Philip wrote:I presume you went for a bathroom break when Nigel Farage started talking about HIV health tourism, which led Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood to say he should be ashamed of himself, resulting in the first applause of the evening?
Seconded, the only leader that really came off well throughout was Nicola Sturgeon - the only leader to give a solid performance throughout the night and anyone who says otherwise either didn't see the debate or weren't paying attention. Though before hand I did expect her to give the most solid performance, in the debate she realised that she would have to try and win over voters across the UK as it is probable that the SNP may have influence in the next government and I think she did that rather well.
Leanne Wood also came over fairly well, though very Wales centric that is to be expected as unlike Sturgeon she doesn't have to worry about getting the English voters to relax to her. I imagine in the next Welsh poll Plaid will have an increase. Cameron didn't really talk and only mentioned 'the Long Term economic plan' once to my count - he didn't do badly but he also didn't do exceptionally well. Ed Miliband had very good basis for his debating stance but his staring down the lens constantly was just weird. Nick Clegg spent the whole time just trying to distance himself from policies he signed off on and like last time did a roll call of audience members at every opportunity. Bennett wasn't particularly fluent or spontaneous and repeated the phrase 'I agree with Nicola' over and over again and Nigel Farage came across quite frankly as an arse. He may have strengthened his support among the UKIP base but everyone else was just appalled at some of his comments particularly on HIV which Wood and Sturgeon responded to very well.
I was a little disappointed as my two favourite leader characteristics didn't come across throughout the whole debate - Nigel Farage's ability to make up stats on the spot like at the Euro Debate last year and David Cameron's ability to tell long winded stories which make no sense or are far to detailed - ie his story about having a pasty or about the 40 year old Black man from Plymouth who had served in the Navy for 30 years.
For me Sturgeon was the winner, and quite frankly I wish I lived in Scotland as I'd have a less of a dilemma over who to vote for. Based on their performances alone.
Sturgeon - 9.5/10
Cameron/Miliband/Wood - 6/10
Clegg - 5/10
Bennett - 3/10
Farage - 2.5/10