Leaders make appeals in TV debate

Apr 22 2010

The leaders of Britain's three biggest parties have made their appeal to voters in the second live televised debate of the General Election campaign, each aware that their performance could have a decisive impact on the race for Downing Street.

After accepting that he was outshone on presentation in last week's debate, Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged voters not to treat the election as a "popularity contest" and insisted that he was the man to get the big decisions right.

Conservative leader David Cameron said voters had shown over the past week that they wanted change, but insisted the only way change can be delivered would be through the election of a majority Tory government on May 6.

Meanwhile, Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats - widely seen as the victor of last week's debate, which gave his party a boost of up to 12 points in the polls - said that if voters chose to do things differently, Britain could "be proud once again" of its role in the world.

The first half of the 90-minute live debate on Sky News was dedicated to questions on foreign affairs, and Mr Clegg was quick to remind viewers that his party was the only one to oppose the war in Iraq.

Mr Cameron said that only the Conservatives would guarantee a referendum on future transfers of power from Westminster to Brussels, while Mr Brown warned that the Tories would leave Britain with "an empty chair in Europe".

Opening the debate, Mr Brown told viewers: "This may have the feel of a TV popularity contest, but in truth this is an election about Britain's future, and a fight for your future and your jobs.

"If it is all about style and PR, count me out. If it is about the big decisions, if it is about judgment, if it is about delivering a better future for this country - I am your man."

Mr Cameron said: "It is clear from last week's debate that the country wants change but the question is what sort of change and who's best placed to lead that change?

"If you vote Conservative you will get a new team on May 7 and we won't be stuck with what we have got now."