Thursday 16th April 2015

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 7:49 pm

Lord Ashcroft ‏@LordAshcroft 9 mins9 minutes ago

Very interesting move by @RichardDesmond , owner of the Express newspaper titles donating £1m to UKIP.

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 7:54 pm

On 5Live as well.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 7:58 pm

Evenin' all

Running late today, so just switched on telly and settling in for debate. Think I'll have to catch up on today's posts much later!

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:05 pm

Just giving their initial run down at the moment.

AngryAsWell · Post by **AngryAsWell** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:11 pm

Someone slap that first questioner and tell the stupid little girl that's how government debt works! I wasn't born in the war yet from the age of 15 I paid tax that paid the war debt down (not off, GB made final payment in 2006)

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:14 pm

Whoops Eds just started his initial speech. Said Cameron chose not to attend.

Bennet doesn't sound quite so nervous as last time.

They have a plus and minus button you can press....Fascinating.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:17 pm

Farage hasn't mentioned immigrants yet.

Camerons absence mentioned. Audience claps.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:20 pm

Leanne asks would Ed have an emergency budget to cancel out some of the cuts.

Ed quite forceful

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:21 pm

Now the women are saying there's not enough difference between Cameron and Ed.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:28 pm

Farage repeats his canard about having to build a new house every 7 minutes just to house immigrants. I detest that man!

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:28 pm

And adds that all new housing should be just for UK nationals only.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:29 pm

Laura Kuenssberg ‏@bbclaurak 9m9 minutes ago
Of course if Labour get wiped out in Scotland, Tories likely to become the biggest party in any case, so a SNP-Lab deal less likely

The wasp is buzzing .... bzzzzz, bzzzzz, bzzzzz (where's that newspaper?).

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:34 pm

Farage insulting the audience for lack of understanding and being far too left-wing...

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:35 pm

Farage just said audience too left wing. Not the real audience. BBC selected.The real ones are at home. Audience didn't like it.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:35 pm

Ahhh here's immigration. Blame the housing shortage on them

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:37 pm

NS nailed Farage there. Man's a pub bore idiot thing.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:37 pm

itv worm disappointingly shows most agreement with Farage. not sure this is what i want from my nation.

WelshIan · Post by **WelshIan** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:37 pm

Nigel Farage

don't insult the audience!

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:44 pm

Owen Smith ‏@OwenSmith4MP 2m2 minutes ago
.@LeanneWood rejection of Tory Right to Buy policy would have more credibility had she congratulated Welsh Labour for scrapping it in Wales.

Yes. Also a shame that Ed Miliband didn't say this about the Welsh Labour government.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:44 pm

natalie bennett not going down too well with the itv worm on housing

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:45 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:natalie bennett not going down too well with the itv worm on housing

Which channel are you seeing the ITV worm on, TC?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:47 pm

LadyCentauria wrote:
tinyclanger2 wrote:natalie bennett not going down too well with the itv worm on housing
Which channel are you seeing the ITV worm on, TC?

here:

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-04-16/watc ... he-debate/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:50 pm

Ta, TC. Just found there's a worm on the BBC News HD channel, too.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:51 pm

Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 45s46 seconds ago
David Cameron should have been in this debate... I think Ed Miliband feels he has kind of free range. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 45s46 seconds ago
All 4 asking Miliband Qs - Farage joining Sturgeon, Bennett & Wood - marks him as main player. Playing Cameron's role #leadersdebate

utopiandreams · Post by **utopiandreams** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:56 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 45s46 seconds ago
David Cameron should have been in this debate... I think Ed Miliband feels he has kind of free range. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 45s46 seconds ago
All 4 asking Miliband Qs - Farage joining Sturgeon, Bennett & Wood - marks him as main player. Playing Cameron's role #leadersdebate

Just practising for PMQs come May, rebecca.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 8:59 pm

utopiandreams wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 45s46 seconds ago
David Cameron should have been in this debate... I think Ed Miliband feels he has kind of free range. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 45s46 seconds ago
All 4 asking Miliband Qs - Farage joining Sturgeon, Bennett & Wood - marks him as main player. Playing Cameron's role #leadersdebate
Just practising for PMQs come May, rebecca.

They did all criticise Cameron's refusal to take part, at the outset of the programme. Well, I don't remember Farage doing so but the others did.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:00 pm

"You abuse immigrants and then complain that UKIP are being abused!" Wood to Farage.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:03 pm

Tim Shipman ‏@ShippersUnbound 5m5 minutes ago
Plenty of upside for Miliband in being here. None for Cameron being absent.

Yes, I'm being rather partial in my choice of tweets to repost. Just thought this was rather striking ... coming after Allegra Stratton's tweet an all ....

Spacedone · Post by **Spacedone** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:04 pm

Evening all. Missed most of the debate tonight because I fell asleep on the sofa (it's been a very long week...)

Have I missed anything interesting?

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:07 pm

Ed says, "Here's the problem I have with you, Nigel. You want to exploit people's fears not address them." (After Farage claims people are being told their cancer cannot be treated because we can't afford it but we're paying for immigrants' HIV drugs...)

Spacedone · Post by **Spacedone** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:09 pm

Bloody hell Leanne Wood is now stealing Cameron's lines about Labour being to blame for the NHS in Wales.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:13 pm

Fraser Nelson ‏@FraserNelson 3m3 minutes ago
It had been feared/hoped that RedEd wld be beaten up by everyone all night. Instead, he looks like the only serious player in the room

Purely partial posting here.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:14 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 45s46 seconds ago
David Cameron should have been in this debate... I think Ed Miliband feels he has kind of free range. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 45s46 seconds ago
All 4 asking Miliband Qs - Farage joining Sturgeon, Bennett & Wood - marks him as main player. Playing Cameron's role #leadersdebate

I remember SpinningHugo was suggesting Ed should not do this debate, as it 'legitimised' the other candidates; by the sound of it something more interesting is happening, he is legitimising his status as PM in waiting.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:15 pm

Credit to Leanne Wood. She really has a go at Farage...

frightful_oik · Post by **frightful_oik** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:17 pm

There's 4 people saying Cameron is crap and 3 of them are lining up to support Ed.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:17 pm

When they're all promising except Farage that is...they won't prop up a Tory government the audience claps.

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:18 pm

TheGrimSqueaker wrote:
rebeccariots2 wrote:
Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 45s46 seconds ago
David Cameron should have been in this debate... I think Ed Miliband feels he has kind of free range. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Kevin Maguire ‏@Kevin_Maguire 45s46 seconds ago
All 4 asking Miliband Qs - Farage joining Sturgeon, Bennett & Wood - marks him as main player. Playing Cameron's role #leadersdebate
I remember SpinningHugo was suggesting Ed should not do this debate, as it 'legitimised' the other candidates; by the sound of it something more interesting is happening, he is legitimising his status as PM in waiting.

I'll admit I'd been pretty worried about the format for this debate but Ed is handling it very well – and I heard a LibDem, before the programming, regretting that Cameron had made it impossible for them to take part.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:18 pm

Now Sturgeon is pretending she doesn't now what he's on about when he mentions her wanting Independence....

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:19 pm

Andrew Neil ‏@afneil 3m3 minutes ago
Sturgeon says she will never, never do deal with Tories. Must mean Westminster. Has happened in Holyrood.

Spacedone · Post by **Spacedone** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:21 pm

Sturgeon trying to lay the blame on Miliband for the SNP potentially leaving Cameron as the largest party.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:21 pm

Allegra Stratton ‏@BBCAllegra 3m3 minutes ago
Ed Miliband has had a pretty good night. David Cameron really should have been here. This makes this election even more interesting.

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:24 pm

My connection keeps on failing so I've missed the row that had started between Sturgeon and Ed. She got a good reception when she said Ed was being obstructive when it comes to getting rid of the Tories when he said no to a coalition with SNP.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:24 pm

Julia Hartley-Brewer ‏@JuliaHB1 4m4 minutes ago
Once again, against all my better judgement, Ed Miliband has done a VERY good job tonight. Looking very relaxed too.

TheGrimSqueaker · Post by **TheGrimSqueaker** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:27 pm

Ned Simons ‏@nedsimons · 1h1 hour ago
Miliband's face while listening to Farage was a pretty good 'oh please'. #BBCDebate

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:27 pm

someone needs to have a word with Sturgeon. am getting motion sickness.

rebeccariots2 · Post by **rebeccariots2** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:27 pm

David Wooding ‏@DavidWooding 7m7 minutes ago
This debate seems to have turned into an argument over who hates Tories most - or has fought them the longest. #debate2015

ohsocynical · Post by **ohsocynical** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:28 pm

rebeccariots2 wrote:
Owen Smith ‏@OwenSmith4MP 2m2 minutes ago
.@LeanneWood rejection of Tory Right to Buy policy would have more credibility had she congratulated Welsh Labour for scrapping it in Wales.
Yes. Also a shame that Ed Miliband didn't say this about the Welsh Labour government.

Yes she said when it was when Plaid was in charge in the Welsh assembly?

LadyCentauria · Post by **LadyCentauria** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:28 pm

Remind me, are Plaid Cymru expected to get any MPs? Wood and Bennett now both claiming that Labour will not challenge austerity. That's not my reading of the Labour Manifesto or its intent.

WelshIan · Post by **WelshIan** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:28 pm

ohsocynical wrote:When they're all promising except Farage that is...they won't prop up a Tory government the audience claps.

and the way to do that is to vote Labour. A Labour majority definitely means no Tory government. I hope Scottish voters think about this - a vote for Labour is a vote directly against a Tory government, a vote for the SNP gives the Tories a possibility of forming a government.

yahyah · Post by **yahyah** » Thu 16 Apr, 2015 9:28 pm

Have only just been watching it for 10 minutes and it feels to me that Ed is having a hard time from the audience.

Bennett, to my husband comes across as a harridan, & to me as a stupid moo.
If she were genuinely a left winger she would have been supporting Ed when he said that Farage had wanted an insurance system for the NHS. Instead she was shrieking at Ed.
Now she is trying amateur dramatics - what a shocker she is. Oh, lord she used the 'hope' word.
Aaarggghhhhh !!!

As for Ms anti-austerity Wood, her party find no problem cutting local services where I live, so what a hypocrite.

As for the BBC, in a country where Labour are polling over 30% it seems mighty bizarre they can't find an audience to reflect that.