TV Debate - who did best?

[JustineMumsnet]

So there you have it. History in the making; the UK's first live Leaders' election debate. Who do you think did best? Has it confirmed/ clarified your choice or even changed your mind?

Let us know your thoughts in our third election poll and you could win £50 in Boden or Amazon vouchers.

Thanks,
MNHQ

44% of Mumsnetters are thinking of voting Liberal Democrat in the 2010 election compared to 23% 3 weeks ago (24th March)

Crikey!

Shame MN isn't representative of the whole country.

TiggyR It's really annoying when people focus on the personal lives of politicians - it should be used sparingly only to give context to their policies and nothing more.

Just got back from the ever more expensive weekly shop.

I find this thread really interesting the Mumsnet poll too.

Fascinated by the strong feelings on display - please don't be offended anyone its just an observation but -I don't think I'd be capable of such loyalty.

However its still far from over isn't it and I am judging them ALL on what they say and how well they plan to keep us afloat during this recession (which IS worldwide - I can't get why people seem to think its been caused through politics???)AND on what they plan to do when it has passed. The LibDems have really got some ideas I don't think they should be sidelined.

Can you imagine if everyone woke up on May 6th and thought 'sod it I's going to vote Lib Dem even if they haven't got a hope in getting elected.' What do you think would happen?

Tiggy - no problem with David Cameron being a toff as long as he tries to find out what life is like for the rest of us oiks. I DO have a problem with him surrounding himself with toffs - if he wins, we'll have the most important offices of state almost entirely occupied by men from two or three of the most elite public schools/Oxbridge colleges. It really will be a ruling class - drawn largely from the Bullingdon club. Can he really not find more than one state school educated person who is fit to play a part in running the country (Hague)?

Nick Clegg... I want to matty him lol! Guess who is a member of the LD party??!

I was considering switching to Lib Dem but wont after last night. He seems a nice guy but found that he was repetitive, all about "its ok to say these things, what about doing them" which is fine but he must have said it 10 times or so which made me feel he was desperate, had nothing else to say.

I also thought he seemed school boyish, sorry

Thought cameron was snide in parts and would not trust him.

I was quite anti labour too but though Gordon Brown was excellent, will definately consider voting him. Thought he was solid, grounded and convincing.

Yes and the china comments were incredible not sure what that will have done for international relations?!

Sorry just read a few other posts, isnt it interesting/fantastic how we have different perceptions of how they came across.

I saw an interview with Nick Clegg/Jeremy Paxton in the week and was impressed, and then last night he totally undid that for me.

labour has already committed to 'savings' on waste. What the conservatives are saying is that they will save even more on top of that. I just dont think it can be done.
Yes there is waste - but having worked in the public sector if you on paper save in one area you only find that you create another cost somewhere else (and it is usually more expensive).

I like what the lib dems have been saying but always felt it was a bit of a wasted vote. However i shall be a believer now and vote for them.
If we all voted what we really believe and not tactically then we would have a fairer idea of what we really want - not just what we dont want.

Taxes are not nice but we all have to pay them - this government have been sneaky and there are a lot of hidden taxes now.

I thought Gordon did well last night. However, I can't take anything he says seriously because of the state the country is in.

Cameron was all about look at me, aren't I wonderful and this is my catalogue of stories. He comes across to me a bit wimpy and not really a leader. I get the feeling that he would want to do what the public want him to do rather than leading public opinion.

I really did like Clegg. I was thinking of voting for lib dems and I am feeling more certain about it now. I think some of their policies are slightly too altrustic and basically unworkable for example, the cap on bonuses in banks being £2k (which I do think is a bit unfair) but I do actually think Clegg has backbone which I like.

Have just read Caitlin Moran's little bit in the Times on last night's show. It's fantastic - made me laugh like a drain. Mentioned that Dave looked like a waxwork and Gordon was obsessed with chefs - all round spot on. I heart Caitlin Moran. Let's have her as PM.

But Edam almost half of the current cabinet (including Ed Balls and Alastair Darling,Jack Straw,Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell)is independently educated as well,and they are disproportionately scottish as well(not anti scottish am 50% scottish myself ,its just an imbalance)

I am not worried about the education but i am worried that they hae such an urban outlook on life

Happy woman,there isn't a choice we have to save money,its no good saying there isn't anything to cut we are broke we cannot keep spending at this level so we have to save the money whether we like it or not.

There is no more money,the cuts will be long and deep ,it was bad enough in the early 80s when Mrs Thatcher made cuts but she was cushioned by North Sea Oil and our reserves but over the last 13 years GB has spent ALL of our reserves there is no rainy day money so we have to cut back however painful.

OK, let's discuss the debate and not just state our original views. I am a small government, low tax, libertarian conservative. However I appreciate that there are other legitimate viewpoints than mine.

As for the debate itself, Nick Clegg clearly won. He defended costed policies, forced both the major parties on the back foot over the cosy consensus on Trident and was personable and relaxed.

I am highly suspicious that about the first 20 posts on this subject all thought GB won it. Really? Are you sure New Labour did not get a few activists to post?! Gordon was wooden and could only talk about "protecting the recovery". To me, he was clearly last. He has never been a good debater and that is hardly a surprise.

The biggest disappointment of the night was David Cameron. He behaved too much like a prince regent and too little like a politician fighting passionately for his ideas. Trying to define the election in terms of the 1% NI hike (or less than 1% of the total tax take) is duplicitous electioneering. If he tries to take the electorate for suckers, he may well get what he deserves.

Can we have some real right wing ideas please and someone courageous who is prepared to elucidate and defend them. Nick Clegg has, for me, eruditely set out the left wing position. Were I a left winger, he would get my vote like a shot. Shame I am not, really.

nah, they weren't new posters, they were mners. fear not. we're not that stupid.

Justine - Your poll results are horribly incomplete.

How many voters are now less likely to vote Labour (you've only told us how many MN voters are less likely to vote for Cameron).

Can we please have all the results?

none of the polls are well-designed, imo. they all ask who won, rather than who was first, second, then third. i'm sure the only reason that gordy appears to have done so badly is that a lot of people who thought he came second were only able to register that they thought cleggy came first.

i'd be very interested in seeing a 1,2,3 on the next poll, Justine.

Alicatte - Your posts don't quite ring true. Are you a namechanger or new?

I'm a regular lurker rather than a regular poster so not sure if 'qualified' to be commenting, but I'm getting quite uncomfortable by how much mumsnet are asking us to comment on the election. People are giving their time to give opinions/ feedback, but is this for the benefit for our discussions or some the Parties and their reseachers? I've got visions of loads of interns poring over our comments to inform their MPs. This would be fine if it were for policy change, but much more likely for ' don't smile Gordon' ' look more sincere david'

Alicatte - Sorry that sounds a bit agressive. If you are a recent namechaner, fair enough. But for a newbie to just tip up and start electioneering is a bit suspicious.

Aitch - I think the polling should be operated by a third party approved by the institute of pollsters.

hoopaloop - agree. The polling really should be operated by a third party. Welcome to not lurking status on Mumsnet.

I'm surprised at how many people were impressed that NC 'remembered' the audience names.

That whole stunt at the end was shamelessly stage managed. He'd obviously planned it and written all the names down during the debate then tried to act casual as he said them.

Come on!

The polls on Mumsnet are such a stupid non-representative sample anyway.

I'm looking forward immensely to parading through Mumsnet on May 7th in my Tory victory cloak. I might even take the day off work so I can really make the most of it and chat to everyone.

Agree spidermama, it was sooo staged. He'd have been better just name checking one of them. He used their names throughout also and it made me cringe. Wonder if he's just done an NVQ in 'presentation skills?'