like a wet-fart.

 

[The Monkey]

The Lib Dems are extremely disadvantaged with the current plurality voting system. It needs to change, Britain needs some new blood in its political system.

 

[Eejit]

Samon, Clegg is less than year younger than Cameron - though he doesn't look it.

 

[Sulkdodds]

All our politicians have been 'experienced' for a long time now. Same was true towards the end of the Thatcher years and into the Major years. It wasn't any good then and it isn't now. To hell with experience.

And anyway, the Tories are led by two barely-credibly baby-faced newcomers with a fop-haired bawling infant as their Mayor of London who appear to have systematically excluded all genuine heavy hitters (e.g. David Davis) from their shadow government. Experience my fat, pasty arse.

 

[Eejit]

Bullingdon Club members and Etonians are unlikely to be the best choices for being in charge of public services, the education system and the like. What would they know about publicly-funded education?