Last Night's Debate

[Deskdiary]

So what are people's verdicts?

For the first time ever I have a grudging glimmer of respect for Milliband. The way he slammed the door in Sturgeon's face was very entertaining. Sturgeon then came accross as a needy just chucked ex-girlfriend begging for a second chance. I await with interest the vote in Scotland, which I think will be a significant contributor to the final result this year.

Milliband isn't PM material, but for my money he was the outright winner last night.

Farage shouldn't have criticised the audience, but not for the first time I found his points to be grounded in common sense - its a shame his party attracts, and is therefore tainted, by too many nutters.

Leanne (let's make unions more powerful, stop austerity and spend spend spend) Wood and Natalie (wibble wibble wibble snork fish wibble bicycle) Bennett are non-entities who can pretty much say what they like but will always be irrelevant.

For me, last night's loser was Sturgeon - but perversely I think Milliband breaking off the engagement will galvanise the Scottish vote which will result in Labour really struggling in Scotland.

[Retrochic]

Deskdiary Have you ever been to a UKIP conference? IF not then what makes you think its tainted by "too many nutters". Every political party has its "nutters" but most get whipped back by the spin doctors.

[naomi24]

Since Jim360 discovered a few days ago that Ukip, rather than taking this country out of Europe as they've given the impression they would, but instead are offering an in/out referendum, they've lost all credibility for me. I quite liked them up until then.

[ichkeria]

That has always been the case. They were never going to 'take Britain our of Europe' And I continue to be astounded that no one in the press or world of political commentary that I have seen has pulled them up on the central dishonest conceit of their manifesto which seems to assume that they can just cut the contributions to Brussrls and then watch while the country obediently votes out of the EU which would not happen in any case for several years.
Thus sending their 'costed' manifesto proposals and their migration policy up in a puff of purple smoke

[jim360]

"I quite liked [UKIP] up until then."

The irony is that I like them more -- or dislike them less, anyway -- since I discovered that they were offering a referendum. But then I was paying less attention to what Farage was saying in public, I suppose.

Funny old world, politics...

[retrocop]

Slightly off topic but with regards to the Green Party's Natalie Bennett.How is it that this party attracts the Australian loony tunes into British politics through the back door. First we had that obnoxious brain damaged creep Peter Tatchell who fled Australia and is now Labour. Now we have Natalie Bennett. She want's more housing to accommodate more immigrants apparently. Shouldn't she be championing the cause for more housing for the indigenous natives of Australia who live in shantys and treated like 3rd class citizens. Did she flee from oz as well I wonder?

[naomi24]

Jim, but they've been deceiving people. How does that make them more attractive?

[ichkeria]

Jim it could only ever be a referendum to either withdraw from Europe or stay in. Maybe some UKIP supporters actually think the party would unilaterally try to take us out?
Not very populist that, when most polls show a majority in favour of staying in :-)

[ichkeria]

In fairness to UKIP I don't recall them ever saying that they were not going to hold a referendum Although I agree that their rhetoric occasionally might dishonestly suggest that

[jim360]

Like I said, I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying in public much as I didn't care. Exactly what I was doing reading their manifesto in the first place is anyone's guess. If they have been lying (or burying the truth) as you've said then it reaffirms my initial opinion of the party.

At any rate, I would like to see a referendum on our membership of the EU.

[naomi24]

I don't ever recall them saying they were - or even suggesting it.

[naomi24]

^That was to ichkeria.

[naomi24]

//most polls show a majority in favour of staying in :-) //

That's not strictly true. The FT reported during the past couple of days that the camps are pretty much neck and neck.

[jim360]

I've not seen that poll, but it doesn't surprise me too much. Hence the need for a referendum. Based on that alone, in any marginal seat south of the border I would probably vote Tory!

[ToraToraTora]

Anne: "following milliband's performance/treatment to Nicola Sturgeon. he has ensured tory's will be back in no. 10. " - I don't agree with most of what you say but I think you are bang on here. I am so looking forward to May 8th, it'll be almost as much fun as the day after when Kinnochio blew it!

[-Talbot-]

ToraToraTora
I haven't watched any of it but many seem to be saying Jimmy K did the business again.
08:55 Fri 17th Apr 2015

Anne: "following milliband's performance/treatment to Nicola Sturgeon. he has ensured tory's will be back in no. 10. " - I don't agree with most of what you say but I think you are bang on here. I am so looking forward to May 8th, it'll be almost as much fun as the day after when Kinnochio blew it!
15:47 Fri 17th Apr 2015


Did you watch it or not TTT?

[chaptazbru2]

Well done Ed. You did good.

[ToraToraTora]

as I said above talbot, I did not watch but I did see some lowlights on the news, namely Ed saying he would not work with the SNP, that is why I was able to see what anne was talking about.

[anneasquith]

TTT. i think rather than agreeing with me you may wish to watch the whole programme, maybe make up your own mind ?