And we’re off: Opening remarks
Leanne Wood
People are looking for a alternative of the “gray stale” politics of usual, she says and want an end to the policies of austerity. She says she has a vision for a post austerity and her party will work with other parties to work for a new politics. She says “cuts are a choice”.
Nigel Farage
He says that other parties are trying to buy voters with “borrowed money” with a “confetti of billions”. He says he will deliver his costed manifesto by cutting aid, control immigration, take on corporate giants and leave EU. He says he will “tell it as it” and that he” has a feeling he is the only one here saying what a lot of you at home are really thinking.”
Ed Miliband
Young people are fearing they will have a worse life than their parents, he says, He hits out at David Cameron for not coming tonight to “defend his record. he says he will pay for his policies with policies such energy freezes and namkers bonuses. His big pitch is for working families – he says he will support polices to help them and oppose those that hurt them.
Nicola Sturgeon
SNP will always stand up for Scotland’s best interests. She wants progressive change “right across the UK” and has a shared interest for making politics work better “for the many not the few”. She says we will need to “build bridges”between our parties. She will work with like minded parties, she says, and emphasises again that the SNP has a role in progressive politics in Westminster.
Natalie Bennett
She begins with highlighting Carolinie Lucas’ record in parliament, who is the party’s only MP. She says that Lucas shows what Green MPs could do – help to create a human, susatianble Britain. She says this is an alternative to spiteful polices of other parties and that an economy the size of Britain must be able to make sure that we can put food on everyone’s table.