Author Archives: Stephen Tall

Here’s my pick of today’s best and most insightful post-debate analysis …

Live-Blogging The Second Brit Debate: A Clegg Triumph (Andrew Sullivan)
A fascinating outsider’s perspective from a US-resident English writer who identifies as a political conservative – and has no doubts that Clegg was the victor of last night’s second debate:

Clegg seems able to grasp hot-button issues and present himself as a fresh approach. … A quote for the night: “You can’t deport 900,000 people when you don’t know where they live.” yes, Clegg again, and he pushes Cameron for a specific number for a cap on immigrants. Cameron has

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Last night the Telegraph splashed its entire front page with a silly smear story about Nick Clegg receiving donations into his bank account. It’s been demolished within 24 hours, as the BBC reports:

Mr Clegg released copies of his bank statements and other paperwork in an attempt to clear up the row. The figures released by the party show donations from three private donors amounting to £19,690 were paid into Mr Clegg’s account between January 2006 and January 2008.

But according to the Lib Dems’ figures Mr Clegg paid £20,437.30 into party coffers between March 2006 and February 2008 for staffing

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The verdicts are coming in – you can read what I thought here – and two out of three of tonight’s instant polls show Nick Clegg edging tonight’s Sky News televised debate:

Angus Reid … Clegg 33%, Cameron 32%, Brown 23%
ComRes … Clegg 33%, Cameron 30%, Brown 30%
YouGov … Clegg 32%, Cameron 36%, Brown 29%

What’s clear is that this debate was a much close contest than last week’s first debate, much more evenly matched between the three leaders. Clegg was at least as good, but – to give them their due – both Cameron and in particular Brown had improved.

What’s unclear …

Welcome to Lib Dem Voice’s coverage of the second televised debate between the three main party leaders, an event perhaps even more keenly anticpated than last week’s inaugural debate – though the viewing figures will almost certainly be fewer. As last week, we’re co-hosting live-chat, below, simultaneously with the Mark Reckons blog.

Verdict:

Yes, I think Clegg did very well indeed, at least as good as last week. His closing speech was amazing. His answer on immigration was great: a genuine dividing line, expressed passionately. His only weakness was Trident, where he has the right policy – it must be reviewed before we shell out on an out-dated system – but it’s difficult to sell a review.

The surprise of the night was Brown. I’m not sure it will do him any good, but he was energetic, focused, passionate. He’s stil unable to connect with the public, but he will have apealed to those voters who above all value granite-strong leadership.

Cameron started well, and was pretty level-pegging at the half-way staged. But then he faded, and made almost no memorable points.

The issue which will now dominate the media for the next few days is the issue of Labour leaflets. The Tories and their friends in the press will go after Brown and Labour, and (like the war of Jennifer’s Ear in ’92) it wll bore the public rigid. But what Clegg did tonight was consolidate his performance last week.

Did he win? I think so, but I would, wouldn’t I? What is certain is that once again he has confirmed this is a three-way contest, and the Lib Dems are major players in British politics.

The Live-Blog, as it happened