Well, at least nobody tanked. Cameron did well, Miliband was a bit flat, Sturgeon feisty, Farage repulsive and Clegg charmed the pants off of everyone. I know that some of his critics say that his performance was no more than a repeat of 2010 and maybe it was. But he swatted Milband and demolished Farage. Was it my imagination or did I see an approving twinkle in Cameron’s eye? The truth is the two boys defended coalition achievements whilst showing their differences with the minimum of playground grazes. A good joint effort.
Miliband wasn’t so much embarrassing as creepy. You really can over rehearse sincerity and passion even if it is genuine, which leaves the viewer with an impression of unworldly oddness. The trouble with Ed, whom I am reliably told is a thoroughly decent fellow, is that he can’t shake of the image as the chairman of the school chemistry club on the way to some work experience at an insurance company.
But Farage took the most hits which will please young Crosby. Decent, old fashioned Tory voters who are bewildered at the modern Tory Party would have recoiled in horror at his assertion that those with HIV shouldn’t be allowed into the UK. And why single out HIV as opposed to any venereal disease? And how do you screen people? How do you enforce it? Is this policy borne out of public health policy or stopping sick foreigners receiving treatment in our hospitals? It just looked mean, vindictive and discriminatory. Which it was designed to be. It will no doubt raise a cheer amongst the master race who infest Canvey Island pubs, whom with expressions of glee etched into their robber’s dogs faces, will be downing pints of Stella in honour of Nige. He speaks their language. Well, don’t pass me the Rosetta Stone chum. I am not at all surprised that the KIPPERS latest polling is down to 12%. I suspect that this is the beginning of a steady descent.
Although Sturgeon is poised and impressive there is something scary about her. Salmond may be a grade A greaser and as trustworthy as a nine bob note. But Sturgeon has the aura of the sort of charming down to earth mum seen in a teen scream movie whom you finally discover is experimenting on barely living bodies in the cellar. Again, Crosby will be pleased that she polled well as she is now a Tory deadly weapon of mass distraction.
The latest YOUGOV poll with the Tories on 37% against Labour’s 35% will put a spring in Cameron’s step. But there is still one hell of a long way to go.
Now for an interesting conundrum raised by Carl Gardner, who is a serious lawyer. What happens if Clegg loses his seat? Who negotiates if there is going to be power sharing? It is not as simple as it seems. Section 10:2 of the Federal Constitution clearly triggers a leadership election if the leader is no longer in the Commons. And the Deputy Leader is Sir Malcolm Bruce who is not in the Commons.
Personally, I don’t believe that Clegg will lose his seat, but if he does and there is a hung Parliament, who on earth would the parties negotiate with? And if a deal is struck, is the newly elected leader a few weeks down the line bound by it?
This has the potential of a serious constitutional crisis.
