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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:

piscesmoon · 16/04/2010 07:32

Although NC came off well, I also wondered how workable it all was in practice. GB came across much better than I expected.

CaveMum · 16/04/2010 07:33

One question I have to ask is have Labour opened the books to the other parties so they can see exactly what is currently being spent where? I think the Conservatives did this before the 1992 election.

If they haven't we can't expect the LibDems or the Tories to give us accurate figures on what they will cut or spend.

For me the debate hasn't changed my voting intentions. NC came across well but was patronising at times (he did the 'my kids go to state school' thing too) and it annoyed me that he kept putting his hands in his pockets! Stand up straight and look smart man, you're trying to become leader! That said, the LibDems have an igloos chance in he'll of getting in, so no vote there.

GB, I'm sorry but nothing he could say will make me vote for Labour. They have screwed this country over for 13 years and need to go. If only we could get shot of Mandy too!

DC not great, but not awful. I'm not 100% convinced by him as PM but the fact is we have a parliamentary system not a presidential one and I will therefore vote for the party I most agree with, not the man I like the most - or in this case dislike the least!

Tory vote for me.

posieparker · 16/04/2010 07:39

GB....I felt tired just watching him and loathed the fact that everything he had to say was about making up for the last decade of crap.

DC...Eeeewww, too many crowbarred PR phrases.

NC...Brilliant, and I loved all of his policies.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 16/04/2010 07:50

Has no political baring and is somewhat shallow....but if they ever made action figured for GB, DC & NC, DC's would be the most lifelike!

The man is made of plastic I'm sure!

Thought GB came across well! I was suprised at how well! The man has my vote

DC was a PITA!

NC came across very very well, won't change my vote but was impressed!

weegiemum · 16/04/2010 08:03

Nick Clegg came off best. But as the Nationalist leaders weren't included, I can't make a decent decision based on this debate (am in Scotland). So many questions realted to devolved powers (police, justice, education, health) that it just wasn't relevant to me or those around me.

SixtyFootDoll · 16/04/2010 08:06

I was pleasantly surprised at NC
Thought DC came across as superficial.
GB came across as snidey to me.

Still dont want to vote for any of them.
Wil porb vote for an independent as I cant not vote.

vesela · 16/04/2010 08:09

NC was engaging and to the point. Better than DC at using facts/anecdotes to make his point. Direct.

DC waffled - he uses anecdotes but can't seem to get anywhere with them. Patronising at times. Did get some points over, though.

GB tried, but he has a millstone round his neck. He clearly had gambits (let's get close to Clegg) that failed, and then it was as if he had nothing left.

Kneazle · 16/04/2010 08:12

NC was great
GB good as well
DC meh

Kneazle · 16/04/2010 08:19

When DC was talking about respite care he said "even for me the form filling was difficult" which made me thing so for us mere mortals it would be impossible because we are all so thick compared to you? I can't imagine he filled in the forms himself anyway.

LiLu79 · 16/04/2010 08:20

I'm sorry,but with the live debate last night,it was rubbish... Don't get me wrong yes they had some good points,but in saying that I don't want GB nor DC to get in...and with NC I seriously doubt he could cope with the job....
I'm still undecided to I will vote for

DeedeeD · 16/04/2010 08:25

1st: NC and GB
3rd: DC (vacuous)

Come on Nick make me want you.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 16/04/2010 08:27

GB fared much better than I had expected - but then I had not expected that much from him!! He sounded as if he knew his stuff (which of course he does)

NC - came accross well for me. DC mentioned his son which I thought was cheesy and his plight of respite care etc - trying to hard to be a man of the people......

I wanted to ask all of them when they referred to people "they met", who exactly they were....

CwtchyMama · 16/04/2010 08:31

I saw the debate last night & was an unsure voter,i have always voted Labour,all my family have too.

However i think New Labour have made a mess of our country & we do need a change.

I thought GB was okish last night but not great,tbh i dont think any of them shone out above the rest but what it did do was re-inforce my belief in wanting to vote Tory this time round.

I thought DC came across genuinely caring & chomping at the bit to get into office & start the changes we desperately need.

zazizoma · 16/04/2010 08:33

Was up all night worrying about GB's multilateral nuclear response . . . so we need to build new nukes so that there are more to throw at Iran if they misbehave? Sounds like the end of the world. NC was exactly right that this is outdated cold war thinking.

I found the pandering (unsung heros, brave troops blah blah blah) nauseating and a waste of time. More substance please!

I don't think GB or DC broke out of their traditional roles . . . GB defending and DC attacking. NC came across as an ordinary pol with his pandering, too bad.

But then we are to be voting for the policies, not the people, no?

ShadeofViolet · 16/04/2010 08:36

I have to say that I agree with the scrapping of the Child Trust Fund.

I agree with Nick Clegg's annoying habit of putting his hand in his pocket, but it was probably nerves.

Holland75 · 16/04/2010 08:36

Not changed my mind, GB for me. I also can not beleive how many people fell for NC name checking people who asked questions, that is the oldest trick in the book and not very original especially as he was reading them. I do like DC but not so keen on the rest on his party.

MojoLost · 16/04/2010 08:46

I don't understand why people are saying the Nick Clegg came out best!!!! He was like a child next to the other two.
On emmigration he said he would creation regional work permits, like that will work.
On crime he went on and on and on about converting the young offender on time, okay, how about all the criminals that are already out there.
He wants to eliminate the missal defense program leaving the UK completely unprotected
He kept repeating himself over and over again, his closing speech was uninspiring. I would be very worried if he became prime minister

Gordon Brown did really well, knows what he is talking about, but David Cameron has better ideas and seems to have done his homework about what business are worried about and the impact on the economy.

noddyholder · 16/04/2010 08:49

The regional immigration system is used with great effect in other countries

bebejones · 16/04/2010 08:51

NC came across the best IMO. However I don't want to vote for a party because of an xfactor style popularity contest of the party leaders. Policies are important too and I think that it was diffuclt to pick out what they were proposing amongst all the sniping & squabbling. Some of the Lib Dem ideas are, for me, a bit . So I am still not convinced by any of them TBH! Roll on the next debate!

maddyp · 16/04/2010 08:57

GB just confirmed that he wants to p**s more of our money up the wall. He spent most of his term as chancellor claiming to be "prudent" with our cash and has instead indulged in prolific wasteful spending. Having had a long period of economic growth and some of the highest treasury receipts in history, he has managed to spend everything and saddle us with a national debt which will take decades to put right. He has no credibility as to economic management - he told us he had fixed the boom and bust.

He continues to claim that by spending the most Labour cares the most and provides the best services. Utter nonsense. What we want is a government that is careful with our money and allocates it where it is needed, not one that thinks who spends the most wins the debate.
DC argued this point but needs to make it clearer.
NC came across well, although not convinced by his policies.

mackerel · 16/04/2010 08:58

I thought GB would perform pretty badly but he seemed surprisingly relaxed and did better than I thought he would.

I was worried that DC would do really well but thought he didn't. He really annoys me and when he kept harping on about how many of us haven't had to tighten our belts in recent years I kept thinking - YOU - you haven't. Hardly think the Camerons have been feeling the pinch. He deflected all of GB's questions about spending cuts which of course is to be expected but means that I am very suspicious of his plans.

Thought NC came accross very well. Of course he doesn't have a record in g'ment to defend but wass def. more personable than the other 2 and I suppose I like the general feel of his manifesto so am inclined to wish him well.

iloverhubarbcrumble · 16/04/2010 09:00

I think these debates are such a good idea, however stilted/artificial. None of this changed my voting intention, but I feel somewhat clearer now about specific policies.

I felt Nick Clegg didn't come across as having the gravitas needed to be the leader of a party. As someone else has said, abit 6th form debating society, and some of what he said seemed too matey and off the top of his head. I was abit disappointed in his performance.

I think GB came over better overall, as he does have that gravitas I was looking for. He presented as the executive. He should stop that awful laughter/grimace though - weird.

I thought DC perhaps came over better as prospective leader than NC - abit more 'grown up' and serious. But the way he looked at his notes instead of listening/engaging didn't work.

Thought it was funny when NC told that bright jewish boy with the v good question re education that he NC would bring in Sat morning schools.... Just being picky. Could have been any of them saying that I think.

LoveBeingAMummy · 16/04/2010 09:01

I can see GB and DC so busy fighting with each other they don't even notice NC moving into no. 10!

Agree with loads of others, NC will have made quite a few people think about taking LDs seriously and GB obviously knows what he's taking about (and so he should) whilst DC came third for me.

LoveBeingAMummy · 16/04/2010 09:03

MojoLost · 16/04/2010 09:04

What the debate again, NC kept repeating himself on everything over and over again. It's like he was desperate to have a say but couldn't think of anything good. Really not impressed at all.

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