TV Debate - who did best?

Wanted to punch DC every time he patronised us by telling us how his children are in a "state school"

Yeah, right, Dave a state faith school on bleedin' Kensington Church Street ie the poshest state school in the land. And don't play the religious card because if you really did choose the school on the basis of faith, why didn't you send them to one of the handful of CofE schools nearer your house?

Cheating the system and then banging on about how you're one of the masses will not win you my vote

I can't vote for someone who wears more make up than me so that rules DC out. I also thought he came across as surprisingly lightweight. Apparently he had been told not to go on the attack as that loses him votes but clearly that is when he performs at his best (eg PMQs.

GB performed as expected - very bright and measured but without the personality to inspire and lead.

NC was a complete revelation. I started out thinking I was watching a 6th form interloper and had revised my opinion completely by the end. He came across as credible and sincere.

We have an excellent Tory MP where we live (Theresa May). She is very good on local issues but not sure I could actually vote Tory. Our local Lib Dem council is an absolute shower so it is going to be hard to make a decision.

CaveMum, of course they are, and I admire anyone who does that job. But did you feel that it was a little mechanical last night?

GB reminds me of my old headmaster - which is a good thing he is a lovely man. Thought he won on gravitas.

ROFL about the knitting pattern remark relating to DC. Spot on.

Will be voting Lib Dem where I live Labour dont have a chance and our existing Lib Dem MP active and good so glad NC did well. Do find it annoying that the consensus is that NC and the Lib Dems will never win the election. Why? If enough vote for them they will. The Liberals ran the country for years before the First World War I think [dodgy history emoticon].

I just really dont think I could bear 4 years of having to look at DC and George Osbourne that Tory boy toff Eton old boy vibe is nauseating shudder.

cinammontoast too bloody right our troops are brave! The politicians cannot say it enough as far as I am concerned.

Speaks as a proud RAF wife.

I watched the debate with my 2 teenage daughters, one who will vote for the first time and i thought it would help her make sense of the issues for each party, franky we all got a bit bored after an hour but in unison we all pretty mucn agree that NC was unprofessional as he kept smirking and rolling hsi eyes, GB well he has just got the country into too much debt, so our house remains blue as always.

Ooh, another thing - do you think they thought our soldiers in Afghanistan were brave?

Interestingly my colleague listened to it on the radio and said that Nick Clegg came across terribly when you couldn't see him.

Also must add:

'I'm down with everyone, even the foreigns and the poors!' is a class line. I wish I'd said it.

I agree about DC looking like a retro knitting pattern btw, even his hair had that weird sculpted look.

I was getting a bit tired of all of them going on about 'I met a selfless martyr of a woman who runs a community centre for limbless children, in the armpit- end-of-nowheresville last week, who had been burgled 47 times blah blah.'

It's all just in case we thought they never actually left their ivory towers and mixed with the peasants, which of course, ordinarily they don't, and won't do again once the election is over.

And what was GB's obession with chefs? He must have mentioned them four times. Is every single immigrant from the last ten years seeking work as a chef or something?

I agree DC underperformed, but I think dyed in the wool Tory supporters, and people tactical voting to keep Labour out will not worry about his performance in the end. As someone else said, it's who's controlling their strings that matters - policies not personality and body language. If you are undecided then all the theatre of last night could make a difference, but do passionate labour supporters think any less of Labour because Gordon Brown finds it hard to smile in public and not like someone stuck a poker up his arse? I doubt it.

Everyone wanted their 'favourite' to do best, but if they had a favourite at all then I doubt last night changes many people's minds.

I wonder if there should be a way we could test the leaders before deciding who to vote for, you know, put them on an island and see who starts crying first. Put them in a hypothetical crisis and let them get on with it with us watching from afar.

I agree with the people saying NC came across well, and with those who thought GB did ok [considering he isn't a natural] and those who think DC is a bit meh.

I know who I definately won't be voting for, but am also now more undecided between the other two.
I find it hard to cut through the rubbish and see what they are really saying iyswim, which I understand may be the point of alot of it, but makes things hard work.

MNHQ - can we get an idea of our results? See if they are the same bandied around in the papers (i.e. NC, DC, GB)

I would be astounded if DC not last on here??

We have a Lib Dem MP where I live (they have a lot of constituencies in the South West) and we are therefore very well acquainted with Lib Dem party policies.

Yesterday's TV debate was an exercise in the "politics of personality" US style. People are naturally going to comment on how slick a PR job NC could pull off - he has had FAR less media exposure than GB and DC.

This will be the 8th General Election I've voted in. Have never voted yet for a party just 'cos the leader has shiny shoes and a winning smile!

Yes, didn't he find the forms a challenge?
They do teach the 3 R's at Eton don't they?

Gramercy if you want to know what LibDems stand for then this is probably your answer:

"The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of individuals, we acknowledge and respect their right to freedom of conscience and their right to develop their talents to the full. We aim to disperse power, to foster diversity and to nurture creativity. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the decisions which affect their lives."
(Taken from the Preamble to the LibDem Federal Constitution)

Those are the principles and beliefs that keep me voting for them. (Oh, and I should add that, although I am new to MN I'm not anything to do with the LibDems apart from having voted for them for years.)

I wanted to ask them to explain a CDS and a CFD. Until they understand how our economy works they won't be fit for purpose.

I thought Gordon Brown came out best and Nick Clegg a close second. David Cameron did nothing to make me like him.

Though I will have to vote Lib Dem as they are neck and neck with Cons in our constituency. It does make me wonder how many people realise they are voting for their local MP and NOT the leader?

Also was a bit worried he found it difficult to do -claiming Direct Payments - as it seems to be running the country at a time like this will be a bit tougher. No?

Cinnamon- surely not, or he'd have mentioned it over and over again!

Another thing- I was gob-smacked that the Camerons had considered claiming Direct Payments for their disabled child. I know it's a universal benefit, but come on, they are so wealthy how could they consider taking money off the state!

Astonished that the polls show DC second and GB third. Here and on Guardian and even the Times websites, Cameron is the clear loser. Tories must be kicking themselves for choosing him. I thought NC lovely but lightweight and yes, GB surprisingly impressive, and often the only one who went to the heart of issues and gave hard facts. Such a shame about the grinning though - spin doctor's advice clearly backfired!
Did anyone watch Question Time afterwards? Much more interesting performances from both guests and audience.
PS Does anyone know whether DC's kids go to a state school...

gramercy sometimes people vote for what they want and sometimes against what they don't want. Once politicians are in power they have a way of not doing whatever their manifesto says anyway. So voting for someone you perceive as basically the more sensible and honest individual is not as stupid as you wish to suggest. It's a lot more sensible than believing what any party tells you know.

Cleggy all the way!! I am so glad to have another face and other views than the usual suspects!
I was already converted. Lib Dem for me!

I knew that loads of people would say "Oooh, that Nick Clegg, he seems nice. Using people's names. Says he can offer something different..."

Duh!

It's easy to say absolutely nothing and seem like the good guy. Do those of you who want to vote LibDem actually know what they stand for? Eh? Thought not.

I though NC repeated himself far too often. and why did we need to know where his constituency is? He just didn't seem to have enough gravitas to be PM.
GB needs to smile less - he looks awful. And he didn't shut up when asked.
DC needs to sort out his body language, but I think he had a difficulty in being in the middle in that respect - having to look left/ right - easier IMO to be on one side.

Still prefer DC.