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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:

alicatte · 16/04/2010 10:36

Why is Mr Cameron appearing with lots of 'old' celebrities? He's with someone from Take That today (is that the one Robbie Williams was in?)

If anyone from Conservative HQ is listening - What is your rationale for this please? Why don't you stop him, it's so 'Grazia,Heat etc.' It certainly makes me worry he's part of a self regarding celebrity culture which is completely divorced from reality (going to Eton is not a reason to disregard somebody as out of touch - but this is)

This is a real world election and I don't think I am alone in this view.

DrNortherner · 16/04/2010 10:37

Also, DC has no top lip whatsoever. There is an old saying 'never trust a man witout a top lip'

Well, that isn't an old saying but it should be!

Molesworth · 16/04/2010 10:38

alicatte - like this you mean?

soph24 · 16/04/2010 10:39

Just having read some of the other posts - I would say I also thought the ancedotes from Cameron were very annoying - all that arselicking about the NHS and great state school etc. Very irritating.

Plus the use of names and asking were people were in audience by Clegg and Cameron was annoying and came across as very very false. As if they give a toss who asked the question. Least GB appeared genuine.

MorocconOil · 16/04/2010 10:39

GB may not have the best manners, but what he has is integrity, a quality DC seems to be severly lacking in. Did he really say, 'I was talking to a black man the other day'

MorocconOil · 16/04/2010 10:42

Molesworth-ROFL at that photo!

tatt · 16/04/2010 10:42

where's the option for I didn't bother to watch it as the words they mouth don't matter? What matters is who controls their strings. I've watched on iplayer just to enter the prize draw .

Anyone asking an income question should be aware that some of us refuse to give accurate information.

Nick Clegg came over well, better than expected but my expectations were very low. Brown looked like the experienced elder statesman with a couple of kids after his job, but the refusal to let others speak was offputting. DC didn't impress me but he never has. Couldn't arrange a typist for his mumsnet session, can't fill in forms, not suitable to run a country. Problem the Conservatives have is that they are the party of greed and selfishness and they don't really have people who would make a good leader.

Kneazle · 16/04/2010 10:44

DC reminds me of Val Doonican in his jumpers bit too smooth.

ItalyLovingMummy · 16/04/2010 10:47

I was paying close attention to body language, tells you quite alot - DC was scratching his nose quite a bit, that usually means insincerity or lieing! GB came across quite well I thought, better than I thought he would. NC said some good things, but still thought he was a bit cheesy.

bourboncreme · 16/04/2010 10:49

Integrity?GB is only interested on one thing..being PM..and he doesn't care what he has to do or what lies he has to tell to stay there ,he has lied repeatedly during his tenure as Chancellor and Pm and i wouldn't trust him as far as i could throw him

soph24 · 16/04/2010 10:55

Yes bourboncreme - but you trust any of the others more - I susupect not - lesser of the evils??

gagamama · 16/04/2010 10:55

I totally PMSL @ DC and the 40-year-old "black man" who had been in the navy for 30 years. His whole appearance kind of came across a bit like "I'm down with everyone, even the foreigns and the poors!" So smug and self-congratulatory, and very much centred around who HE had met, HIS kids, HIS mother etc etc. I worry about his world view TBH, not to mention what the Tories will do with our fragile economy.

Clegg did come across very well, but had the least to lose. I voted Lib Dem last time round. I'd like to vote again this time round, but I'm so fearful of the Conservatives getting in that I'll probably vote Labour. Best outcome for me would be Labour coming out top in a hung parliament and forming a coalition government with Lib Dems.

Slickbird · 16/04/2010 10:59

I think the great thing about this debate is it has really brought politics into peoples' homes and I think it has really given them a clearer understanding of what party represents what. Usually the election campaigns fall on deaf ears as you catch snippets on the radio and tv. I think this leads to voter apathy, (compounded by the expenses row). BUT I feel it is SOOOOO important to vote, that even if you are not impressed with any of the main three, vote Green or something, cos if nothing else, we all need a planet! The most depressing thing voters can do is not turn up.

Who did the best? I think overall, Clegg, but yes, he is too polished and cheesy for my liking, but he is in a position to talk frankly as it is not so likely the lib dems would win, although I rather hope they do.

DC was just shown up to be the lightweight he really is - no substance. He spent most of the night looking like he was working out a complicated sum...

taffetacat · 16/04/2010 11:00

This is who DC reminds me of

policywonk · 16/04/2010 11:00

I also snurked at the 'I was talking to a black man the other day' - a 40-yr-old black man who had been in the Royal Navy for 30 years, apparently. Didn't know we still had cabin boys.

Cameron made a couple of errors like that - I think he was the most nervous, which surprised me.

policywonk · 16/04/2010 11:01

x-posted with gagamama

MorocconOil · 16/04/2010 11:06

Bourbon- GB was one of the main forces behind Surestart. Having lived in the inner city and worked in the public sector, I have seen our area change significantly over the past 10 years. From being a bit of a no go area, it has become a pretty desirable area to live. I firmly believe Surestart has played a significant part in this turnaround, and that the policy was well thought out and planned. It was also based on a real desire to change things for the people normally at the bottom of our society's pile. That is integrity.

I just can't imagine DC EVER having the intelligence, foresight,experience or knowledge to be involved in such social policy making.

Lulahthecat · 16/04/2010 11:09

This was a bit like the school play. Nick Clegg performed well as a bright eyed bushy tailed schoolboy. Cameron was the creepy Prefect who's a quiet bully - did you see how he went red from the collar up whenever he was angry - or trying to hide being angry. Gordon Brown was the old style Headmaster - complete with all the gravitas and policy.

ohmeohmy · 16/04/2010 11:13

found their constant 'when I went to visit x' comments irritating.

PinkFuschia · 16/04/2010 11:16

I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Lib Dem, so last night's debate wasn't really going to change my mind, and it didn't. I thought that NC came across as passionate and honest.

What I wanted to ask other MNetters is what would you like to see in the other debates? More 'performance' or more substantial policy detail and debate? I'm kind of torn on this because, whilst I would like to hear more detail about policy (how the Tories are going to persuade GPs to work 12 hours a day for 7 days a week for example, and how they are going to find and fund the extra doctors necessary to fulfil this election pledge) I do think a debate on detailed policy would turn into a complete yawn-fest. Having said that, how are the undecideds or floating voters going to be able to make up their minds if the debates just allow the party leaders to talk about their policies in thirty second soundbites?

FWIW I thought that GB was much better than I thought he would be (although he needs to stop kissing up to NC so obviously!) and that DC was dreadfully smarmy and insincere.

Lulahthecat · 16/04/2010 11:18

Maybe they will relax more in the next debates - this must be better than listening to speeches at the local town hall with only a handful of people turning up. Maybe this will help stop the apathy. My 14 year old son was interested enough to watch - I wondered if he thought that someone would get voted off at the end of round one - DC with any luck as he was quite slimy.

alicatte · 16/04/2010 11:22

Oh Molesworth, I've just got back from my latest chores to see that!! - What could have possessed him?

ScarletBandit · 16/04/2010 11:23

I think Nick Clegg came out of it the best, but as an undecided voter, I still wonder whether my vote is worth sending in his direction.
It really is a two horse race isn't it?

I am not keen on GB as a person, but he did seem to know what he was talking about when it came to facts and policies, whereas DC seemed to falter several times.

I think I will end up making my decision at the last minute on polling day. I have voted Labour in the past, but really don't know this time.

ScarletBandit · 16/04/2010 11:25

Just saw the pic of DC with Peter Stringfellow.
What on earth does he add to DC's election campaign?

MorocconOil · 16/04/2010 11:29

ScarletBandit- that DC knows how to be a good time boy?

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