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MNHQ

TV Debate - who did best?

388 replies

JustineMumsnet · 15/04/2010 22:00

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

OP posts:
ShadeofViolet · 15/04/2010 22:47

I think NC did well, however I dont think it was too difficult as the other two just kept sniping at each other.

I think DC di worse than I expected, he kept spouting the same rubbish about everyone having to cut bcak - small businesses, large businesses, families, blah blah blah.

I actually took part in the ITV telephone survey and votes that NC came off best. He seemed to be more direct and to the point than the other two.

LadyBlaBlah · 15/04/2010 22:48

GB or NC - don't mind

Just not the insincere hollow shallow superficial charmer DC

I got the impression DC was genuinely hearing some of the policies of the others for the first time - i.e. he was very unprepared and arrogant ............................bit like on his MN chat

noddyholder · 15/04/2010 22:50

Gb was terribly coached and it just didn't work for him.DC really seemed even more tpryboy than normal so NC was definitely best although still won't vote for any of those!

wheredidmyoldlifego · 15/04/2010 22:50

DC smarmy, lacked passion, annoyed me when he kept bringing up his son, too many anecdotes which I didn't believe. Picked at GB and didn't answer GB's questions.

GB strong and experienced. Actually better than I thought he'd be. Felt he was passionate and genuine.

Love NC, honest, passion showed alot and felt I could trust him.

Great debate although started slow understandably - bring on the next two debates.

RainbowBear · 15/04/2010 22:51

wish this was the mumsnet election - then DC would be off. Back to notting hill politics and expensive handbag shops. Back in your posh box..

thepuddingchef · 15/04/2010 22:52

I am obviously in the minority here, but I think DC won the debate, not by a mile, but on decisive conviction. I didn't like NC at all, his we are all 'honest' being trawled out over and over and GB's scripted answers were obvious. I like DC and I thought his suit was lovely

AnnieLobeseder · 15/04/2010 22:53

I was about to get DH to play a drinking game with me, everytime DC said "I was in X the other day, talking to a Y person" - he said it in every single answer!

Before the debate, I knew I didn't want to vote Labour, cos they're just eejits who've screwed the country up. But I didn't know who I did want to vote for. After the debate, I now know that I don't wish to vote Labour or Conservative. DC had nothing worthwhile to say at all. So, I guess, by default, NC won that one for me!

nottheemptynest · 15/04/2010 22:53

I thought Gordon Brown sent out quite a strong challenge to David Cameron to match his comitment to NHS and Educaiton spening which DC completely ducked. That makes me worried about what DC would do in government.

Helium · 15/04/2010 22:55
  1. Nick Clegg
  2. Gordon Brown
  3. David Cameron

Wont be voting Libdem as local candidate is a total fool. Have voted labour and conservative in the past. Will go to hustings and then decide.

However I feel slightly sorry for GB so he may get my sympathy vote.

AnnieLobeseder · 15/04/2010 22:56

Just want to comment on how very MN it is to have Boden vouchers as a prize for the survey!!

MillyMollyMoo · 15/04/2010 22:57

I feel sorry for GB he should have stayed as chancellor and gone down in history for that. David I don't know, not convinced and he did himself no favors going on about why the biggest industry leaders and therefore the most to gain personally with a Conservative government were appealing to him for help in not paying more NI.
I would really like a hung parliament because I don't think any of them have clear policies I can agree with it but all have lots of good points.

mumblecrumble · 15/04/2010 22:58

I think Gorden Brown started from such a difficult place - easier for he others to criticise what is happening already.

Nick Clegg was great -remmebeing names etc etc.....but when it came to soundinglike a PM.I felt Gorden Brown knew what he was talking about, looked s relaxed and even made me laughed once (shudder)

FANTASTIC that the debate is on TV though!!! Helped mewith my vote deffinitely.

piscesmoon · 15/04/2010 23:00

I was irritated by DC telling us, at least twice that his DCs went to a state school. NC came out and said that class size was important-I have always been fed up with government telling us that class size doesn't matter. If I was to pay for education it would primarily to be for the small class size. His 20 in primary school and 16 in secondary school sounded wonderful and would save so much money later.

jackny · 15/04/2010 23:00

It won't matter how NC did 'cos he won't be PM! The choice is between DC & GB and with the opinion polls where they are DC will have his work cut out getting an overall majority. Taking the two serious contenders - DC & GB - I would say DC won. GB was tired and had no new answers. GB kept on and on about not cutting spending next year but has kept us in the dark about the depth of the cuts in future years. GB drove me mad with his cosying up to Liberal Democrats over electoral reform. GB isn't serious about electoral reform - if Labour wanted electoral reform they would have done something in the last 13 years. DC came across well on immigration, health and education. He had fresh ideas and believes the man in the street should have a say over how public servies are run.

SoLongAsItsHealthy · 15/04/2010 23:01

I thought Gordon did really well actually - he won't do well in the straw polls because people just want him out, no matter what. But he put on a very good show, the only one who didn't rely on charm and anecdotes and deceased children, but hard facts and experience.

Cameron under-performed. Insincere and fake. I agree with whoever said his anecdotes sounded made-up. Didn't come across as a very nice guy. If the Tories lose this election, it will be because they chose the wrong man.

Nick Clegg - well, who knew? Impressed me with his ability to hold his own and his presentation was excellent.

Overall, they will say Clegg won. But in truth it was Brown.

piscesmoon · 15/04/2010 23:01

I think you are right jackny-I thought that he came out best but I probably won't vote for him!

sfxmum · 15/04/2010 23:02

Nick Clegg did well

Brown did better than I expected

Cameron blew it, super patronising, too much 'I met...' and talking about his children

TurningBlue · 15/04/2010 23:03

Actually I thought DC came across really well, not insincere. NC did come across well too, but I agreed with more of DC's policies. Didn't believe a word of GB's about the economy, and I don't trust him to run it

chummymummy · 15/04/2010 23:04

I think GB did well- going for the natural look, rather than botoxed/shoe polished DC. He had a tough time because he was having to defend years of labour govnt. He was also talking about actual policies that could be reeled out not just vague ranom arguments.

NC did well - He was trying to go for a 'stand back and let the other two fight it out' approach, and then rolling his eyes at their childish fighting...

The constant remembering of names of the questioners was funny. Only GB referred to one of them as 'the questionner' rather then 'Bob' or whoever, but that adds to his non-pr charm...

Turniphead1 · 15/04/2010 23:06

I thought NC came across best (apart from the gibberish about immigrants being put into one specific part of the country...eh???!! that'd work)

But it's weird I have this thing that his face won't resgister in my brain. If he passed me in the street tomorrow I wouldn't recognise him. Strange

Ponders · 15/04/2010 23:06

NC didn't remember the names, he wrote them down (still a good trick though) & made a lot of sense.

GB did well considering he isn't good speaking in public.

DC was dreadful.

stealthsquiggle · 15/04/2010 23:06

MNTowers - please publish trends on amazon vs. boden

stealthsquiggle · 15/04/2010 23:07

turniphead - I have that problem - couldn't pick him out in an identity parade.

ShadeofViolet · 15/04/2010 23:07

GB also pronounced Jacqueline wrong, so he obviously wasnt really listening!

ShadeofViolet · 15/04/2010 23:08

I also noticed tonight that NC has very odd eyebrows.