Leaders' Debate: Joe Public's Verdict

Clearly Nick Clegg won the debate in Manchester. He looked at the camera, which Brown and Cameron didn't too often, and was able to aim a good few digs at the two "old parties".
The exposure for the Liberal Democrats was great for them but will it gain them any more seats? Only time will tell.
Clegg will face a more difficult second debate because he won't be able to continue using the "old parties" line. He also cleverly ignored Gordon Brown's efforts to get him to gang up on David Cameron.
David Cameron for someone who normally looks so assured was clearly nervous and tried to avoid being drawn into a policy debate with Gordon Brown, who took too long to make his point. He proved he's not great behind the camera although did put some pressure on the Tories after a uncertain start on immigration - Labour has been in government since 1997 but is now only just getting to grips with it.
David Cameron and Gordon Brown weren't pressed hard about why we need a Trident system in a post-Cold War world and spend an absolute fortune on it when things are so tough.
There wasn't much in this debate for us in Wales or those in Scotland - questions about the NHS or education service didn't mean a row of beans to us in Wales because those functions are devolved to the Welsh Assembly. Both countries were really ignored and that is not good enough.

Why is Unite still funding the Labour Party?

Unite, if it is to remain credible to its members, needs to consider its huge funding of the Labour Party whose Ministers seem happy to kick it where it hurts most.
Yesterday, Lord Adonis, the Secretary of State for Transport described the seven days of walkouts planned this month by thousands of members of Unite who work as British Airways cabin crew as "deplorable” and “totally unjustified".
If I was funding the Labour Party I'd be asking questions about why should I continue and consider whether there are other political parties whose policies and support would better represent my members?
Clearly, Lord Adonis is trying to sound tough ahead of a General Election but siding with an employer - British Airways - that unilaterally cuts people's pay and conditions is a disgrace.
It does not take a genius to work out that BA boss Willie Walsh is determined to destroy the union - yet they continue to support a party where one of the Ministers seems happy to support that action.
Isn't it time many trade unions, and not just Unite, look around and see whether there are alternative parties worth supporting?
NB Gordon Brown steps into the row with similar condemnation of only one side in the BA - Unite. Please see headline!

Cameron steals a march on Brown - Again!

David Cameron and the Liberal Democrats have stolen a march on Gordon Brown once again.
They've called for the law to be changed to prevent three Labour MPs charged with theft over the expenses scandal arguing that Parliamentary Privilege means that they cannot be tried.
Cameron has asked Sir George Young to provide a new Parliamentary Privilege Act while the Lib Dems want to amend existing legislation this week in the House of Commons to ensure that those charged with abuse of expenses cannot evade the law.
Sure, it is pure opportunism from Cameron and Clegg, but shouldn't Brown's advisers seen that coming - and told him or perhaps Justice Minister Jack Straw to make it clear that the Government would look to change the Parliamentary Privilege law to stop any possible attempt by MPs using it to avoid justice?
Gordon Brown's advisers continue to be out of tune with public mood - just as no one appeared to have spelt it out to the PM what an awful idea it was to axe the 10p tax rate which hit the poor and vulnerable very hard. Perhaps they ought to take a tgrip outside the Westminster bubble and start speaking to people on the streets to gauge the man/woman on the street's mood.

Brown bows to pressure over Iraq inquiry

Gordon Brown will give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry before the general election - and so he should.
It had looked like an attempt by Labour to bury bad news until after voters go to the poll.
But the Prime Minister, who held the purse-strings when the Iraq war was launched, is clearly calculating that it is better to get it over as soon as possible rather than have the issue raised in the general election campaign by political opponents.
More important than Gordon Brown's appearance is that the people of the UK get some answers. Let us hope the inquiry members will get stuck in with some tough questions - not just about the war but the preparedness of British troops in terms of equipment. As disgraced US President Richard Nixon declared: "There can be no whitewash at the White House". Substitute 10 Downing Street.
Meanwhile, before the current PM appears Tony Blair, the man who sent British troops to war, will appear. Roll on Friday, January 29.