Leadership debate

ive got the debate on in the background I cant concentrate on such stuff, adults who just call each other names. In 100 years they will be debating similar issues. I cant decide who to vote for. think I will just take a pin and stick it in.

To be honest how do you decide who to vote for, most people Ive talked to either vote for who their father voted for, ie my mother votes labour because her family were miners etc she never thinks for herself.
Others vote because of their own circumstances, ie; they are pensioners so they vote for the party that has promised to help pensioners. Is that not a selfish way to vote, should we not be standing back and looking from a distance and thinking we should vote for the party who will get the economy right because if the economy is strong then we can afford to give the poorer more. I for one would note care if joe blogs has a low paid job/zero hours/no pension etc if the economy is strong, we must surely look beyond our personal interests.
Is looking beyond our own interests wrong or should I just stick a pin in/not vote at all.

Leanne Woods got first applause of evening for rounding on NF's cheap disgraceful shot at foreign born people with HIV

That's what I supposed Grannytwice, but it could have been delayed applause for the ghastly Farage.

As for the women winning....... Let's just say I didn't think the debate was meant to be a battle of the sexes.

just let me find that pin

There is a school of thought that says that we should vote in our own interests - that this is the point of democracy. Each person votes for what is best for them, and we therefore finish up with the best result for the most people. Not sure I subscribe to this view, but I can see where it is coming from.

I definitely do not have the debate on!

Nevertheless, Grumppa it is the women who are talking reasonably and not posturing. It's refreshing to hear what they have to say.

I still say voting in our own interests is selfish. do pensioners for example not care for the welfare of the ecomony, do unemployed not care about education ? Is this selfish attitude how we run our country,
Can anyone tell me why we cant have a government made up representatives from all the parties. Why do we have to be one or the other.
Why cant we have a government made up of responsible academics who are non political?

yes - the women are being much more humane. Of course it's not a battle of the sexes - I was just struck at the obvious difference between how the two genders were coming across

I'm not sure that a government of academics would have any idea how to run the country, but I take your point, ethel

why can't we have a fairer voting system than FPP?

Mishap, sadly many of the most vulnerable do not vote , I have canvassed at thirteen general elections, one thing which makes my stomach sink into my boots is the increasing response of - why bother , the rich will get richer and we will get poorer . I feel I must vote for these who have lost hope and not for what's best for me

I think the theory is that if there is a strong opposition party there is always an alternative government ready to step in. They say that coalition governments cannot get things done as there are too many views represented; but I think that it is useful to have other parties involved to curb extremism.

Politicians' posturing is so very irritating - sometimes they seem to start out reasonable and very quickly absorb this irritating way of operating. I get particularly irritated by the dramatic pronouncements. No-one ever says "We will do our best to do XYZ within practical limitations." They always present their policies as life-changing for Britain. I am never tempted to believe them.

Well, the AV referendum made it clear that most of the UK didn't want that either.

It is easier for the three women, they are not in the battle to lead a government

SNP Nicola is coming across well and scoring points against Cameron. Nick Clegg is good, too, as he was in the other leaders debate. Farage is blustering and seems only to focus on coming out of the EU. Natalie Bennet is much better than I expected but has nothing to lose so can't be taken seriously. Leanne Wood is also better than I expected but also probably irrelevant. As for Milliband, I'm not sure yet but he's looking more confident than I thought he would. The presenter is doing pretty well, too. Hmm, I think Nicola is the winner so far.

DC really stitched up NC over that referendum. It was held too soon, there was too little informed debate but even more importantly there are lots of other systems than AV and I never understood why that was the only option offered

I think Leanne and Natalie are doing brilliantly in the context of being so much less experienced than the others

It was the only one Nick Clegg wanted. I agree that it was a stitch-up, but I don't think the outcome would have been much different if more time and information had been given. The British public doesn't like change just for the sake of it.

I'm very impressed by Leanne. Very dignified and makes her points clearly.

Absolutely Ana

So good to see the women holding their own and scoring points against the more established parties. Good for them.

Good grief. Farage is on about immigration yet again. He relates it to everything.

Heavens!! My teenage granddaughters have just messaged me on facebook to say they're watching it with interest. I'm impressed!!

Their older brother who is just home from uni and studying politics has gone out with his mates!

Oh do stop waving your hands about, NC!