My thoughts on the leaders debate: Cameron looked more confidant than he did in the Paxman interview and did pretty well, better than Miliband in my view who as ever has some good policy ideas but lacks the rhetorical flair and force of personality to get them across effectively, although he had a few moments of genuine passion where he came across well.
Though public opinion of him has turned dramatically, Clegg showed he hasn't lost a step when it comes to debating. Farage too had a strong showing, although pushed the anti-EU message a little too long. A criticism of him tonight was that he thought every problem could be fixed by withdrawal from the EU, and he didn't do much to tackle that criticism, although he did occasionally weigh in on non-EU issues.
Nicola Sturgeon is a good debater and put her points across with eloquence and force, denting both Ed Miliband and the prime minister, but didn't in my view make a particularly compelling case for her anti-austerity views, didn't do enough to outline why austerity is bad and what the alternative was.
Finally, and I'm sorry to anyone who lives in Wales, or loves trees, but Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennet just weren't worth including, you could have taken them both out and honestly I can't see how the debate would have proceeded any differently, except the others would have had more time to speak. They honestly just wasted time. At least if the DUP had been there it would have been good for a laugh hearing Peter Robinson pipe up in the midst of serious discussions about the economy to pontificate on how icky gay people are.
Performances, from best to worst (all in my humble opinion, of course):
1. Clegg
2. Cameron
3. Farage
4. Sturgeon
5. Miliband
6. Bennet
7. Wood
1. Clegg
2. Cameron
3. Farage
4. Sturgeon
5. Miliband
6. Bennet
7. Wood
