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Leaders clash in historic debate Leaders clash in historic debate
(20 minutes later)
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. Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed over police funding in the opening skirmishes of the first prime ministerial TV debate in the UK.
After brief opening statements Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are debating crime and immigration policy. The Labour leader challenged Mr Cameron to stop "airbrushing his policies" and say if he would match Labour's pledge to continue it at the current level.
Mr Cameron said immigration was "out of control" but Mr Brown and Mr Clegg both spoke out against his plan for a cap on the numbers coming into the country. The Conservative leader insisted savings could be made without cutting frontline services.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said neither parties' sums added up.
Mr Brown has repeatedly said he agrees with Mr Clegg on a number of issues in the first half hour, from immigration to cleaning up politics.
The 90 minute debate on ITV1 is the first of three over the coming weeks.The 90 minute debate on ITV1 is the first of three over the coming weeks.
FULL GUIDE TO TV DEBATES Poll watch: Will debates matter? Q&A: The TV debate rules How leaders trained for it Analysis: Seven things to watch Debate lessons from Australia The 46-year wait for clash
Mr Clegg, who won the draw to make an opening statement first, told the studio audience "I believe the way things are is not the way things have to be" and urged voters to "do something different this time" by voting Liberal Democrat.Mr Clegg, who won the draw to make an opening statement first, told the studio audience "I believe the way things are is not the way things have to be" and urged voters to "do something different this time" by voting Liberal Democrat.
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 clash
Gordon Brown, in his opening statement, warned against a "double dip recession" and vowed to protect the NHS, police and schools from cuts.Gordon Brown, in his opening statement, warned against a "double dip recession" and vowed to protect the NHS, police and schools from cuts.
David Cameron promised to restore trust after the expenses scandal and said although he would not undo everything Labour had done, Britain needed change "and it is that change that I hope to lead".David Cameron promised to restore trust after the expenses scandal and said although he would not undo everything Labour had done, Britain needed change "and it is that change that I hope to lead".
The first of the three clashes is focusing on domestic affairs, but the three party leaders are free to air other issues.The first of the three clashes is focusing on domestic affairs, but the three party leaders are free to air other issues.
Immigration
Mr Cameron said immigration was "out of control" but Mr Brown and Mr Clegg both spoke out against his plan for a cap on the numbers coming into the country.
He said immigration was "simply too high at the moment". The pressures on housing, health and immigration were "too great".
"I want us to bring immigration down so that it's in the tens of thousands not the hundreds of thousands," he said.
"I think we need to have not just a points system but also a limit on migration when people are coming from outside the EU for economic reasons."
Mr Brown said: "I know people feel that there are pressures because of immigration. That's why we want to control and manage immigration."
Labour had introduced a points system so that no unskilled workers from outside the EU could come to Britain, he added.
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.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.
'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: "There are actually four countries in the United Kingdom not one - and the other three countries feel a bit miffed about this."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."
Clegg 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.
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 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.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.