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| The big debate has been held, and here's a run down of how the leaders did. (Pic : ITV) |
I'll only count this and the BBC opposition debate on on 16th April as "debates" because they're....actual debates. I'm not going to count the Question Time and Daily Politics specials or the interviews. I don't know if there are Wales-only debates planned over the next few weeks (as 2010), but if there are I'll cover them too.
If you're into BDSM, you can watch the whole extravaganza here and it's available until the end of the month.
I'm going to list the leaders in the same order they appeared at the podiums, from left to right.
Natalie Bennett - EnglandandWales Green Party
One line summary : "I'm not....*looks at notes* ....Caroline Lucas."
A passionate, but weak, opening statement laid out Natalie's anti-austerity message, which would be used throughout. She said austerity had a direct impact on public services everyone uses and was putting people out of work. In terms of deficit reduction, Natalie differentiated between "good debt" (investing in infrastructure) and "bad debt" (bail-outs).
On health, although she said quite categorically that profit motive has no place in healthcare, and that Greens wanted free social care, she waffled at length about the intricacies of NHS management, and walked into a trap laid by Nigel Farage by dragging in immigration – though making a good point about foreign NHS workers.
On immigration itself, she said the free movement of people should be celebrated, and that immigration isn't an economic issue but "about human lives". Natalie also supported an EU in-out referendum and would campaign to remain in the EU.
When it came to the question on young people, Natalie said schools needed to stop being "exam factories", and that education should be paid for through progressive taxation to relieve student debt burdens. Natalie also backed a £10 per hour minimum wage (though no costs were given).
Score : 5/10 – A dull Guardian-reader tick box exercise, but not as bad as it could've been. Room for improvement.
Nick Clegg - Liberal Democrats
One line summary : "I'm sorry. I can change, I promise!"
Nick immediately showed contrition for mistakes made in government, and tried to claim the centre ground between Labour's excessive spending and the Conservatives excessive cuts, which saw him turn on David Cameron straight away. The Coalition is over.
Nick said the "NHS doesn't need warm words, it needs hard cash", listing £8billion budget increases which could see around £450million come to Wales. Nick also made mental health a priority. He would pay for this by taxing the rich, though he made a mistake in claiming the SNP cut the Scottish health budget, which Nicola Sturgeon easily batted away.
Although the Lib Dems are more pro-immigration than other parties, he said "freedom of movement doesn't mean freedom to claim (welfare)", saying there was "good and bad immigration" - but not expanding further.
He regrets not being able to put his own tuition fee policy into practice, but described his reforms as "the fairest deal possible" – he was even proud of some of his achievements, like the pupil deprivation grant. Nick had taken responsibility for his own mistakes, demanding Ed Miliband apologise for "crashing the UK economy", stressing the need to release the next generation from debt.
Score : 6/10 – A seasoned public speaker, but difficult to judge his sincerity. No "Cleggmania" this time round.
Nigel Farage MEP (UKIP, SE England)
One line summary : "BRITISH AIDS FOR BRITISH HOSPITALS!"
Nigel played to UKIP's core vote – anti-EU, anti-immigration and English nationalism – and tried to make himself out as a martyr. He was also the first to shout over others, probably hoping to drag them down to his level in order to make his rants seem reasonable behaviour.
He said while there was discussion about deficits, nobody was talking about the national debt, which has doubled. Unsurprisingly, foreign aid, "vanity projects", the Barnett formula (for Scotland) and EU membership were picked out as easy cuts.
On health he made a reasonable enough start, saying there were too many managers and saying hospital parking charges were a tax on sickness. Then he jumped the shark by massively inflating the cost of "health tourism" and saying around 60% of those seeking treatment for HIV in the UK were foreign nationals and should be barred (which is probably what this debate will be remembered for).
Nigel calmed down when immigration was raised properly, saying the EU's freedom of movement clauses meant the UK can't do anything about it (something Leanne Wood was willing to agree with him on). Britain was being flooded by people from former Communist countries and the Eurozone, with immigration 10 times higher than it was in 1945.
He finished by making a perfectly good point on social inequality, but picked the wrong target, blaming the closure of grammar schools and too many people going to university when they could learn a trade. As you might expect, immigration is to blame for everything.
Score : 4/10 – Was himself; a boorish oaf, high on his own fumes.
Ed Miliband - Labour
One line summary : "*Stares into camera* If I'm President....I mean, Prime Minister...."
Ed started by repackaging the "cost of living crisis" and immediately started rattling off Labour policies.
He made a promise to balance the books, but in a "fairer" way. However, he failed to answer direct questions and in a moment of comedy, tried to use Ronald Reagan's famous, "There you go again" at David Cameron. It didn't work and was cringe worthy.
On health, he criticised many of the things that are a reality in Labour-run Wales, like longer waiting times. He was keen to emphasise Labour's proposed "Time to Care Fund" in England, but insisted health tourism wasn't a root cause of problems in the English NHS.
Ed said he's changed Labour's approach on immigration, and his party now accept people have real concerns. He did very well to point out that the Conservative's proposed EU membership renegotiation was on shaky ground as David Cameron has isolated himself in Europe. He also ruled out an EU referendum, saying there were more important priorities.
Ed was arguably the best at actually getting party policies across, managing to give the best answer on helping young people by "guaranteeing" cuts to tuition fees, reforms of zero hour contracts, a housebuilding programme, and even managing to get in a jab at free schools by highlighting their use of unqualified teachers.
Score : 6.5/10 - Automated, insincere but managed to score a few punches. Not bad, but not great either.
Leanne Wood AM (Plaid, South Wales Central)
One line summary : "Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales stands in Wales. That's where I'm from, Wales."
Leanne was clearly addressing Wales specifically. Though her opening statement seemed over-rehearsed, Plaid offered an alternative and hope.
Leanne was the first leader to give concrete deficit figures, saying Plaid's plan would see it fall from £90billion to £30billion. While austerity measures promised to completely eliminate the deficit, that hasn't been met, and setting arbitrary deadlines was "irresponsible", with the UK's books being balanced on the backs of the poor.
Leanne gave an unnecessary history of the NHS, but criticised Labour's Welsh NHS record (perhaps not harshly enough). She repeated Plaid's policy of recruiting 1,000 extra doctors, and criticised PFI and Foundation Hospitals. Leanne produced one of the more memorable moments (and first applause) by giving Nigel Farage a ticking off for his HIV comment, saying he should be "ashamed of himself".
She said migrants shouldn't be scapegoats, as bankers caused the financial crisis. The immigration debate has prevented skill gaps in Wales – in particular health – being filled, though if we have EU membership we have to accept open borders.
Leanne said education best route out of poverty, but Plaid are unable to provide free university tuition – though they would like to make some courses free, like medicine. Leanne promoted "Plan C", which would create an estimated 50,000 jobs though changes to business rates and procurement practices, also helpfully pointing out that Welsh Labour voted against a Plaid Cymru amendment to the Social Services & Wellbeing Bill which would've eliminating the use of zero hour contracts inthe care industry.
Score : 6.5/10 – Too parochial and over-rehearsed, but a solid performance. Something to build upon.
Nicola Sturgeon MSP (SNP, Glasgow Southside)
One line summary : "I will *nod* make Scotland's voice heard *nod* and I've done my homework too."
Nicola immediately appealed to the rest of the UK, and anyone "let down by Westminster". Scotland and Scottish independence were hardly mentioned unless brought up by others – take note, Leanne.
She said austerity was undermining public services and holding back growth. Spending should rise, though Nicola admitted it would take longer to cut the deficit as a result. She did, however, point out the UK Government missed their borrowing targets by £150billion.
Nicola opposes privatisation of the NHS in England because it would directly affect the Scottish budget (where health spending has been protected), appealing for a "progressive alliance" across the UK. Nicola also said there was nothing Nigel Farage wouldn't blame of foreigners.
Although she said there was a need to make sure there are no abuses of the immigration system, EU migrants were net contributors. Nicola made a good point about the large number of UK citizens living abroad through the EU's freedom of movement, and also pointed out that the fact the immigration debate is being led by UKIP is leading to the wrong decisions being made – like changes to student visas. She repeated calls from Leanne Wood for each of the four nations to carry the same result in an EU referendum for it to be valid.
Nicola was proud that Scotland had kept university access free, saying she had "no right" to take the free education her generation received away from the next generation.
Score : 8.5/10 – The shortest candidate but head and shoulders above the rest. A big jobby is forming in Jimmy's kecks.
David Cameron - Conservatives
One line summary : "Have you heard the good news about our long-term economic plan?"
Unsurprisingly, David focused on his record and the memetic "long-term economic plan".
He called for continuity, but specifically said he doesn't want to raise taxes, preferring to focus on tax evasion and tax avoidance. He also (inexplicably) use the joke "There's no money left" letter from the exiting Labour administration in 2010 to make a serious point.
David tried to link economic growth and stability to the NHS, but insisted he wants good care for everyone. He was keen to point out successes in improved cancer survival rates and the removal of the "target culture", also using Labour's Welsh NHS record against them.
He took a stronger line on immigration, saying he would like a cap on immigrant numbers but because the UK economy is performing so well at an EU level, immigration levels remained high – a classic technique of spinning a bad news story (breaking their immigration promises) into a good one. He then appealed to quantum voters by saying, effectively, "Vote UKIP, Get Labour" which would mean no referendum on the EU.
On young people, he focused on the number of jobs that have been created, saying he would like to expand apprenticeship schemes and remove the cap on university places. David also praised his government's opening up of the state education sector, but warned that "out of control spending" would harm young people further.
Score : 6/10 – Bland. Clearly didn't enjoy himself, but got through it relatively unscathed.
Overall Impressions
Regardless of whether you agree with the need for debates in the first place, it's important to have a way of judging the potential of those who would lead us.
The cheesy X-Factor introduction aside, the format worked - though Julie Etchingham struggled to control the candidates at times. Also, I'm impressed by my own levels of perseverence in that I managed to sit through the whole thing - I don't expect the viewing figures to have held up to the same levels as 2010, put it that way.
It's impossible for someone to "win" a debate like this because there weren't two clear opposing sides. There were four sides, each with their own merits : cuts & growth-in-southern-England (Tories), cuts & tax rises (Lab & Lib Dems), GRRR! (UKIP), anti-austerity (SNP, Plaid & Green).
I suspect the post-debate polling figures relied on (mainly English) people judging who would make the best Prime Minister, not who won the debate (which gives Ed Miliband and David Cameron a head start) so there's no need to read too much into them.
These debates are about determining who has leadership qualities – that means their capability as public speakers, the tone of their message and their attitude. After that comes their respective party's policy ideas - which is a completely subjective opinion – and how well those policies were communicated to the audience.
If there was one person who balanced all those things best they could, it was Nicola Sturgeon by a mile.
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