The big debate

Having been out campaigning for the lib dems for eight hours in my own personal close Lib Dem, Torrie battle ground West Berkshire constituency. I got home just in time for the big debate which I must admit I had reservations about upon hearing the rules on time limits and the tight controls on audience reaction. I was also worried that the debate would be all style and no policy as often Prime ministers questions dis sends into a which party's back benchers can shout and holler louder battle between the two old parties. However to my delight and i have to admit the debate was for once a sensible fair debate of ideas and ideology's. I also feel this is the case in the election campaign which the media seem to be bored of but the public seem to be infused with.

I feel this is down to many reasons but i feel the main to are firstly that the Lib Dems are for the first time being treated as equals to the main two parties, which I think in some way must be down to the T.V debates. Secondly I feel there is a genuine hunger for change in the public for the first time since 1997. i believe this is in a large part down to the exspencesis scandal.

My options on the actual debate seem to be very similar to the polls with Nick Clegg seen as the option for change while the other two leaders seemed to struggle to explain how they diffed from each other. I feel that the parts that relay resonated from what Nick said were on how the lib Dems would give everyone a totally tax free first 10000 pounds of earnings. while the tories only tax break would be aimed at double millionaires.

The Lib Dems policy on the 100 billion pound monstrosity that is trident was also a highlight. Nick Clegg was honest and said this was a cold war age defence mechanism that we simply no longer needed and certainly could no longer afford. David Cameron and Gordon Brown were constantly asked to justify this huge waste of public money seemed to really struggle first Cameron seemed to hint at a future cold war situation with China. Then the question was asked to Gordon Brown who just couldt seem to come up for any real reason for keeping this Nuclear weapon that was designed to wipe out St. Peters burg or Moscow at the touch of a button. I feel the general concentus in the public is that how can the Torrie's and labour both justify huge cuts to the economy while wasting public money on White Elephants like trident.

The third and i feel most important augment Nick Clegg gave was on reform of our political system. Many people two years ago would have said this was a waste of time and money and asked whats the point?. If one thing good has came out of the exspensices scandal and subsequent cash for influence and political funding scandals its a hopefully end to safe seats. I believe that its the whole job for life attitude of politicians that know first past the post will ensure they can get away with murder and still be re elected that has led to these seemingly never ending scandals that have led to total non trust from us the public of our public servants. Nick clegg made the point that for all of his political life he had supported change to our roten system which time and time again leads to arrogant politicians who feel they will only go when they choose to write their memoirs or if not in a coffin. meanwhile Gordon brown said time and time again said "I agree with nick on this" while having no answers as to why he had done nothing about political reform in the past 13 year. David Cameron also gave a telling silence on the issue and gave no attempt to explain why he opposed making every British voters vote count.

Nick Clegg Liberal Democrat: I feel Nick took real advantage and certainly came out on top. He showed the public that there was another fairer option to the old Red, Blue politics of the Torrie's and labour.