The big three – who won on the night?

Fascinating to watch the first live TV debate involving Britain’s ‘big three’ political leaders aired on ITV this evening.

In today’s world of spin and sound bite  it’s difficult to get to grips with what really makes a politician tick.  Apparently each of the interviewees had invested in top US-based body language and presentational coaches to ensure they were on message, had the right look  and conveyed the right body language.  Says a lot about the way most of judge people doesn’t it?

Once you got past the sound bites it was interesting to watch the posturing.  Nick Clegg positioning himself as the ‘new’ option, David Cameron endeavouring to hold centre stage and avoiding the sometimes very provocative jibes from Gordon Brown – and then poor old Gordon.  Keen to show us the recently developed perma-grin (is it only me who cringes every time I see it?) our Prime Minister seemed intent on courting Nick Clegg (hung parliament potential spring to mind?) while appearing oblivious to the fact that much of the mess the UK is in right now has developed during his watch (global recession excepted).

Good TV?  Yeah, probably got to say yes.  But wouldn’t you love to know what they really think?  How diffferent would they be if they were themselves? And what if someone took a note of all the big promises each of them made and held them to account, for example, this time next year?

Next week it’s the time for Ulster’s political leaders to take to the stage. Roll on the squabble!

DMcC