First UK Election Debate - tonight 8:30pm UTV

redout

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are less than an hour from making political history with the UK's first prime ministerial TV debate.

The party leaders have all arrived for the 90-minute US-style live broadcast, in which their every word and gesture will be analysed.
They will answer questions chosen by the audience and from viewers' e-mails.

ITV1 will broadcast the show from 2030 BST in Manchester. Sky and the BBC will host debates on successive Thursdays.

The first of the three clashes will focus on domestic affairs, but leaders can air other issues.

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Kiwi_knock

Going to be an interesting 90 minutes. Can see Cameron being the big winner, am hoping Clegg does not get lost among the Brown and Cameron debate.

redout

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Going to be an interesting 90 minutes. Can see Cameron being the big winner, am hoping Clegg does not get lost among the Brown and Cameron debate.

Not sure how its going to turn out. I have read that Browns party are quite confident he will perform tonight.

Kiwi_knock

redout wrote: »

Not sure how its going to turn out. I have read that Browns party are quite confident he will perform tonight.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Leaders-Debates-Labour-Insiders-Tell-Niall-Paterson-They-Predict-David-Cameron-Will-Win-TV-Match/Article/201004215602333?lpos=Politics_News_Your_Way_Region_6&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15602333_Leaders_Debates%3A_Labour_Insiders_Tell_Niall_Paterson_They_Predict_David_Cameron_Will_Win_TV_Match
This link seems to show the opposite

redout

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Leaders-Debates-Labour-Insiders-Tell-Niall-Paterson-They-Predict-David-Cameron-Will-Win-TV-Match/Article/201004215602333?lpos=Politics_News_Your_Way_Region_6&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15602333_Leaders_Debates%3A_Labour_Insiders_Tell_Niall_Paterson_They_Predict_David_Cameron_Will_Win_TV_Match
This link seems to show the opposite

There are comments in that link that somewhat support what I had read.

silverharp

very dull so far. Its going to be geared to not making mistakes

Kiwi_knock

Yeah not as exciting as I thought it would be, want to see them cut loose on each other.

redout

I dont like the fact they are not directly challenging each other.

murpho999

I find that Clegg is repeating himself a lot.

To be honest none of them strike me as inspirational characters, if I was in Britain I don't know who I would vote for.

Kiwi_knock

redout wrote: »

I dont like the fact they are not directly challenging each other.

Exactly. To me this is not a debate at all, rather three manifestos being delivered.

ntlbell

anyone know what the 70 odd rules for debate were?

were they released?

Biggins

So far I give credit to Nick Clegg.

Kiwi_knock

ntlbell wrote: »

anyone know what the 70 odd rules for debate were?

were they released?

http://www.itv.com/documents/pdf/Programme%20Format2.pdf

Denerick

Far too dull. PMs questions are far more exciting to be honest.

Biggins

The main two are making it as dull as watching paint dry.
If Nick Clegg managed to speak up more, I'm sure he'd hit the "hurting" areas a lot more so.
Every time he opens up so far, he's made some crucial points. He's been drowned out by the other two goons though.

Kiwi_knock

Biggins wrote: »

The main two are maiking as dull as watching paint dry.
If Nick Clegg managed to speak up more, I'm sure he'd hit the "hurting" areas a lot more so.
Every time he opens up so far, he's made some crucial points. He's been drowned out by the other two goons though.

+1
Couldn't agree more, some excellent points made by Clegg but normally sandwiched in between Brown and Cameron having sly digs at each other so his points are being lost.

Biggins

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

+1
Couldn't agree more, some excellent points made by Clegg but normally sandwiched in between Brown and Cameron having sly digs at each other so his points are being lost.

LOL Nick Clegg mush have heard us.
He just made that point at them. :pac:

Kiwi_knock

Why do they keep repeating that the leaders have no knowledge of the questions. They are the most obvious questions, very broad so giving them plenty of scope with their answer which is basically just repeating their manifestos.

whatawaster

I have to say, i find Nick Clegg very impressive.
Were i British, i'd hope that, whoever is the largest party in the next parliament, needs Lib Dem support to form a government

Biggins

The areas are very obvious and so far two of them are just to and fro waffling thought those areas.
Only one (when he speaks) gets down to the nitty gritty details, numbers and crucial areas.

Kiwi_knock

Want to withdraw my earlier comment saying I thought Cameron was going to be the big winner here. He is falling apart out there, not even talking about his won policies instead tackling Brown and Clegg. Brown has done well just plodding along, keeping to his usual stance. Clegg is making some great points but lacks the political stature of Brown and Cameron for his points to be taken seriously.
Why can't Ireland have a politician like Clegg.

murpho999

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Want to withdraw my earlier comment saying I thought Cameron was going to be the big winner here. He is falling apart out there, not even talking about his won policies instead tackling Brown and Clegg. Brown has done well just plodding along, keeping to his usual stance. Clegg is making some great points but lacks the political stature of Brown and Cameron for his points to be taken seriously.
Why can't Ireland have a politician like Clegg.

Agree Clegg is doing well here.

As for Ireland having a politician like him comment.....have you never heard of Mary Harney....:D

Biggins

whatawaster wrote: »

I have to say, i find Nick Clegg very impressive.
Were i British, i'd hope that, whoever is the largest party in the next parliament, needs Lib Dem support to form a government

Both Labour and Con's know they need the Lib Dems.
You will note they are being careful not to take pot shots at Clegg. They don't want to bite the hand that might be needed later I suspect.

Biggins

Jesus Cameron, stop patronising...

whatawaster

Biggins wrote: »

Both Labour and Con's know they need the Lib Dems.
You will note they are being careful not to take pot shots at Clegg. They don't want to bite the hand that might be needed later I suspect.

yeah, about five times Brown said "and i think Nick agrees with me on this one."
Cuts to Clegg, with a look of confusion on his face

beanyb

Oooh... he just invoked the dead son, didnt he. Cheap move.

Overall, Cameron is coming across terribly. I'm pleasantly surprised with Brown. And Clegg is definitely coming out on top.

redout

With any luck one of the future debates will allow them to go at it like the US system were they have one like this and another were they usually go at it.

Kiwi_knock

whatawaster wrote: »

yeah, about five times Brown said "and i think Nick agrees with me on this one."
Cuts to Clegg, with a look of confusion on his face

loveissucide

I dunno what kind of impact this will have, but glad to see Cameron sinking like a lead balloon.

Kiwi_knock

loveissucide wrote: »

I dunno what kind of impact this will have, but glad to see Cameron sinking like a lead balloon.

+1
I feared that Cameron would dominate this debate but instead he has looked out of his depth, making digs at Brown instead of prmoting his own policies. To be honest these debates have been dull but so enjoyable watching Cameron fail miserably.

Biggins

Clegg: "Shall I tell you how to pay for it?" (twice)
Glad someone up there is able to say exactly where money should be cut WITH actual details and not just generalising like the other two.

Not impressed by Brown or Cameron at all to be honest.

redout

Biggins wrote: »

Clegg: "Shall I tell you how to pay for it?" (twice)
Glad someone up there is able to say exactly where money should be cut WITH actual details and not just generalising like the other two.

Not impressed by Brown or Cameron at all to be honest.

The Lib Dems had the only manifesto which had figures!

Biggins

redout wrote: »

The Lib Dems had the only manifesto which had figures!

True. They put the facts down on paper - not like the other two cowards with their general surmising, wandering soundbite rubbish.

Kiwi_knock

The Lib Dems will benefit massively from this debate, British people should realise that a one party government will not improve things. Lib Dems have practical policies that are achievable and are needed in parliament to check the power of either Labour(hopefully) or the Tories(disaster).

Biggins

I know very little about Clegg - being totally honest here - but by god, I'm very damn impressed by him.
Right now, if I was British, I'd vote for him tomorrow. The other two are a complete let down.

Clegg won this debate I feel - even though he was drowned out (probably deliberately) by the other two tit for tat fools.

Go Clegg!!!

sron

The anecdotes are brilliant:

"In Sheffield, where I'm an MP..."

"I've been in Afghanistan..."

"I was recently talking to a black person..."

redout

My two cents worth.

Clegg - B
Brown - B-
Cameron - C+

Peyton Manning

Sad to see Cameron adopt a "we're the lesser of 3 evils" attitude instead of promoting his own policies. Very poor performance.

Biggins

Love the way Clegg is just standing there LOL
He's like bulldog, being held back on his leash but wanting to get stuck in.

The news at 10 opinions should be interesting...

whatawaster

my god -

sky news poll

Cameron 41%
Clegg 32%
Brown 27%

can't legislate for idiots. Brown was a clear second behind Clegg

Kiwi_knock

Biggins wrote: »

I know very little about Clegg - being totally honest here - but by god, I'm very damn impressed by him.
Right now, if I was British, I'd vote for him tomorrow. The other two are a complete let down.

Clegg won this debate I feel - even though he was drowned out (probably deliberately) by the other two tit for tat fools.

Go Clegg!!!

Am exactly the same, I don't think I would have even recognised him. Have been impressed by not only his policies but his conduct, not getting involved in the child like digs at opposition policies. I only wish I was British because I would be out on the street tomorrow campaigning for him. Be interesting to see now the opinion poll after the debate. Clegg deserves a boost.

redout

whatawaster wrote: »

my god -

sky news poll

Cameron 41%
Clegg 32%
Brown 27%

can't legislate for idiots. Brown was a clear second behind Clegg

*scratches head*

sron

Also, did Cameron say he was going to nuke China earlier?

murpho999

We obviously have different personality values here....Sky News poll has Cameron well ahead at 41%, Clegg 32% & Brown at 27%.

Surprised at that, but it is Sky.

efb

1.Clegg
2.Cameron/Brown

Biggins

whatawaster wrote: »

my god -
sky news poll

Cameron 41% - Clegg 32% - Brown 27%

can't legislate for idiots. Brown was a clear second behind Clegg

How in gods name can Cameron get 41% just on that debate! He was terrible, just terrible.

Kiwi_knock

Sun/YouGov Instant poll gives leaders debate victory to Clegg. Well deserved

whatawaster

murpho999 wrote: »

We obviously have different personality values here....Sky News poll has Cameron well ahead at 41%, Clegg 32% & Brown at 27%.

Surprised at that, but it is Sky.

it reminds me of the aftermath of the Biden-Palin debate, and fox news commentators afterwards saying how Palin had won it, which, of course, any sane watcher had only to laugh at

Peyton Manning

Biggins wrote: »

Clegg won this debate I feel - even though he was drowned out (probably deliberately) by the other two tit for tat fools.

I was quite angry at the amount of times Clegg was interrupted by the guy asking questions. It was as if "you're not one of the big 2, you're less important".

thebigcheese22

murpho999 wrote: »

We obviously have different personality values here....Sky News poll has Cameron well ahead at 41%, Clegg 32% & Brown at 27%.

Surprised at that, but it is Sky.

Yeah its coz a lot more Tory leaning people would watch sky...for example on the Guardian website Clegg is the winner by a mile, and Cameron has only 9%!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/poll/2010/apr/15/election-debate-brown-cameron-clegg

Biggins

Archimedes wrote: »

I was quite angry at the amount of times Clegg was interrupted by the guy asking questions. It was as if "you're not one of the big 2, you're less important".

Couldn't agree more.
Even with the little time he got with out being interrupted, he still managed to win the debate hands down.
Kudos to him. I'll be watching him in future - he did his party proud tonight.