Nick Clegg takes victory in the first TV debate
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Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg has emerged as the clear winner of Britain’s first live leaders’ debate.
An ITV News instant poll shows Clegg received 43 per cent of votes, while Conservative leader David Cameron got 26 per cent and Prime Minister Gordon Brown received just 20 per cent of votes. The consensus amongst media observers and commentators was that Clegg was the clear winner.
Brown has been criticised for taking an “aggressive” approach to the debate, hosted last night, which saw him interrupt and challenge Cameron throughout the 90-minute debate.
Arguing their economic policies, Brown insisted making rapid spending cuts would put jobs at risk and damage the economy, while Cameron attacked Labour’s National Insurance hike, labelling it a recovery “killer”.
Clegg argued the Lib Dems’ proposal to scrap the like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent would allow millions to be pumped back into the economy.
Clegg is also currently well ahead in Money Marketing’s poll. Who do you think came out top last night? Vote here.
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Readers' comments (11)
Mock Spannings | 16 Apr 2010 11:09 am
Clegg had really done his homework on the subjects and the presentation skills, he was clintonesk, (without the cigars!) or even like obama. More showing like that and Burk and Hare (brown and cameron) have a real fight on their hands
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Ross Langtree | 16 Apr 2010 11:15 am
Brown and Cameron took an absolute kicking last night, this really surprised me, Gordon looked angry, David looked sleazy, For a man call Clegg to come out streaks ahead was amazing. The 2 main parties must be worried now.
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Andre' 8000 | 16 Apr 2010 11:24 am
Did Brown not learn anything from the Bush jnr and Al Gore Debate, the aggressor is not popular with the majority. I have got to admit that Cameron didn’t do himself and favours with his holier than thou attitude, attacking labour rather than promoting tory policies and when the other 2 ganged up on him he had nothing top say
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Jen Specer Bowles | 16 Apr 2010 11:41 am
A reported 9.8 million viewer watched last night as two jaded hags fought amongst themselves (brown and cameron).
There is a large part of the electorate who must be thinking change, change, change, but mostly it’s the same the, same, the same from the 2 main parties.
I hate to say this and it does sicken me as a lifetime blue nose tory but I am thinking again, Cameron will cause such large cuts and I can’t see how that will the economy or my business as an intermediary. Less cash in the economy less work for me, simple economics.
There is no way I will go loony left but I think Clegg has suggested a viable alternative. I’m scared and may have to go to counseling to get over this but I’m thinking liberal……..ARRRRRGH!
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Bill Sheldon | 16 Apr 2010 1:15 pm
A picture obviously speaks a thousand words.
Are you really telling me that we, as financial advisers, should vote for someone who is going to raise the rate of CGT to 50% and remove higher rate relief for pensions.
Get a grip!
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NJH | 16 Apr 2010 1:27 pm
I do feel slightly sorry for Gordon Brown, as he has simply inherited the 'baggage' from the Blair days, but without the personality to carry it off. That said, as a key figure of Blairs government he helped lay down the criteria for the mess we now appear to be in.
Its about time politicians stopped thinking about putting in place specific ideas that will be 'potential vote winners' to get the public support (aka pack of lies to get power) and started thinking about what needs to be done to put this mess right. At the end of the day, no one party has all the answers and whichever party gets into power, there will be winners and loosers.
Having voted Labour in the past I am sick of them now...what a mess.....but equally I do not relish the Tories getting back in again. My ideal right now would be a hung Parliament with the best man selected for each role to get us back on our feet. Sad to say is that any new Govt getting in power now will have a hell of a job on its hands and the baggage from the last few years will remain for some time to come. I think its about time I voted for Clegg.
Although sometimes we all vote for the party we know on the basis that it is a comfort zone, its about time the British public woke up and took a real interest in politics (like in the USA) and used this election to constructively voice its true opinion of the whole bunch of them. That will shake them up. Wake up UK, if you don't vote, or waste your vote, we will still be in this mess in three years time.
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Steve Laird | 16 Apr 2010 1:35 pm
Good point Bill. I thought that the way Brown sucked up to Clegg was really creepy.
Easy for Clegg to look good in these debates as he's effectively leading the 'none of the above' party.
I do seriously doubt that there are many of his team who could hack it if they were given the power.
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Anonymous | 16 Apr 2010 1:56 pm
The Lib Dems tax policies -CGT@50%- Reduction of annual CGT rrelief to £1000-No cash bonuses above £2500-No higher relief on pension contributions are blatant soak the rich policies dressed up with the weasel word of 'Fairness'.Wake up people! -Vince Cable is an unreconstructed Socialist far left of Gordon Brown
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Duncan Jones | 16 Apr 2010 1:57 pm
Clegg can afford to be a maverick-after all he wont form the next government trust me!!
THe good news is he will split the Labour vote ensuring a much needed tory victory. Bring on May 6th!!
PS The tories would be good for our sector Jen Specer Bowles if you are in the savings end
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Polly Jessup | 16 Apr 2010 4:31 pm
Steve and Bill you are living in a hase of stupidity, cameron is blair 10 years ago, the only one delivering what used to be tory values is clegg
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