Last night’s leadership debate was a compelling if frustrating affair. Compelling because of its more openly confrontational style, frustrating because 45 minutes to deal with the full range of international issues from Afghanistan and climate change, to immigration and Europe was clearly not enough.
Each party leader had a different job to do to make the debate work for them in this election campaign. Cameron needed to stop and reverse the momentum enjoyed by Clegg since the first debate and to sound like he had something fresh and distinctive to offer after 13 years of Labour government. Clegg needed to stay in the game while delivering tricky messages to the electorate on immigration, Trident, Europe and our relationship with the United States. Gordon Brown needed to use the advantages of office to convey international experience and stature while portraying his opponents as risky choices in difficult times.
While there was no clear winner, it is Cameron that will be feeling least satisfied this morning. His performance was stronger and more assured than in the first debate but he failed to paint the Lib Dems as a soft touch on immigration and security, and struggled to articulate how his own position on Europe would translate into better solutions to the cross-border challenges we face today. He failed to convey any distinctive foreign policy vision of his own, and there remains a major question mark over how he would square the tone of his comments on Europe with a US government that itself wants to see more, not less European cooperation.
Clegg survived the second debate by effectively exploiting gaps or weaknesses in both Labour and Conservative policy. He was right to point out that strengthening our border controls and entry requirements now will do nothing to address the issue of the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants already in the country, and right to point out that whatever one’s views on the substance of Trident, there is no good strategic reason for leaving it out of the forthcoming strategic defence review. For him, a draw on the night in a debate dealing with such issues is a good result.
But Gordon too, had a good night. His performance was hugely improved from the first debate. He was direct, and defended the government’s record on equipment for the troops in Afghanistan without sounding defensive. He was strong when arguing that the Tory desire to repatriate powers from Europe would be a distraction from more important matters, and even delivered the best one-liner of the night, telling Nick Clegg to get real on dealing with some of the less attractive regimes on the international stage.
There is a long way to go in this election, and much uncertainty over what will happen next. But if the conservative newspapers fail in their attempt to destroy Clegg over the next 13 days over his expenses, immigration, Europe and Trident, then this will be a three-horse race all the way to the finish.
Photo: Cake.Group 2010