Televised Leaders Debates..

[Impasse]

What's on Film 4?

[4v6]

I'm going to watch this malarkey tonight for just one reason: To see Natalie Bennett stuttering inanely her way through the maths exam.
Now that's entertainment!

[mikal83]

I hope that Camaroooooooooooooon asks millipede will Labour cooperate with the SNP "in any shape or form, votes of cooperation etc" If SNP confirm that its no nukes.

[KingNothing]

Might watch and start a drinking game, a shot of spirits every time Ed says; "cost of living crisis", "bankers bonus", "mansion tax", "bedroom tax", and "hard working families", I expect the coroner to cart my alcohol pickled body out of my house tomorrow morning if I do though.

[BoRED S2upid]

KingNothing said:

Might watch and start a drinking game, a shot of spirits every time Ed says; "cost of living crisis", "bankers bonus", "mansion tax", "bedroom tax", and "hard working families", I expect the coroner to cart my alcohol pickled body out of my house tomorrow morning if I do though.

I like it! a game of bull st bingo politics style.

[Axionknight]

4v6 said:

I'm going to watch this malarkey tonight for just one reason: To see Natalie Bennett stuttering inanely her way through the maths exam.
Now that's entertainment!

She'll likely be glad they'll have so little speaking time, so there's less chance of her mucking it up!

She still will though.

[southendpier]

KingNothing said:

Might watch and start a drinking game, a shot of spirits every time Ed says; "cost of living crisis", "bankers bonus", "mansion tax", "bedroom tax", and "hard working families", I expect the coroner to cart my alcohol pickled body out of my house tomorrow morning if I do though.

For gawd's sake don't include "let me make myself clear..." you'll be smashed before the 3rd question.

[MGJohn]

handpaper said:

Soov535 said:

Farage is going to wipe the floor with this bunch of chinless tosspots.

With reference to a comment above about how they will all gang up on Cameron, I think there's a significant risk that all will attack Farage. The main three and the SNP are vulnerable over the EU; Labour, SNP and the Greens are weak on the economy, and no-one else has anything that looks like an immigration policy.
It's possible that they will seek to distract from these by attacking UKIP. Of course, such a course may not do them any good, for various reasons...

Most definitely that I expect to be the case tonight. A wise ploy for the three main party leaders to deflect away from their ongoing failures. Plus, their real and valid fear of the harm to them and their party from Farage's annoying habit of telling things like they really are. An accusation the three main party leaders are rarely if ever guilty of.

I'm convinced that NF is almost certainly the best of the seven at thinking on his feet and answering quickly and effectively in a way that would normally require more time to consider for most others. Close behind NF Cameron has also improved that thinking on his feet answering skill. He has had much more practice plus the bonus experience of actually being in office. Dependent on how the TV "moderators" interfere or allow the exchanges, I expect Miliband not to be anywhere near as effective as Cameron, Farage and also Clegg who can occasionally shine in those kinds of verbal exchanges.

Miliband's repeated "I believe..I believe..I believe..I believe.." and "Let me tell you what I think..Let me tell you what I think..Let me tell you what I think.." ploy cannoit work in tonight's seven-sided TV environment. In any event, it will be worth watching although will we learn much from the experience? Doubt it but, lets hope I'm wrong about that and the show really does have some form of positive pay off for us all. Praise be for that ..

[anonymous-user]

mikal83 said:

I hope that Camaroooooooooooooon asks millipede will Labour cooperate with the SNP "in any shape or form, votes of cooperation etc" If SNP confirm that its no nukes.

Really? I doubt that would be a question he would want to ask.

Cameron to Miliband: Will Labour co-operate with the SNP "in any shape or form, votes of cooperation etc" if the SNP says it will vote against Trident and any other nuclear weapons.

Miliband to Cameron: David, I don't care what the SNP say about their voting intention. Because my party will vote for nukes, and unless you're telling me here and now that the Conservative party won't back us on that, the country is keeping its nukes. So, David, are you and your party going to vote against nukes?

Cameron to Miliband: Err, no.

Miliband to Cameron: Thought not. Now, remind me: what was your question again?

[Asterix]

KingNothing said:

Might watch and start a drinking game, a shot of spirits every time Ed says; "cost of living crisis", "bankers bonus", "mansion tax", "bedroom tax", and "hard working families", I expect the coroner to cart my alcohol pickled body out of my house tomorrow morning if I do though.

Add 'Fairness' to that and I'd book your liver into A&E now.

[MGJohn]

Thanks for some of the more amusing posts on this and other Politics related threads. Does you good to have a giggle now and again.

Meantime, place your bets on tonight's seven-horse race ...

7 Way Live TV Debate Winner (by ComRes instant reaction poll)

6/4 Nigel Farage

10/3 David Cameron

10/3 Ed Miliband

7/1 Nicola Sturgeon

9/1 Nick Clegg

14/1 Leanne Wood

20/1 Natalie Bennett

Predict the leader that is voted the best performer in the ComRes instant reaction poll on the televised leaders’ debate (screened 2nd April 2015)

So, clearly Nice and Nasty Nigel is clear bookies' favourite @ askinny 6-4..

Money where your mouth is time ..

[Planet Blatark-9]

said:

I think there's a significant risk that all will attack Farage.

I wonder whether people have concluded that attacking Farage just increases support. I suspect that the other leaders will try their hardest to make it look like they aren't taking anything he says seriously, ie, not debate with him, laugh when responding to him, look disinterested (and the other way) when he talks, -- basically to try and subtly persuade the public that nothing he says is worth listening to.

I think their biggest fear is for people to ACTUALLY understand what UKIP stands for, as they know that if their true policies get out, they will get support from the kind of people who are not that interested in politics and simply listen to mis-quoted sound-bites the media pump out.

This is part of the reason CMD did not want UKIP included in the original debate, he knows Farage's message makes sense and that people will vote for it.

UKIP is a threat to the CONS & with this in mind, why not take on Farage one-on-one and show everyone that UKIP policies hold no water? Avoiding UKIP, and deliberately trying to dilute the debate (which he has succeeded in doing) just tells me that he is scared of UKIP policy and scared of debating against it.


I also think that the vast majority of the people who watch this debate are interested in politics and as such, decided already who they will vote for. I don't think this debate will make much difference to anyone come election day.

[Wills2]

Sargeant Orange said:

I can't see any of them having the time to dwell too deeply on points or being able to challenge others, without others butting in. It could end being a complete waste of time which will suit Dave.

I think i'll settle for some bullst bingo instead (in order of most likely to happen):

CMD: "Let me be clear"
Tough Ed: "Right"
Nige: "Look"
Deputy Nick: "We promise"
Leanne Wood: "In my country"
Sturgeon: "Freedom"
The convict: "Think of the fluffy bunny rabbits"

Very good, just about all they will get out before the shouting down starts.

If I we're CMD I'd be looking to stir it up big time between Miliband and Sturgeon, just keep lobbing grenades their way and get them at each other.

[Planet Blatark-9]

The formate should be similar to QT i.e. minimal interuptions, but I guess the ITV producers concluded that watching seven people trying to shout over each other would be more entertaining.

[mikal83]

Greg66 said:

Really? I doubt that would be a question he would want to ask.

Cameron to Miliband: Will Labour co-operate with the SNP "in any shape or form, votes of cooperation etc" if the SNP says it will vote against Trident and any other nuclear weapons.

Miliband to Cameron: David, I don't care what the SNP say about their voting intention. Because my party will vote for nukes, and unless you're telling me here and now that the Conservative party won't back us on that, the country is keeping its nukes. So, David, are you and your party going to vote against nukes?

Cameron to Miliband: Err, no.

Miliband to Cameron: Thought not. Now, remind me: what was your question again?

Whoosh...........hence my "anyway, any form" of co operation if SNP say, nukes have to go, NO replacement to trident, end off. SO IF, I really really hope not, Labour get in, AND ask the SNP to join them to form a majority, the SNP say, No trident/replacement....... will Labour say, ok then?

[Cheese Mechanic]

I won't be watching it, have better things to do.

Anyhow, Clarkson is not on, so nothing really entertaining like that cretin Miliband getting
a smack in the gob is going to happen , so waste of valuable time, (and oxygen) (and power) (and temeperament)

[BlackLabel]

The final debate is on tonight. 7 leaders become 5 with Dave refusing to take part and Clegg not being invited.

Miliband and Farage are going to get ganged up on big time tonight imo.

bbc said:

Five of Westminster's opposition party leaders are making final preparations for a live TV election debate.

Labour leader Ed Miliband, UKIP's Nigel Farage, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru and the Greens' Natalie Bennett will take part.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg complained the debate would be "lopsided" without either of the government parties.

The PM said it was part of a deal to "unblock the logjam" over debates but Labour accused him of "ducking" them.

The BBC contest, hosted by David Dimbleby from central London, begins at 20:00 BST.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32328664

[rover 623gsi]

mistake by CMD

[Laurel Green]

Not in the debate yet both are in the 'Election debate 2015 - The Reaction' after the debate?

[Chlamydia]

Total waste of time, why even bother? We all know it'll be jingoism that they've learnt from their PR gurus the night before and no real facts.
I wonder if Ed will still be reminding himself to be a 'mighty warrior'?