Second leaders' debate

Debate No 2 is over and done.

The winner. Perhaps David Cameron by a whisker or two over Clegg. Brown third.

Cameron upped his performance this week and was more confident, strident and looked more authoritative.
Clegg looked good. He is a good, handsome performer who argues well. He was confident like last week and did not disappoint. His challenge is that he is the man of change and the other two are the old parties.
Brown is the same dour man. He was more bullying tonight and got slammed down by Clegg and Cameron. But he was more aggressive and his face still alternated between the sudden false smile and grumpy look that he has. Definitely odd and strange on TV.

One of the best lines came from Cameron, twice tonight. When Clegg and Brown were having little spats between themselves, Cameron noted that it would be hard for them to govern in coalition if this was the way they behaved. I thought this was a good debating trick.

Overall, it was a fast-moving debate. It could have focused more on the Trident issue and nuclear power, the Euro currency and the future of Afghanistan. But it did not. There was a lot to speak about and argue for and ultimately it was a solid, fascinating debate.

I think the three parties will still be close after this in the polls, but the Tories may do better as a result. Their numbers may go up. But I don't think the LibDems will crash as the labour party may well do.

Brown is up against two young, smart leaders. They are the future, not Brown.

22 April