tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post1735702015275668898..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: My Verdict on the Leaders' DebateIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57427582338397975562010-04-17T11:37:42.652+01:002010-04-17T11:37:42.652+01:00@Paddy Briggs. are you Paddy pantsdown sorry Paddy...@Paddy Briggs. are you Paddy pantsdown sorry Paddy Ashdown? All this crap from the Libdems that given a hung parliament they will temper the excesses of either paty is stuff and nonsense. Even with their 30% poll rating after this X-factor madness, the Mail calculates 100 seats for them with the other two party roughly getting about 250+. Libdems as the Scottish experience demonstrates are hungry for cabinet positions. Given their propensity to support Labour and with Cable's Labour origin, they cannot really negotiate as Brown can well form a minority govt and challenge Libdems to vote him down. With 100 seats, Libdems if cause another election are not going to get that many seats again. Clegg and Cable will quietly go with Brown as the PM. That was what Scottish Libdem leader did , kept his ministerial post as deputy first minister and nodded whatever Labour said. later for years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43976611641293967772010-04-16T14:31:57.008+01:002010-04-16T14:31:57.008+01:00I listened on Radio 4 rather than watched on the T...I listened on Radio 4 rather than watched on the TV. I thought Clegg emerged as 'winner', but not by a huge margin - by no means by the type of margin that those who viewed the TV broadcast claim.<br /><br />Other observations: <br /><br />- There were significant periods when Clegg was silent. Presumably physical presence/body language/facial expression etc compensated for that on TV, but on radio silence is silence.<br /><br />- Cameron, I thought, came across poorly on radio. He just didn't sound 'convincing' and the references to voters he'd met, the eulogising of the armed forces, the way he shoehorned in an unecessary reference to his dead child etc all came across as very false in the absence of body language. His was the most disappointing performance of the 3, given the weight of expectation (encouraged by the Conservatives until late in the day) beforehand.<br /><br />- Brown on Radio was . . . exactly as expected really: dull, stilted, inarticulate, forced jocularity etc etc. Much like his appearances on the Today prog and at Question-Time. But the weight of expectation on him was far less than on Cameron so whilst his performance was poor, it didn't seem as poor as Cameron's.<br /><br />- The highlight for me was Brown on Law & Order. With no visuals, on the radio version I could've sworn he promised to deliver "more priests on the street". Now THAT would be a novel policy ...Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02180450184344630294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64036065820310448592010-04-16T12:30:33.700+01:002010-04-16T12:30:33.700+01:00Iain,
John's comment about seeing you in the ...Iain,<br /><br />John's comment about seeing you in the City Inn or the Atrium is typical Labourite bullying tactics. I get this kind of crap from local Labour members on my blog and elsewhere. It implies that you are being watched and can be "got at" at anytime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29121256765313508762010-04-16T12:12:25.711+01:002010-04-16T12:12:25.711+01:00There were some comments about the number of times...There were some comments about the number of times that Clegg mentioned Sheffield, his own constituency.<br /><br />I thought there was a convention (rule?) that candidates who were also spokesmen for their party, and so given national exposure on the media, did not mention their own constituency because it gives them an unfair advantage over other candidates.JMBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862227988978988383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2979767497401567642010-04-16T11:25:24.003+01:002010-04-16T11:25:24.003+01:00Iain
Did you not see this? From Sky News...
&quo...Iain<br /><br />Did you not see this? From Sky News...<br /><br />"The instant poll is giving feedback of the three televised debates, courtesy of Sky News and FizzBack, who are surveying a panel of more than 10,000 people by text message.<br /><br />In the first of the three showdowns, Nick Clegg won 37% of the vote, Gordon Brown 32% and David Cameron 31%."Paddy Briggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17847108655078927970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54867178705603326222010-04-16T09:58:58.794+01:002010-04-16T09:58:58.794+01:00Where I was disappointed in cameron is that he did...Where I was disappointed in cameron is that he didn't take Brown on when he parroted the mantra that the recovery is at risk if there is any reduction in public spending. Economic theory when I studied it held that the government leving taxes ultimately takes growth out of the economy and the best way to promote growth is to allow private business to grow. Unfortunately, all parties seem to be stuck in the notion that the state simply keeps on growing...Matthew Hewitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345776254632683104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52584626053453243632010-04-16T09:58:58.795+01:002010-04-16T09:58:58.795+01:00Where I was disappointed in cameron is that he did...Where I was disappointed in cameron is that he didn't take Brown on when he parroted the mantra that the recovery is at risk if there is any reduction in public spending. Economic theory when I studied it held that the government leving taxes ultimately takes growth out of the economy and the best way to promote growth is to allow private business to grow. Unfortunately, all parties seem to be stuck in the notion that the state simply keeps on growing...Matthew Hewitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345776254632683104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13089392805612919942010-04-16T09:16:52.552+01:002010-04-16T09:16:52.552+01:00A few more thoughts on the debate -
Clegg managed...A few more thoughts on the debate -<br /><br />Clegg managed very effectively to pull off the trick of criticizing the other two for spending all their time slagging each other off, while doing much the same himself. Can't be allowed to get away with this in the next two debates.<br /><br />On nuclear policy, to an uninformed observer, Liberal policy appeared to be scrap Trident, full stop. Several people I spoke to afterwards were genuinely astonished to hear that they propose to replace it with a "cheaper" system.<br />I suspect this ambiguity is deliberate, as it gives them full credit for the cost saving while ignoring the costs of whatever system they come up with. It also makes them more attractive to the unilateralists.<br /><br />The Tories need urgently to skewer the LibDem spending plans. Cameron tried briefly during the debate, but made little impact; Clegg based much of his argument on their "costings" in the manifesto. You and I know that those costings are based on fantasy figures (£5 billion from 'cracking down on tax avoidance ? Bilge), but again, to the naive observer, Clegg was allowed to have the best of this argument.<br /><br />Oh, and Brown was crap, and will continue to be so. His answer to everything was 'money'. Cameron needs a couple of short putdowns for him, so that he has time for some detailed questioning of Clegg.<br />No one managed to ask Clegg an awkward question and put him on the spot; Cameron needs to do so.Nigelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18171835878570773595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-40738762334424644772010-04-16T09:11:22.240+01:002010-04-16T09:11:22.240+01:00That bloke off the Lib Dems definitely won it.
Y&...That bloke off the Lib Dems definitely won it.<br /><br />Y'know, another couple of performances like that and <a href="http://dungeekin.blogspot.com/2010/04/leaders-debate-exclusive-poll-results.html" rel="nofollow">people might be able to remember who he is</a>.<br /><br />DDungeekinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09181585428709956991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-35819552672062926112010-04-16T09:03:38.060+01:002010-04-16T09:03:38.060+01:00I thought that Clegg came across very well but som...I thought that Clegg came across very well but some of his answers last night were frankly pathetic.<br /><br />On Education: “We will provide class sizes of 20 in primary schools and 16 in secondary schools.”<br /><br />So you’re going to double the number of teachers?<br /><br />How are you going to pay for that?<br /><br />How are you going to get that many more well-qualified teachers without standards dropping sharply?<br /><br />And where are these smaller classes going to learn?<br /><br />Are you going to double the number of classrooms? Build many more schools?<br /><br />And where is that budget for that coming from then?<br /><br />And you’re going to ask teachers to teach evenings and saturday morning lessons? When will they have time to get marking and preperation done?<br /><br />Talk about style over substance. Why aren’t the Lib Dems’ policies scrutinised as the other parties?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06439997258843180272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9645648885009089982010-04-16T08:57:01.457+01:002010-04-16T08:57:01.457+01:00I wonder whether I was watching the same programme...I wonder whether I was watching the same programme as the majority of posters here. To me Clegg came across as artificial and a bit shrill.<br /><br />It also struck me that if a total outsider, with no knowledge of UK politics, were to have watched the programme they would have come away with the impression that Cameron was the incumbent Prime Minister and that Brown and Clegg were the opposition leaders hell-bent on attacking him.Windsor Tripehoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16923036087016324862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81239740271367275062010-04-16T08:49:50.374+01:002010-04-16T08:49:50.374+01:00David Cameron did not do well. His choice and deli...David Cameron did not do well. His choice and delivery of anecdotes was poor and their delivery botched in each case. Since they had no ring of truth they were hard to remember.<br /><br />He was flustered by Brown's challenge on police numbers and on cancer times. Since these were surely going to be introduced he should have been prepared and aware. <br /><br />Simple but attacking answers - "Gordon, you have never kept a manifesto pledge so why should voters believe you on police". "You talk about 1000 vehicles and extra helicopters - they may be arriving now. I want to know why they were not there long ago"?<br /><br />Against Clegg he seemed to be amazed that Nicky was commanding part of the stage. Clegg got way with almost every silly promise unchallenged.<br /><br />When Brown kept trying to ally with Nick he could have reused a gag he has used effectively before. "Gordon, perhaps you should move over here so that you can hold Nick's hand".<br /><br />But the anecdotes were dire.Victor, NW Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778890471547456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81712474298604451992010-04-16T08:42:52.504+01:002010-04-16T08:42:52.504+01:00I think Cameron's objective was simple. To dis...I think Cameron's objective was simple. To dispel the 'toff' accusations. He delivered in spades and came across as warm and human. That's what voters will remember. This was about personality and voter interaction, not policy. As Gordon doesn't do human he missed that bit.Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04852867933348403214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47767598773379072472010-04-16T08:40:40.732+01:002010-04-16T08:40:40.732+01:00Gordon sounded like Nixon and made the same mistak...Gordon sounded like Nixon and made the same mistake. If we want the policies and Clegg and Labour have the same views why not take Clegg and avoid the misery of more GordonCynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04852867933348403214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61810002243299135072010-04-16T08:14:33.390+01:002010-04-16T08:14:33.390+01:00Shows how wrong we can be, I thought that Clegg wa...Shows how wrong we can be, I thought that Clegg was very lightweight, constant repetition, and no depth to the man, out of his depth. But apparently he was good, or was he ? are the given results just a demonstration of where the votes go when you are disaffected ? Most of Cleggs votes came from unhappy Brown voters and a few unhappy tories, will they go that way when faced with the real vote ?. Dave should have been more aggressive especially with Clegg and when it comes to Brown I think a more avuncular attitude full of pity and eyes cast to the ceiling would really wind him up.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07132057803097163797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47227221407896887472010-04-16T07:17:13.216+01:002010-04-16T07:17:13.216+01:00Do you remember "Not the Nine o'clock New...Do you remember "Not the Nine o'clock News"?<br /><br />They published a Christmas Annual thing one year and on a double spread page they did a spoof copy of The Sun Newspaper. I can't remember all the meaningless stories about celebrities, but in the bottom corner of the page was a small section entitled "Third world war declared"<br /><br />Well David Cameron said "this Government is borrowing one pound out of every four it spends". That was David's Third World War moment. That means 25% cuts to stop getting into further debt plus 5-10% cuts to pay back what we've borrowed already. If were lucky tax receipts may rise to cover sone of this. Every thing they spoke about was complete and utter cr@p. <br /><br />A phoney debate about building regulations when a nuclear warhead is in the air.javelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685858339910528013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91861652762329121992010-04-16T06:57:00.981+01:002010-04-16T06:57:00.981+01:00I was disappointed that DC did not hammer both Cle...I was disappointed that DC did not hammer both Clegg and Brown when they came up with the Tory IHT helps only 3000 top people, when clearly the opposite is true. He should have said that either these 2 don't understand, can't do basic maths, or are deliberately peddling lies, and "Which is it ?" very aggressively.<br /><br />Rather like he hammered Clegg with the £2.5 million fraud money attack. That is the kind of thing he would be respected for.<br /><br />I would expect some more aggression from DC next time.<br /><br />Alan DouglasAlan Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071898364060640779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86209535574666364782010-04-16T06:57:00.982+01:002010-04-16T06:57:00.982+01:00This Lib Dems will feal good this morning ( unless...This Lib Dems will feal good this morning ( unless they're in airport purgatory ).<br /><br />But its a false dawn. Nick Clegg opened a number of key fault lines in the Lib Dem case.<br /><br />1) The mindless pacifism of their Nuclear ideas. ( They will claim they will provide other nuclear weapons systems, but we all know its pacifism and weakness behind it all ).<br /><br />2) The Lib Dems will have to answer how their backing for taking on the massive debt hole matches their spending aspirations. ( And lets have none of these tax loophole / efficiency excuses ).<br /><br />In many parts of the south the Lib Dems stand as Labour proxies - for more public sector, more spending ( whatever their national leadership say ). This just won't hold now as they finally get some scrutiny.Man in a Shedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00990902055642035293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24309849143262227822010-04-16T06:13:30.300+01:002010-04-16T06:13:30.300+01:00Just had GMTV on they had a viewers panel that wen...Just had GMTV on they had a viewers panel that went strongly for Brown.<br /><br />Isn't somebody from GMTV standing as a labour candidate?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780087279404010202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77080646172416393202010-04-16T05:44:50.084+01:002010-04-16T05:44:50.084+01:00For me Camerons biggest failing was not challengin...For me Camerons biggest failing was not challenging Brown properly on his ofy repeated lie that not paying an extra 6 billion in taxes was equivalent to taking 6bn out of the economy.<br /><br />The poll results suggest that many people do not realise what a mess Brown haas got our finances into.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780087279404010202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-55758777675011177962010-04-16T03:55:07.890+01:002010-04-16T03:55:07.890+01:00If Liberal gains are at Labour's expense, Came...If Liberal gains are at Labour's expense, Cameron payed a blinder by allowing Clegg to shine and not attacking him too much.Tapestryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267094484651413428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76941498655964401892010-04-16T01:44:15.979+01:002010-04-16T01:44:15.979+01:00Less X-Factor than Max Factor - Cameron especially...Less X-Factor than Max Factor - Cameron especially.<br /><br />Maybe it was my set, but they were all coming over various shades of orange, and so rehearsed and hygenic. that the whole thing resembled nothing so much as a dull night in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.<br /><br />Brown was obviously the loser, so why can't we just eliminate him now and let Clegg and Cameron go head-to-head next time. Preferably with duelling pistols. This is what the new politics should be all about.HampsteadOwlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10579484010636107402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49285138614204213372010-04-16T01:08:56.949+01:002010-04-16T01:08:56.949+01:00Alternative TV Debate:
http://fxbites.blogspot.co...Alternative TV Debate:<br /><br />http://fxbites.blogspot.com/2010/04/tv-debate.htmlMaverick Wayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03332863613116516006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57992956327791303222010-04-16T00:34:23.220+01:002010-04-16T00:34:23.220+01:00nick clegg always does well in pmqs when given the...nick clegg always does well in pmqs when given the opportunity.<br />m not surprised at all.<br />Cameron is just a slick salesman,the sort you see on a sat afternoon selling cars.<br />Brown just constantly interrupts.<br />Clegg has style panache and knows what he is talking about.very impressive.<br />i was not going to vote perhaps bnp as protest,but now DEFINATLEY nick cleggUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03722681848007492576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66679285139724206892010-04-16T00:18:13.808+01:002010-04-16T00:18:13.808+01:00Cameron was far too wooden. Did not smile at all. ...Cameron was far too wooden. Did not smile at all. Allowed the others to interrupt him or the mc gave Clegg and Brown more air time. They also continued whenever their time was up while Cameron stopped immediately.<br /><br />A number of people are saying it was boring. For me the 90 minutes flew by.<br /><br />Agree about Cameron's summary at the end.<br /><br />Cameron seemed to lack ideological conviction. We have new schools & hospitals & £100,000 a year GPs because Brown provided these on the never never. He also was not convincing enough about the deficit but then that is a huge hole in the Tory manifesto unfortunately. He also used far too many folksy examples of people's so called experiences. <br />All parties want a blank cheque from the electorate to implement savage cuts post election.<br /><br />Clegg's party is the new CND (as well as Salmond in Scotland). Cameron did make the point about the 17 billion give away by the Lib Dems but I suppose he was advised not to attack Clegg too much.<br /><br />Brown just lied and lied forcing Cameron, ONCE, to rebut his more blatant lie about the Tories cutting front line services and staff.Osama the Nazarenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13627668308711758602noreply@blogger.com