BBC TV debate: The good, the bad and the soundbites from the opposition leaders
ED MILIBAND: LABOUR
The best:
“I’ve fought Tories all my life Nicola” he told Sturgeon, before referencing 1979, when the SNP brought down a Labour government to bring in Margaret Thatcher. It stopped Sturgeon pitching herself as the anti-Conservative leader.
The worst:
Miliband failed to give a straight answer on what would happen in the event of a hung parliament.
The soundbite:
“If I'm Prime Minister…”
NICOLA STURGEON – SNP
The best:
“I don’t say there is no difference between Ed Miliband and David Cameron, I say there is not a big enough difference between Ed Miliband and David Cameron.” Sturgeon knows she will likely take a kingmaker role after 7 May and will fight hard for spending concessions.
The worst:
“I’d work with Ed Miliband in government” was just what the Tories wanted to hear.
The soundbite:
“I will never, ever do a deal with Tories. The polls show Ed cant rid of the Tories on his own”.
NIGEL FARAGE – UKIP
The best:
His repeated questioning of Ed Miliband over the prospect of an EU army, which backed the Labour leader into a corner while making Ukip look substantive on a key area of policy.
The worst:
Declaring that “the real audience is the one at home” and instantly isolating the audience of the room he was in.
The soundbite:
“I’ve got a feeling that I’m the only person here saying what a lot of you at home are thinking.”
NATALIE BENNETT – GREEN
The best:
“I am an immigrant” she declared, before making a strong case for a more open immigration system.
The worst:
Resorting to shouting over Miliband and Farage during an extended exchange. Scenes like this are hugely unappealing to voters, and help build the Conservative’s message that government without them would be chaotic.
The soundbite:
“Immigration isn’t putting our public services at risk, it's austerity.” The line encapsulates her whole argument – we should welcome people in and spend more.
LEANNE WOOD – PLAID CYMRU
The best:
“You abuse immigrants and those with HIV, and then complain Ukip is being abused?”
The worst:
“We spend six per cent of our budget on defence.” The figure is actually two per cent.
The soundbite:
“Plaid Cymru does not accept that this is as good as it gets” said Wood, ramming home her party’s anti-austerity message.
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