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Leaders arrive for historic clash Leaders clash in historic debate
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are about to make political history with the UK's first prime ministerial TV debate. The three men bidding to be the next prime minister are going head-to-head on live television for the first time in British political history.
The party leaders have all arrived for the 90-minute US-style live broadcast, in which their every word and gesture will be analysed. Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are making opening statements before debating questions chosen by viewers and the audience.
They will answer questions chosen by the audience and from viewers' e-mails. The party leaders have been rehearsing intensively for the 90 minute debate, being broadcast on ITV1.
ITV1 will broadcast the show from 2030 BST in Manchester. Sky and the BBC will host debates on successive Thursdays. Sky and the BBC will host further debates on successive Thursdays.
The first of the three clashes will focus on domestic affairs, but leaders can air other issues. With the opinion polls tightening, if one leader performs well, or another badly, or if an issue emerges during the debate, it will change the shape of the general election campaign, says BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson.
Cameron 'excited but nervous' about debate The first of the three clashes is focusing on domestic affairs, but the three party leaders are free to air other issues.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson has visited the set of the prime ministerial debate and says the most striking thing was how close the three men would be standing to each other. 'Getting it right'
He said David Cameron and Gordon Brown were literally within touching distance, meaning if one of them wanted to turn to address the other, they would have to invade some personal space. All three have admitted feeling nervous ahead of their encounter, which has a very different format to their weekly prime minister's questions clashes in the Commons.
With the polls tightening, if one leader performs well, or another badly, or if an issue emerges during the debate, it will change the shape of the next few weeks, our editor adds. But they say they are looking forward to the chance to get their message across to voters.
Meanwhile, BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Clegg's team faced a dilemma about whether he should join in or stand aside if Mr Brown and Mr Cameron lock horns.
Mr Brown's team's main worry was whether the prime minister - who prides himself on his mastery of policy detail - will be able to give punchy answers within the time limit given to leaders. The Conservatives' main worry is that Mr Cameron, who is ahead in the polls, has the most to lose.
Out campaigning in the marginal seat of Bolton West Mr Brown said he was "looking forward to it". Asked if he was feeling nervous, he said: "I don't think anybody goes into something new without feeling something about what's going to happen.
"But equally it's a chance to talk directly to the country. I was looking for this chance to talk directly to the people of this country and that's what I'm going to do."
'Historic first'
Labour's election strategist Lord Mandelson said the prime minister "does not show fear" and regards the debates as "just one more thing he has got to get right." He said Mr Brown was "more PM than PR. He's got to be himself. He's not package-able, he's not an actor, he's going to have to be himself for better or for worse".
Conservative leader David Cameron, who has been out with his wife Samantha campaigning in Halifax, West Yorkshire, said he was taking it "easy-ish" ahead of the debate. He said his main worries were "about not getting it right, about not getting the point across you want to make, those sorts of things".
FULL GUIDE TO TV DEBATES Poll watch: Will debates matter? Q&A: The TV debate rules A knock-out competition? How leaders trained for it Analysis: Seven things to watch Debate lessons from Australia The 46-year wait for clashFULL GUIDE TO TV DEBATES Poll watch: Will debates matter? Q&A: The TV debate rules A knock-out competition? How leaders trained for it Analysis: Seven things to watch Debate lessons from Australia The 46-year wait for clash
"But above all, I am looking forward to it because it is a great opportunity. Normally you have to deal with the 30-second sound bite on the news and all politicians, I think, feel frustrated that we can't talk directly to the public about the problems the country has and what we would do to solve them," he added. Out campaigning in the marginal seat of Bolton West, Labour leader Gordon Brown said he wanted a "chance to talk directly to the people of this country and that's what I'm going to do".
He said it should not been seen as a fight, with leaders trying to land knockout blows: "The metaphors of boxing and bouts is wrong. If that's what it's about it will, I do not think, be the right thing. Conservative leader David Cameron, who has been out with his wife Samantha campaigning in Halifax, West Yorkshire, said his main worries were "about not getting it right, about not getting the point across you want to make, those sorts of things".
"What it should be about is trying to explain how we get out of the hole we are in." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who was campaigning in Manchester city centre on Thursday, said: "I just want to be myself, answer the questions and probably most difficult of all - given all the hype - just enjoy it."
Mr Clegg, who was campaigning in Manchester city centre on Thursday, said he had just been to see the set and was "looking forward to it".
"The nerves are there," he told reporters.
"I just want to be myself, answer the questions and probably most difficult of all - given all the hype - just enjoy it."
"I just really hope - that was the whole point of this - it wasn't for one politician to score a better point off another, it was to give people a sense about what the leaders are like and therefore give them more reason to go out and vote."
The audience seem "very excited and keyed up," as they wait to be ushered into the Granada studios in Manchester, reports Laura Kuenssberg.
'False choice''False choice'
The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru will not take part in the debate, although the BBC is to hold separate leaders debates in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru will not take part in the debate, although the BBC is to hold separate leaders debates in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond told the BBC: "I think it's outrageous that the national parties of Scotland and Wales... have been excluded from these debates by stipulations laid down by the three large parties and followed meekly by the broadcasters." SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond told the BBC: "There are actually four countries in the United Kingdom not one - and the other three countries feel a bit miffed about this."
He said the debate would actually be about "English domestic policies" - as powers on issues like health had been devolved to the Scottish Parliament: "There are actually four countries in the United Kingdom not one - and the other three countries feel a bit miffed about this."
Clegg on debate preparationsClegg on debate preparations
And Plaid Cymru's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones told the BBC many issues that would be debated had been devolved to Scotland and Wales.And Plaid Cymru's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones told the BBC many issues that would be debated had been devolved to Scotland and Wales.
"It doesn't reflect well on the broadcasters that they haven't recognised that the politics of the United Kingdom is now entirely different to how it was 10 years ago with devolution," he said."It doesn't reflect well on the broadcasters that they haven't recognised that the politics of the United Kingdom is now entirely different to how it was 10 years ago with devolution," he said.
"It is a false choice people are being given, in Wales this is being broadcast as though the only options is Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats - in Wales it is a four-party system."
The nation's verdict will come not from the pundits and the commentators, but in the days to come Read Nick Robinson's blog Will you be watching?The nation's verdict will come not from the pundits and the commentators, but in the days to come Read Nick Robinson's blog Will you be watching?
The debates are bound by more than 70 rules agreed after weeks of negotiations between the parties and the broadcasters.The debates are bound by more than 70 rules agreed after weeks of negotiations between the parties and the broadcasters.
Before the questions begin, the leaders will be allowed to make a one-minute opening address, and a 90-second closing statement at the end of the show.Before the questions begin, the leaders will be allowed to make a one-minute opening address, and a 90-second closing statement at the end of the show.
The audience will be asked to applaud at the start and end of the programmes, and will not be able to respond to leaders' answers, not ask questions directly - they will be put to the leaders by the presenter.The audience will be asked to applaud at the start and end of the programmes, and will not be able to respond to leaders' answers, not ask questions directly - they will be put to the leaders by the presenter.
Most of the 200-strong audience in each debate will be picked by pollsters ICM from the local area to ensure a balance of gender, age, ethnicity, social class and voting intention.Most of the 200-strong audience in each debate will be picked by pollsters ICM from the local area to ensure a balance of gender, age, ethnicity, social class and voting intention.
Sky News will be showing the second debate on Thursday, 22 April, which will look at foreign affairs. The final debate on BBC One on Thursday, 29 April will focus on the economy.Sky News will be showing the second debate on Thursday, 22 April, which will look at foreign affairs. The final debate on BBC One on Thursday, 29 April will focus on the economy.
• The First Election Debate programme will be shown on ITV1 on Thursday, 15 April, starting at 2030 BST. In Scotland it will be shown on STV, and on UTV in Northern Ireland. You can listen to it live on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live. The First Election Debate programme is on ITV1 on Thursday, 15 April, starting at 2030 BST. In Scotland it will be shown on STV, and on UTV in Northern Ireland. You can listen to it live on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live.