Leaders’ debate: at last some engagement

Gary Gibbon has this take on the leaders debate as it unfolds:

At last some engagement. And it is between two people who’ve worked together often amicably for five years. Nick Clegg called the PM “David Cameron” – even Ed Miliband called him “David.” Nick Clegg kicked off the engagement accusing the Tories of being biased towards the rich. Nicola Sturgeon said that was rich from him.

“I back Ed” was Nicola Sturgeon’s phrase on debt but it was obviously well rehearsed and will be repeated I suspect on other policies to win over left-leaning former Labour supporters in Scotland. So far it’s the debate equivalent of “I agree with Nick” from 2010, which no-one is repeating this time round.

Nigel Farage exploded speaking over Leanne Wood. I suspect Ed Miliband and David Cameron will be much more careful about speaking over a woman party leader.

David Cameron was sounding a bit abstract and lecture-like but when he spoke about the note left in the Treasury by Labour’s Liam Byrne saying the money has gone out.

Ed MIliband quoted Ronald Reagan, “there you go again,” having a pop at David Cameron for not looking forward enough. I wonder if his well-paid American adviser came up with that one.

Little moments you don’t normally see: David Cameron biting his lip looking thoughtful as Ed Miliband accuses him of failing in his reforms – a sharp difference from the shouting and baying in the Commons. Nicola Sturgeon probably never thought she would share a room with Nigel Farage – the camera caught her smiling at his economic policy. Ed Miliband kept looking straight to camera moments into his answers to audience questions. Now he’s just starting looking straight down the lens from the top of his answers.