Nick Clegg has racked up an impressive array of bad headlines this morning, with the Daily Mail's "Nazi Slur" being particularly ferocious. Is this a coordinated attempt to take the shine of the Lib Dems' surprising poll performance before the next leadership debate tonight, or just a demonstration of the increased interest people have in Clegg's party, including possible weaknesses?
PS: Here are The Telegraph and The Sun's stories.
PPS: Here is Twitter's view on Clegg's crticisms and here are 9 things to watch out for in tonights TV debate. Please add your comments below on how you think it went.
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ReplyDeleteA very interesting debate, although throughout I was not concious that any one leader did dramatically better than the other two. I watched it with some politically inclined friends and Paul Burstow's campaign team and supporters in the Sutton Holiday Inn. Felt a little bit out of place as a red in a sea of yellow, but it was very enjoyable. Although someone kept shouting 'I AGREE WITH NICK' every time Clegg so much as opened his mouth.
ReplyDeleteAs debates are much harder for incumbents who have a record to defend, I continue to be deeply impressed with Brown who I think it fair to say is exceeding everyone's expectations. Brown also packed some good punches at Cameron. I laughed at the 'Big Society, Little Britain' joke, and also when he said "The only problem with that David is that we're already doing it." A very clever and well placed attack. Most importantly he resisted the temptation to be too ad hominem as he was last week to some extent.
Cameron said a lot of sensible things, nothing which I passionately disagreed with, but came off very badly from the debate about the EU, and to a lesser extent the climate change question. As Clegg (I think) said, you cannot achieve a European consensus on climate change when you align yourself with parties who think it's a myth. Cameron lost it a bit, he practically shouted at Brown about Labour leaflets and then rebutted the European criticisms by saying I'm with the party of the dead Polish President, "so we'll have no more of that."
Clegg was at least more substance than style this week, although he didn't come off well with the questions on Trident and Immigration. And he kept referring to the other two leaders by their full names which was really weird.
And after the debate we watched David Miliband talk about how well Brown performed, and a Liberal Democrat campaign worker shook my hand after hearing me vocalise my opinion on George Osborne when his face appeared on screen. Good evening.