17 Comments

• Anton Howes 8th May '09 - 4:08pm

  This PPB is almost identical to the Conservative one.
  Unlucky. Your one is good, but they kinda did their one better.
  As I said, unlucky.

• Richard Huzzey 8th May '09 - 4:23pm

  Yeah, I spotted the similarity although I liked this PPB.

  I think the Tories’ higher budget helped them create the impression of Cameron making multiple town hall meetings while ours is cut from one — and one that looks more like a film studio than a provincial venue.

  Still, good concept and good execution.

• Anton Howes 8th May '09 - 4:45pm

  Yeah, I agree that the concept is a good one.

• Niklas Smith 8th May '09 - 5:17pm

  Good idea – I like the town hall meetings. But what does this “Stronger together” slogan mean?

• Niklas Smith 8th May '09 - 5:18pm

  P.S. I understand the limitations of time, but it might be better if it was possible to hear at least some of the questions before Nick Clegg’s answers.

• Alex Foster 8th May '09 - 6:02pm

  Niklas – “Stronger together, poorer apart” is our slogan for the European elections.

• Mark Smith 8th May '09 - 7:07pm

  I’m rather confused. This was billed as a European Election broadcast, but – just like the Tory and Labour ones – it focuses on domestic politics.

  Forgive me if this seems perverse, but I don’t want to know what the parties will do if they win the next General Election, I want to know what they will do in the European Parliament.

  Is there a link for the Lib Dem manifesto for this election?

• Richard Huzzey 8th May '09 - 7:16pm

  Must confess that I didn’t understand “Stronger together” had anything to do with Europe.

• Cllr Patrick Smith 8th May '09 - 7:17pm

  This brilliant Euro video going by Nick Clegg was applauded by a well rounded and student audience, whom represent Britain`s future talent.

  The core message was and it is the case that only the progressive approach by Lib Dems has stood firm on all the important issues in Britain today.

  1.Against the War in Iraq.

  2.In favour of Civil Liberties rather than `trashing them’ like Labour and Tories.

  3.Making all decisions that enrich, not erode our Democracy.

  4.Support the British Economy and the workforce and all those seeking to rejoin it.

  5.Seeking to provide a happier debt free future for students,without that millstone of `debt’ round their necks : that this Government has forced them to take into the job market and first home.

  6.To stop the smart accountants running rings round Gordon Brown`s gaping `tax loopholes’ and save £17B for less tax for 10% of worst off people, by closing them.

  7. Repaying that saving by giving it back to our worst off and allowing that 10%-the lowest paid- to work more fairly and spend more of their earnings on themselves and family needs.

  The Leader said he wants more liberated and optimistic young people.

  Young people are tomorrow`s community leaders and future L/D Cllrs and today`s human talent.

• Benjamin 8th May '09 - 8:53pm

  It’s a shame the Tory one went with the same sort of concept.

  I think Nick got much more in there in terms of policy and reasons to vote Liberal Democrat rather than Cameron’s which seemed to be reasons not to vote Labour and some vague platitudes.

  Whether it will be widely seen like that – or even widely seen – is something we’ll have to find out.

• Geoffrey Payne 8th May '09 - 8:58pm

  Hackney LIberal Democrats and Lib Dem Friends of Turkey have organised a similar event on Tuesday 19th May on the theme of “Turkey and our future in Europe”.
  Should be an interesting variation on the usual campaign themes, so you are welcome to come along.
  See
  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=77586382073&ref=ts

• Richard Huzzey 8th May '09 - 9:51pm

  The standout moment in the Cameron PPB was the one where he told a student he wouldn’t be scrapping fees. While his policy itself is wrong, a lot of members of the public will like his honesty in telling someone where he disagrees with them or where he can’t make something a spending priority. Voters don’t expect you to agree with them all the time or be all things to all men – I think they quite like politicians admitting when they disagree or when they can’t prioirtise everything at once.

• Antony Hook 9th May '09 - 8:56am

  Cameron’s video also showed him wearing no seat belt in his limousine. If they crashed Cameron would have been thrown forward, killing the driver.

• Simon Titley 9th May '09 - 9:20am

  A bizarrely irrelevant PPB. No mention of the European elections (despite this being billed as a “European Election Broadcast”). No mention of the local elections.

  With the best will in the world, voting Lib Dem in either of these elections will not cut your tax.

  In an election with a likely low turnout, what compelling reasons did this broadcast offer to elect Liberal Democrat MEPs and councillors?

  What’s up? Are we ashamed of our record in the European parliament or county councils?

• Graham 9th May '09 - 11:39am

  Two comments saying this was billed as a European election broadcast. The email I got from Cowley Street yesterday said European elections *and* local elections. I’ll wait until I’ve seen part 2 before I write off Europe getting a mention.

• Benjamin 9th May '09 - 3:14pm

  I don’t think any party is really majoring on Europe or the locals in their PPBs – indeed they rarely do, which is a shame.

  Other than UKIP, of course, who have nothing else to offer – I do hope we get to see a big CGI Euro-octopus destroying parliament again. That was fun.

• Voter 9th May '09 - 4:25pm

  Unfortunately, if that is his message, I find it incomprehensible.

  The Lib Dems did not stand firm for civil liberties.

  Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 had little opposition from the Lib Dems in the commons.

  I know that politics involved setting priorities but if you cannot stand firm on an issue, then it is clearly less important to you