[foot-loose]

So they had their first televised advert yesterday, hows people voting now? I'll set the poll so you can change yer votes as you change your mind.

What did you think of the argument last night? How many people had they talked to "only last week"?! Doctors, nurses, police, victims of crime, junkies, prisoners... they were chattin away to them all!

[AndyJ]

I didn't see the TV Debate yesterday, can't say I am bothered that I missed it either! Although I need to find out who is promising what and then I will decide. From bits I have heard on the news maybe Lib Dems or the Conservs could be the way forward.

[MK Chris]

I was going to say I thought Nick Clegg did very well, but then apart from die-hard fan of either of the other two, everyone has been saying that. I don't think Brown did as badly as a lot have been saying, but he certainly didn't set the world alight - he brought out the statistics, rather than the personal experience and anecdotes of the other two and people seemed not to like that as much.

[DevilsDuck]

Brown just choose to attack Cameron, which I would like to do, but didn't do himself any favours.

[newsbeat]

If I was old enough, I would vote for the Liberal Democrats

[DevilsDuck]

why?

[Johnny 1989]

For me it's either going to be Labour or the Lib Dems, not based on the programme from last night though just on things I've seen on the news over the last couple of weeks.

Labour because, for me at least, they been pretty good in their 13 year run (barring the old bank thing, but that could have happened under any government really) & the Lib Dems because Vince Cable has some savvy on the economy & Nick Clegg and co seem to be giving actual answers (unlike the wanky Tories).

[Munki Bhoy]

Those looking to see through Cameron, saw through Cameron. Those looking to slate Brown, found things to slate him for. Those who didn't know who Nick Clegg was, now know who he is. Those that thought the three of them sucked, still think they suck.

Seriously, that TV debate added NOTHING. No one has changed their mind. Most people have already decided what they're going to do.

[MK Chris]

It's supposed to appeal to undecided voters though - and as you say, those who didn't know who Clegg was, now do.

This is an interesting blogpost from someone I follow on Twitter.

[newsbeat]

why?

They seem to be doing the most for 'normal families'/policies which would benefit my family

[newsbeat]

That was a rubbish 300th post wasn't it! Well done Tom...

[GottaBeAndrew]

I would've said Labour had i voted in the before the campaign poll, just because that's what my mam said I should probably vote for. But after watching last night, I'm wanting to vote for Lib Dems. I thought the other 2 kept making statements which the Lib Dems guy kept proving they were lying on or which, in Labour's case, its more like 'well you're in power now and you're saying you want to do all these things, but you've been doing nothing towards them so far and probably said the same thing last time so why should I believe you now?'. Lib Dems seem to be a good choice to me and, looking at the poll, a lot of people agree. I hope they get in.

[DevilsDuck]

why?

They seem to be doing the most for 'normal families'/policies which would benefit my family

Bull!

Labour are the family party, Lib Dem can promise all they like.....they haven't been in power for 40years

Can we have a new rule on the board.....no religion or politics?

[foot-loose]

[Yudster]

Can we have a new rule on the board.....no religion or politics?

I think this has been a really good thread, why do you want to stop it?

I would've said Labour had i voted in the before the campaign poll, just because that's what my mam said I should probably vote for. But after watching last night, I'm wanting to vote for Lib Dems. I thought the other 2 kept making statements which the Lib Dems guy kept proving they were lying on or which, in Labour's case, its more like 'well you're in power now and you're saying you want to do all these things, but you've been doing nothing towards them so far and probably said the same thing last time so why should I believe you now?'. Lib Dems seem to be a good choice to me and, looking at the poll, a lot of people agree. I hope they get in.

If you are eligible to vote this year then, you do that. And I hope that everyone who thought that does the same. I have no particular truck with the Lib Dems but if their public image and presentation makes young people - or any people come to that - actually want to go out and vote, that can only be a good thing.

[DevilsDuck]

Its been a great thread

[MK Chris]

It's whoever wins the most seats (i.e., whoever has the most MPs) - so no, it's not based on who has the most votes as such, which would be far fairer I think.

As far as opinion polls go, they may be slightly indicative of public opinion, but I think they ought to be taken with a pinch of salt because they are only taken amongst 1,000 or so people.

[Nicola_Red]

I still have no idea if I'm even gonna vote. Probably should have watched the debate but I just wasn't in the right mood to pay enough attention to it.

[English Bob]

I'm voting Lib Dem. Like I said before, the Liberals have a history of putting through lots of social reforms.

Take a looksie here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of ... y_%28UK%29

We badly need another Prime Minister like Gladstone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gladstone

He was a Liberal who got elected Prime Minister 4 times! He put forward ALOT of social reforms, including the right to vote in secret, and to give the vote to a wider range of people. He opposed getting Britain involved in wars, objected to high military/navy spending, and even wanted to abolish income tax!

Although he also used to love chopping down trees and used to walk the streets trying to encourage prostitutes to change their ways...the madman

[kendra k]

The Lib Dems are the same exact party as Gladstone's? That's amazingly rigid.

Nicola, please vote. Voting is one of the most powerful things you can do in a democratic society. (I'm a little bummed I can't vote in this election, but I've also soured on Labour in the last 13 years.)

[MK Chris]

Ha, I forgot about your crushes on UK politicians... not liking Mr Brown any more Kendra?

[Yudster]

Like I said before, the Liberals have a history of putting through lots of social reforms.

The Lib Dems are the same exact party as Gladstone's? That's amazingly rigid.

Ha, that's exactly what I thought! Funny.

I wish there were some way to convince people who really think - and probably seem to have good reason to think - that voting isn't important that it really really IS. Nothing will change until the people who don't think they need to vote actually do so. Almost all the people I have heard say that they would love to see the Lib Dems have a chance at government (but they don't believe they ever will) are people who don't vote. Translate all that into votes and it really could make a difference to the dynamics of the thing.

[MK Chris]

I caught the newspaper review of The Andrew Marr show today and they covered an article - predictably either in the Mail on Sunday or the Sunday Express, can't remember which - questioning how British Nick Clegg is (because his wife is Spanish, his mother's Dutch I think and someone else in his family is from somewhere else). As the person who brought the article up said, well yes, he is British. He has a rich heritage from other cultures, so what? If anything that's something to be proud of.

Also, it's old news now, but I forgot to post it here - from the ITV post-debate coverage:

http://yfrog.com/b8z4pj

[English Bob]

The Lib Dems are the same exact party as Gladstone's? That's amazingly rigid.

Hehe that made me chuckle

No, they aren't the same...but they are still liberals after all

[Yudster]

No, they aren't the same...but they are still liberals after all

Bearing in mind that the Liberal Party ceased to exist in 1988 (and had been unrecognisable AS the Liberal Party since the sixties) when it merged with the Social Democrat party, which was primarily a breakaway protest group from the Liberal party (with a few others thrown in for credibility) to become the Social Liberal Democrats, then the Liberal Social Democrats, then finally the Liberal Democrat party, I don't think any comparison with the Liberal Party of the early 20th Century is at all apropriate. This lot are still a shambles in comparison. If there is a closing of the gap between Labour and the Tories and the Lib Dems its because the two main parties have degenerated to the same kind of shambles, and the Lib Dems are taking advantage. It ought to be interesting, but unless people get out and vote, it won't be.