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

[thepuddingchef]

I disagree, I think DC was right to talk about his experiences and his kids, after all it was a debate wached by joe public, who are not all in possession of a politics degree. NC wrote names down...not rocket science, but didn't acknowledge until later the good work our armed forces and nurses do. I wanted to hear about how their polices effected the ordinary person not how many billions we need to find to sort this country out, we know that already.

[Turniphead1]

Agree Turningblue about the constant use of the questioners' name .... never mind the constant blardy hoo haa about "can I see Bob...oh yes Bob...Bob that's you. There behind the camera."

And you know it was all down to the media consultant (paid ££££) who hammered home "Use their names. Look at them. Use real examples. Gordon please don't do that revolting chin-jutty thing it's awful I know you can't help it. "

[piscesmoon]

I wasn't too impressed by the names-it is just a PR thing and simple to do.

[AitchTwoZone]

if you mean that dc was trying to communicate with thick people who don't actually want to engage with politics, then yes. depressing, though.

[Ponders]

GB's chin thing is a nervous tic, god knows where it came from & it does him no favours but he can't help it, poor man.

[thepuddingchef]

us thickies still have a vote.....the last time I looked??

[AitchTwoZone]

yes. that is also depressing.

[Turniphead1]

Gosh, did anyone know that DC's kids go to STATE SCHOOL. Yes, STATE SCHOOL!!!!! (He's not that posh, honest)

[AitchTwoZone]

and he applied for direct care grants... couldn't do the paperwork but thinks he's fit to run the country.

[snala]

GB keeps my vote - very calm and together,

NC just didn't win me over although did better than I expected,

DC very patronising and fake, too many 'ive been' and 'I know a man that' and 'I know 7 people with cancer'. Full of it.

[BenHer]

Cleggover for me.Takes his tally up to 32 after shafting those two tonight tonight!

[LittleSilver]

Oh gosh, yes, DC's children go to a state school, don't they? Do you know, I think I did hear him say that. Goodness me, what a nice ordinary man he is, not specially privileged in any way. At all.

[Turniphead1]

And I think GB needs considerable credit for being the first incumbant PM to agree to this. He had the hardest job of all.

[WeNeedToLeaveInFiveMinutes]

I thought Nick Clegg was fantastic. I had expectations but he really was good.

I thought Cameron was too polished and too insubstantial. I expected him to do far better. Gordon is Gordon and much as I expected.

Clegg by a mile.

[thepuddingchef]

you were obviously on your second glass of bolly AitchTwoZone as you missed the point he was trying to make about needless paperwork.

[AitchTwoZone]

sorry, what? he said he'd found it hard, the poor pet. doesn't inspire much confidence. but yeah, you enjoy the sob stories... that's the measure of the man, that he's prepared to exploit the memory of his dead child.

[alicatte]

I think Nick Clegg came over very well - bit excitable but full of ideas. I can really remember the things he said too. I don't think I agree about Trident though. School class sizes would make the biggest difference - I think.

David Cameron frowned all the time and he seemed uncomfortable he didn't answer some of the questions too. The cameras kept showing him frowning - he kept on doing it except for the rehearsed bit at the end - I was surprised. I remember him saying he wanted to have a bigger drugs fund. But then he said he wanted to make government cuts too. I thought he had costed it all out.

Gordon Brown came over better than I expected, he's not the best public speaker in the world but he did seem to know his stuff. It would be nice to have those reforms for home care for the elderly - I didn't know he was planning that.

It was nice at the end when Gordon Brown started shaking hands with the audience - and then the others joined in. It made me warm to him. Well a bit.

[LadyBlaBlah]

I always think it would be a better Tory policy to send the kids to private school so then they can slag off the state school system etc. AND continue the privilege in one foul swoop.

He missed a trick there DC. How can he slate the education system created by Labour and at the same time say his kids go to a "fantastic state school"

Just pondering

[loungelizard]

NC was v.g but then he isn't a real contender for PM (more's the pity) so was less constrained that the others. However, came over very well, appeared genuine, will have won over a few voters I would think.

DC like sixth former debater/Daily Mail headliner.(I just simply didn't believe that anecdote about robber setting fire to sofa killing child and 'only being sent to prison for 4 years' etc etc.....). Came up with lots of inflammatory anecdotes but not much in the way of solutions to the problems.

Tend to think he wouldn't have had much to do with the NHS were it not for him having a very disabled child. But he was genuine in his thanks for the NHS nevertheless, I imagine (didn't have much choice emoticon).

GB looking like elder statesman, if a little dull and 'forced'. Don't know why he didn't labour the point (excuse the pun) on education that everyone should have a decent education regardless of wealth (i.e. paying for private education).

[Ponders]

aha, forgot, I was surprised & impressed by what DC said about therapy for drugs users to get them off crime.

(but I don't believe for a minute that he meant it )

[loungelizard]

Also think DC sounded like he was on Newsround for children.....explaining things in very simple terms to reach the lowest common denominator audience.

Slightly depressing, as may work.

[Rosie2010]

I really expected more from david cameron but he was weak and patronising. Clegg was lovely but he can say what he likes. Gordon Brown was so much better than i thought he'd be - he clearly knows his beans and I just trust him more

[ShrinkingViolet]

wonder if DC was told to frown to show he wasn't botoxed [cynical].
Also thought it was interesting that Clegg and Cameron stayed on the stage together at the end for the long camera shots while Brown had disappeared off.

[Rosie2010]

oh and also i'm so angry that the Lib Dems and the Tories will take away child trust funds. they've been great. That's the money that might make the difference between our children going to university or not when they get older. It also encouraged us to start saving for them. Poorer familys would need it even more. One of the best things labour did. Showed a real commitment to getting working class families into higher education

[johnworf]

Although Clegg gave the best performance, as Hague said in the after show analysis, it will be interesting to see how his figures/policies stand up under scrutiny. I felt that some of his figures were plucked from thin air and without substance and his policies unworkable.