First Live, UK Political Debate.

Question 3. I own a pub, and recent MP Scandles, how can you rebuild trust?
Clegg- we must own up about these issues and be honest. No lib dem was involved.
Brown- im sorry, i want to do 3 things, the right to recall, the right to potition parliment. And to reform the house of lords thatll be elected.
Cam- i know how the people feel. I was determind to clean up the scandle. We must cut the cost of house of commons by 10% and mp wages by 5%
clegg- its all good to talk, but we must take action. When we wanted to do something you stopped us. You conned us when we wanted to sack our mps.
Brown- i agree with clegg, we should reform. We should cut the numbers of Lords by 50%.
Cam- you've had 13 years to change commons. Why should MPs take the brunt?
Brown- we can make lords more responsible and better.
Cam- we should be frank, things are a mess. Yeah, we get money from rich people.
Clegg- we were exonerated for £2million, that was years ago.
Brown- we should raise the standerd here. We must take action. We should reform Lords and Commons and Clegg agrees. (clegg then disagrees)
Cam- (just said what brown just said)
clegg- im dismayed, we tryed putting this forward about reform, but you blocked it..

How can you improve education?
Brown- better teachers and new skills to Compeate globally etc.
Cam- were not doing enougth we need more money in education to increase standerds.
Clegg- education is jumping through hoops. To much buracraticy. We want to make an education freedom act.
Brown- we insist on better education, we let schools privatise, and invest and we dont want budgets cut that'll be a risk.
Cam- I want the best for students. We want safer classrooms to stop classroom violnce.
Clegg- i think education freedom is needed. Over filling of classrooms is illegal, and its happining UK wide.
Cam- we spend to much in improving.
Brown- we shouldnt cut, its a risk to education.
Cam- brown wants N.I. Increased. Thatll take money from teachers wages.
Brown- why wont you support education funding?
Clegg- the mord they attack each other, the more they sound the same. We need smaller class sizes and better teacher freedom. This improves standerds.
Brown- i agree, i want that and the best, but we must address spending.

Shame we do not have a ron paul over here, oh yep he would be going on about the constition, or mangna carta or what ever ou call it.

Could you just imagine ron paul being english and speaking the way he does. lol

Question..How can your tax cuts, not damage recovery?
Cam-threat is labours job tax that'll increase the deficit.
Clegg- we should be open. And were the only party that'll show you how.(gives examples) im the only leader here whos clear.
Brown- we've supported the econamy because there was no privite investment. We dont want a double dip recession.
Cam- we've seen economic waste(gives recent examples to cut tax rises)
Clegg- they want stupid 'small' cuts. Were being open and set out 15billion in savings to deal with the black hole.
Brown- think how hard it is to save so much so quick. Weve prevented unemployment, thatll lead to less growth. Lets take no risks.
Clegg- we all know we need to make cuts. Whos being clear of what they'll be? We'll be straight.
Cam- we must come together. Clegg has a great idea but we cant do that 17billion cut.
Clegg-
Brown- take 6 billion out of the econamy now, and watch what happens. Job losses.
Cam- brown is wasting money.
Brown- we gotta make this recovery move. Dont make cuts now that'll damage recovery.
Cam- job tax. We dont want more tax.
Brown- pull out the money and we wont see growth.
Clegg- were going off topic, we need to get rid of trident. And adress pensions.
Cam- cut tax.

The war. Underequiped. Why?
Brown- were doing the right thing, weve spent lots on equipment, and are properly equiped.
Cam- i join brown in paying tribute to you and the armedservices. We dont do enougth. We had to fight a battle in stopping cuts in the forces.
Clegg- I was at a factory that makes anti-mines for trucks, we should fit our army with these not just USA.
Brown- were in afghan because of the terror threat. It all starts there.
We must bring our troops home by increasing protection if Afghan.
Cam- we gotta have a audit of equipment. Weve had to much terror, how can we adapt.
Brown- taliban changed tactics. We had to respond. We have 1000 new vehicles.
Clegg- i agree, we need a reviwe of equipment. The other two want to rule out trident.
Cam- we must protect UK, and cant be certin of future we need trident.
Brown- we need deterents, but must persuade not to have nukes.
Clegg- we cant afford it, and we wont use it, were not in a cold war any more. Focus on equipment.
Cam- we need a audit, after deployment in Afgan, and the army told me that they wernt equiped.
Brown- not correct, we gave them helicopters. Were the best equiped in brit history.

Question. Health issues,
Brown- we should guarentee specialists and diagnosis and operate in 18 weeks.
Cam- NHS is wonderful, (mentions personel experience) budget should increase. We must develop it.
Clegg- we must prioritise, cut waste, to many managers. New Computers dont work. Were wasting cash.
Brown- the main source of employment is in the Nhs. Front line support is a priority. We guarente, Cam wont.
Cam- more managers than nurses, Browns had 13 years to stop this. Stop the N.I. Rise and spend money on cancer drugs.
Clegg- this is a phoney debate. We must judge on how were treated. We cant cut deficit imediately Camaron. We must be straight!
Cam- weve made an exception, we need the extra money to spend on Expensive medicin. Our cancer death rates worse than Bulgaria.
Brown- cam isnt being honest.
Cam- quotes a case about someone who couldnt get cancer drugs.
Clegg- we need honesty. We cant support all the cuts, we must explain how we do it!
Cam- Clegg, cant afford to do the cuts.
Clegg- well stop the rich getting tax cuts.

Final question. How can we be fair to the elderly? Pensions.
Cam- put 8k away to help pay towards your own.
Clegg- put things aside and we must work together because this is a big issue.
Brown- elerly people shouldnt have to sell assets to pay for care. They should be able to be cared for at home. Needs should be met and we must work together.
Cam- its not a small problem. Its unfair. We all would like to live at home. We must help careers, and give them more rights, give them a break.
Clegg- i agree. There are a million who care for the elderly. Their unsung heros. They need more time off. Neither of us 3 have a solution.
Brown- They need a break. Were introducing new measures to provide home care.
Cam- we need to give care'ers more power (mentions personal life- his son)
Brown- we need to do more, we must work on it more. People shouldnt be worried about losing their home to pay for care.
Clegg- we can all come to a conclushion.

Closing statements...
Clegg- thanks for listening. There is an alternative to the other 2 partys. Say yes to something new. We can have a fair future. Trust your instincts.

Brown- Im greatfull, and hope people paid attention. We must all make decissions. We must not repeat the 30's, we need
investment not cuts. N.I. Is important to support these investments. Cameron cant give clear answers.

Cam- Choose hope over fear. Stop Labours job tax. If you work hard ill, be behing you. We can do incredible things. We need change. I can bring it to this country

Nick Clegg won that debate, hands down.

Cameron 2nd.

Brown, a distant 3rd.

Well done Clegg.

Thanks to Esrom Escutcheon Esquire for the commentary

[edit on 15/4/2010 by budski]

Definitely, Clegg Spanked the pair of them and said things that neither of them liked.. mainly the political reform that Clegg proposed that both Labour and the Tories rejected regarding dodgy MP's.

Was interesting to see Brown and Cameron squirm.


Lib Dems

[edit on 15/4/10 by blupblup]

I was ment to be watching this but then I found of ghosts of the abyss was on and I just had to watch that doc >_<

I was ment to be watching this but then I found of ghosts of the abyss was on and I just had to watch that doc >_<

reply to post by blupblup


For me, the best part was the Trident discussion, where Clegg turned round and said "It's not the cold war anymore, and you guys need to realise that"

Class - 100 billion could be better spent elsewhere.
Like the 45,000 people who put into the system all their lives and then have to sell their houses to recieve the care they already paid for...

The results of the Poll are in, Nick Clegg won tonights debate.

reply to post by budski




Definitely mate, He really did show them up several times.
Gordon Brown's uncomfortable, nervous smile fooled nobody... Cameron dodging points and Selling snake Oil...

The only one with a scrap of integrity and is perhaps a truly decent and honest politician, Is the only one who has no chance of being voted in.
That is a sad fact indeed.

I've voted Lib Dems the last 3 Times... I think I'll continue.

People say It's a wasted vote and you should only vote Tories or Labour, But I actually can't do it man.

Man.... this country needs a shake-up.

Two smaller partys are giving their viwes.

The Scotish Nationalist party called the debate Irrelivant.

While,

Plaid Cymru said that Wales was neglected in the debate, and should have been given a platform on the debate. They'll use this to launch a political attack.

Suppose more will follow. Think ill leave a proper reviwe untill tommorow, although, i do think it was quite impressive.
Brown had a tougth job to live up to and defend 13 years of Labour.
Cameron, obviously went on the attack to try and damage Browns rapport with the audience, and also drew from personal experiences involving is son.
Clegg was the dark horse, and sumwhat neutral yet managed to come out on top with clear and concise answers.

reply to post by blupblup


It certainly does need a shake up.

And Clegg may be the man to do it - he talks sense and has maybe the best political economist on his side in Vince Cable.

For my money, the lib dems hold the key to the next election...

Originally posted by budski

And Clegg may be the man to do it - he talks sense and has maybe the best political economist on his side in Vince Cable.

For my money, the lib dems hold the key to the next election...

Vince cable certainly knows his stuff man, he's shrewd, and as you say, a brilliant economist.

I'm glad to see the Lib dems getting equal airtime, and who knows... in 4, 8, 12 years time, we may even have a new Government and it may well be Yellow. I think the more people see the Lib-Dems and see what they're about, then more people will see that they are actually a pretty solid party and they really are fed up with the other 2 parties.

I mean I hate all the parties really, Hate this stuffy, ridiculously pompous attitude and really hate completely over the top and outdated stupidity that we call PMQ's and other debates in the House of Commons.

I mean what the fook is that about?

We're in the 21st century now, we need to drag politics with us.



[edit on 15/4/10 by blupblup]

reply to post by blupblup


21st century is right.

Unfortunately, I think only one of those guys on the podiums tonight understood where and when we are living, and it wasn't one of the "big two"

Yeah, we are in a new age.
We get force fed the same policys, false hopes and all that ''we're the one's you should vote for'' stuff, and yet what have we really learnt from this debate? (other than my grammer and spelling being rubbish)

I guess the papers will sum it up. But tackling the issue now, before its in the press, Since the Lib Dem's have done so well (based on the after debate poll) they've set the bar, and now may risk not being so effective in the next TWO debates. People will have high expectations and will the Liberal Democrats meet them?
Nick Clegg also benifited by Brown and Cameron arguing.
Cameron, as pointed out by the Scottish National Party made a HUGE gaff about Trident. He said about how we need it for future threats from the likes of Iran and China (i didnt put this in my comentary, i couldnt keep up!) which will be scrutinised more tommorow in the press. Over all though he kept his nerve..
Brown on the other hand had the most to lose as well as the hardest task of protecting his seat in number 10. I think he, like Cameron also kept his nerve and tried injecting humour into the debate (mentiond conservative air brushed posters of Gordon Brown, with him smiling) and also I think was second in my oppinion. Protecting his leadership and will most likely bounce back in the second and third debates.

Anyway, I did miss quite a few key points but have listed the basic 'jist' of the debate, and shall try doing better next time. Ill also add the fallout of tomorrows oppinions from other news sources.

So there are viwing figures appearing.
Im quite slow at replying to this, but-

Across Wales, 450,000 watched the debate.

While UK wide there was about 10 million watching this on TV across Britain.

The three partys are all adamant that they done well despite the quick poll of about 4000 people after the debate.

UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) are saying the debate was folly. They picked up on the immigration part about how they ignored EU immegration policy and how to cut it.
From what I remmember UKIP wants independence from Europe due to the ammount of money that we pay into the EU.
Yet, wouldnt this just be moving backwards?
But still they do have a point, the amount we give Europe is way to high.

Obviouslly these WILL be talking points of the next two debates.
And today, Nick Clegg played down the poll taken and said it doesn't matter. The only Poll that DOES matter is the actual election.
David Cameron praised Clegg for a seemingly successful debate and Gordon Brown was on radio Sussex this morning saying that the debate was a success and did not acknowledge Cleggs debate victory.