For those planning to watch the leadership debate...

lostinrates

Malcolm. wrote: »

I think our definition of a few, proportionally, is perhaps different.

There's a reason the few marginals receive all the politician's attention and many seats are referred to as 'safe'.

yeah, I thought about the wording as soon as pressed send. I'm over excited tonight, whch makes finding the words for what I actually want to say really hard :D

But...for example....QT is talking about ''people power' / all day I read dis enchantment with society and lack of option etc here, in various forums, but its like everyone wants to moan about it but not change.

A few I mean....everyone who feels like you, getting up and voting. The ''disinterested'' being shaken to wake up, instead of sitting there saying ''my vote doesn't mean anything'' because if you don't cast it, it it sure as hell doesn't. nothing good anyway.

lostinrates

I think I'm going mad...elections are ANTI -liberty? I understand elections from a limited pool of suitabilty being required?, but ....surely that's MORE about freedom from imposition from state???

I think I'm very tired because I don't understand her argument at all on this. Maybe I will in the morning

Emy1501

Thought Clegg was really good had good answers for pretty much all the questions though I'm not to sure on the Trident issues as the other 2 said. Cameron was ok but would have expected him to be better. Got shot down on the House of Lords issue and clearing up politics. Brown was much better than I thought he would be but his answer to everything was we will spend more and spending more will give better results. He does not seem to get that simply spending more does not give the best results. He also had no answer to the cuts amounting to only £1 in every hundred which seems the quiv of £200 from someone on 20K which does not seem like a great deal.

The reality was it was pretty boring Clegg was the only one who really answered the questions and Brown just kept trying to turn into an economy debate which I suspect is all he really knows about.

One thing that will go against Clegg once people go over the debate was he seemed to give the impression that the Lib Dems will cut the most from next year even more than the Tories and thats not going to go down well

chewmylegoff

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

No point whatsoever in looking at any of the "vote now" polls - too easy for people to vote again and again, plus the result is coloured by the readership. The only valid polls are the YouGov and ComRes ones. And both had Clegg thrash Cameron. We expected Brown to come off worse and despite doing much better than I expected I'd still put him 3rd. He won't lose existing voters from that performance though.

For national polls, this is where the fun begins. The only way the Tories can win is to persuade a mass of voters across so many seats to vote for them regardless of their own political affiliation. The LibDems have done well so far in the campaign, and now that people know what their leader looks like, I expect them to surge. With a hung parliament likely voting LibDem is a positive vote, not a waste or a protest.

So, Brown consolidates his position, Cameron struggles, the LibDems surge. Nightmare for the Tories who need LibDem voters and waverers tp abandon the yellows and vote Blue. I think we'll see the three parties look much closer in the next few polls.

if both polls had clegg thrashing cameron, then what do they show brown get? 12 of the best with clegg's 'special' cane? good attempt at spin though. "brown consolidates his position" - what as? least popular leader? or just plain old last?

realistically, these polls aren't going to have too much effect. people won't vote lib dems because the cliche of a vote for the lib dems being a wasted vote is about as ingrained into the national psyche as "rent money is dead money".

dave4545454

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Got me thinking, reading the comments on here, and moreso the ITV comments, has this TV debate actually changed anyones feelings?

no not at all, i'll still be voting lib dem even after this tv debate.

but the country doesn't have to worry, my one lib dem vote wont make any difference and we can look forward to another 100+ years of crap labour/tory governments

dealsearcher

Nick Clegg is not known to many people but he is a very capable party leader. If you watch pm questions on Wednesdays you would already know that. Many therefore expected Cameron and Brown to do reasonably well and were surprised at how well Clegg did. It is human nature then to be more impressed with Clegg.

carolt

I think that the huge victory for Nick Clegg last night makes the chances of a hung Parliament much, much more likely.

Sapphire

Well, I'm going to take a chance and vote for the Lib Dems. For some time now, I've felt that much of what they say makes sense and differs from what the other two parties say (tax breaks for the less well off, clamping down on offshore chicanery, splitting up banks, etc). I find Nick Clegg personable and erudite, and Vince Cable is competent and able when it comes to economic matters – someone who will be much needed over the coming years.

I cannot even stand the sight of Brown and think he and his party have damaged this country beyond belief. He's also a proven serial liar who hasn't dealt with the issue of MPs' expenses or curbing the banks (and thus preventing another economic catastrophe – or a continuation of this one) long after the event, and who has been responsible for mass uncontrolled economic immigration, to the detriment of society. From his record, nothing he is promising can be believed. The man is arrogant and a scary megalomaniac (he and the whole labour party should have stood down following the economic meltdown, not to mention the issue of MPs' expenses). How anyone can even contemplate voting for labour after what they've inflicted on Britain is beyond me. It just shows you how naive many of the people in this country are (though some will vote for labour because they are in the public services, or living off benefits at taxpayers' expense, etc).

The Conservatives are my second choice, although I find their policies a bit wishy-washy. Cameron seems like a decent enough chap, and I admire the way he dealt (quietly) with his son's death.

Britain needs political change and some clean air after 13 years of labour.

sammyjammy

chucky wrote: »

so these comments are political right?


this election isn't X-Factor and what song you choose or analysing body language - it's about addressing the issues in the UK

Its all about Baby steps, if it encourages people to vote for the first time then I'm just happy they do it no matter what their reasons.

dandy-candy

I watched last night and when Brown talks now it just leaves me cold because no matter what he says I just keep thinking how crap a position we are in now because of years of Labour. Cameron didn't really wow me either tbh. It's interesting to hear Nick Clegg because you just don't see him enough and I was surprised how much he kept making comments about the money not being there and tough times because the papers have been saying how Tories pushing the austerity line have made them unpopular so i'm surprised Libs would mention that so much. I still think I would be more inclined to vote Lib if Vince Cable was in charge!

Having read my way through the posts this really stood out

ninky wrote: »

i really cringe when i hear them all saying our brave men and women...they're not all brave. i've met servicemen who are just thick and annoying and doing it for the money cos they can't get another job.

What a horrible thing to say. Even if you think they are "thick and annoying" they are still just as likely to be injured or killed as those who do meet your standards of approval.