To think that the Lib Dems should have been included in last night's questions

[Discopanda]

Last time we had a general election, Nick Clegg was also involved in the major debate leading up the election. As more people are looking outside of the Big Two, i.e. the increased support for the Green party and as Lib Dems are part of the coalition, I think they should have interviewed Nick Clegg too.

I think the point of last night was basically 'battle for number 10' - one of these two will be the next prime minister. Nick Clegg will have his chance in the next few weeks.

Why? He has no chance of being PM, he may not be an MP after the election if the people of Sheffield Hallam do the right thing. His party are in single digits in the polls and are heading into oblivion, he's made himself and his party an irrelevance.

Clegg and lib dems are completely fucked. All their own doing. When coalition took over I think Sheffield lost a lot of money for a development programme. If the residents have any sense they will dump him. He has betrayed them.

The media has to catch up and learn that we are past the days of binary politics. The growth of SNP and Greens has shown that people are not happy with the conservatives and labour swapping places on the 5 year merry go round. (Yes, interest in UKIP has grown but they seem to get a disproportionate amount of media interest despite lack of mandate)

Sadly, the Lib Dems are likely to be close to being wiped out in the forthcoming election. I say sadly because this was a once great party that acted as a moral conscience in Westminster. We have seen some fine constituency MPs come out of the Lib Dems but the power of personality will not be enough come May 7th.

There are some superb politicians in the other parties. It would be good to see them get some airtime too. Much better than watch the two bald men fight over a comb than we had last night.

Basically, I don't think the media should treat this year's elections as a two horse race, the smaller parties need more screen time.

No one gives a fuck about the lib dems now, and the will probably have the worst result in their history won't they? Who would actually vote for them now, apart from those who are die hard lib demmers and have always done so?

Basically, I don't think the media should treat this year's elections as a two horse race, the smaller parties need more screen time

I sort of agree, but where d you draw the line? The SNP will probabaly win more seats than lib dems in may - should they have been included?

In terms of PM it is a two horse race

I think they should have had the chance, given that part of the record of the last 5 years is theirs. Whether they would have welcomed that chance is a different question.

There's a multi-way debate coming up with the smaller parties,isn't there? Did Cameron agree to join in in the end, or not?

'Who would actually vote Lib Dem?'

Off the top of my head...

• people in a constituency where they don't like the incumbent MP, but the Lib Dem is the nearest challenger
• people who have a really good LD MP who they want to keep

Or maybe people who appreciate that the LDs did a properly grown-up thing getting the coalition together in 2010 (when everyone was yelling about the economy collapsing, and us going to hell in a handcart), and that they've done as good a job as possible reining in the Tories' excesses, with only a fifth of their MPs? Have seen a couple of people on here (other than me!) putting that case.

Nick Clegg sold the metaphorical arse of the Lib Dems down the docks for 2.50 and a can of special brew.

I think it'll be a long, long time before anyone ever trusts them again. At least we knew the Tories were arseholes- they've not really been a massive shock to anyone.

Yeah, the lib dem message is a bit of a tough sell, 'Hey, we stopped this guys from being massive twats, and made them only be average-sized twats!'

If you say so, mate.