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| Leaders prepare for second debate | Leaders prepare for second debate |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are once more set to go head-to-head in the second prime ministerial TV debate, focused on global affairs. | Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are once more set to go head-to-head in the second prime ministerial TV debate, focused on global affairs. |
| The Lib Dems enjoyed a poll boost after the first debate. Sky News hosts the second in Bristol, which will focus on foreign affairs, from 2000 BST. | The Lib Dems enjoyed a poll boost after the first debate. Sky News hosts the second in Bristol, which will focus on foreign affairs, from 2000 BST. |
| The three leaders are campaigning in the region on Thursday. | The three leaders are campaigning in the region on Thursday. |
| Mr Clegg has come under attack over political donations paid into his own bank account. He denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Clegg has come under attack over political donations paid into his own bank account. He denies any wrongdoing. |
| The party says he is being "smeared" because of his debate success. | The party says he is being "smeared" because of his debate success. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said last week's debate had produced the biggest shift in opinion ever recorded by pollsters during an election - and had upended all political calculations. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said last week's debate had produced the biggest shift in opinion ever recorded by pollsters during an election - and had upended all political calculations. |
| Poll boost | Poll boost |
| Mr Clegg came under attack by various newspapers on Thursday over party donations, past comments and his policies - something his colleague Chris Huhne dismissed as "smears" by "Conservative newspapers". | Mr Clegg came under attack by various newspapers on Thursday over party donations, past comments and his policies - something his colleague Chris Huhne dismissed as "smears" by "Conservative newspapers". |
| A number of opinion polls placed the Liberal Democrats ahead of Labour and gaining on the Conservatives after last week's prime ministerial TV debate. Other polls, such as the YouGov/Sun survey of 20 April, have even put the Lib Dems in first place. | A number of opinion polls placed the Liberal Democrats ahead of Labour and gaining on the Conservatives after last week's prime ministerial TV debate. Other polls, such as the YouGov/Sun survey of 20 April, have even put the Lib Dems in first place. |
| Mr Cameron said he was looking forward to the debate | |
| It has increased speculation that the general election on 6 May will result in a hung parliament - polls suggest the Conservatives are still slightly ahead but would not have enough seats to get an overall majority. | It has increased speculation that the general election on 6 May will result in a hung parliament - polls suggest the Conservatives are still slightly ahead but would not have enough seats to get an overall majority. |
| All three leaders are out campaigning in the south-west ahead of the debate in Bristol. Mr Brown is visiting Airbus UK in Filton and Mr Cameron has been speaking to armed services personnel and veterans in Exeter as his party unveils its armed forces manifesto. Mr Clegg is visiting a parents and toddler group in Bristol. | All three leaders are out campaigning in the south-west ahead of the debate in Bristol. Mr Brown is visiting Airbus UK in Filton and Mr Cameron has been speaking to armed services personnel and veterans in Exeter as his party unveils its armed forces manifesto. Mr Clegg is visiting a parents and toddler group in Bristol. |
| Asked how he was feeling on Thursday morning, Mr Cameron said he was "looking forward to it". | Asked how he was feeling on Thursday morning, Mr Cameron said he was "looking forward to it". |
| No dress rehearsals | No dress rehearsals |
| He said he had to explain to people how he would "make a difference": "People are very depressed and fed up with the politics at the moment and they need to be inspired - that's what we've got to do." | He said he had to explain to people how he would "make a difference": "People are very depressed and fed up with the politics at the moment and they need to be inspired - that's what we've got to do." |
| Mr Clegg said he would prepare by going for a long walk in the countryside, which "seemed to help a little bit last time". He said he had done "next to nothing" since last Thursday to prepare for the second debate, blaming "the intensity of the campaign". | Mr Clegg said he would prepare by going for a long walk in the countryside, which "seemed to help a little bit last time". He said he had done "next to nothing" since last Thursday to prepare for the second debate, blaming "the intensity of the campaign". |
| I believe that people will look at the policies for the future that we have... and I believe that is the set of issues that people will finally make up their mind on. Gordon Brown href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636394.stm">Analysis: What leaders must do href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636311.stm">Clegg under attack before debate | |
| "I will sit with my team and we will just go over some questions. We are not going to do any dress rehearsals or anything like that," Mr Clegg said. | "I will sit with my team and we will just go over some questions. We are not going to do any dress rehearsals or anything like that," Mr Clegg said. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Brown admitted he lost out to Mr Clegg in presentation terms last week but said his concentration on policy would win out in the end. | Meanwhile, Mr Brown admitted he lost out to Mr Clegg in presentation terms last week but said his concentration on policy would win out in the end. |
| He said: "If it's a competition about substance and who's got the policies of the future, who's best for the NHS, who's best for jobs, who's best for the economy, then I believe that people will look at the policies for the future that we have... and I believe that is the set of issues that people will finally make up their mind on." | He said: "If it's a competition about substance and who's got the policies of the future, who's best for the NHS, who's best for jobs, who's best for the economy, then I believe that people will look at the policies for the future that we have... and I believe that is the set of issues that people will finally make up their mind on." |
| Thursday's debate is being held at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, hosted by Sky News's political editor Adam Boulton. | Thursday's debate is being held at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, hosted by Sky News's political editor Adam Boulton. |
| Trident policy | Trident policy |
| It will focus on foreign affairs - the Lib Dems are expected to highlight their opposition to the Iraq war and their criticism of the conduct of military operations in Afghanistan. | It will focus on foreign affairs - the Lib Dems are expected to highlight their opposition to the Iraq war and their criticism of the conduct of military operations in Afghanistan. |
| Labour and the Conservatives have already criticised the Lib Dems' opposition to a "like for like" replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system. | Labour and the Conservatives have already criticised the Lib Dems' opposition to a "like for like" replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system. |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the issue of Trident renewal was a "test" of whether the Lib Dems can be trusted with defence while Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there was "no feasible alternative" to the submarine-based system. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said the issue of Trident renewal was a "test" of whether the Lib Dems can be trusted with defence while Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said there was "no feasible alternative" to the submarine-based system. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The most important issue that needs to be discussed is when can our troops come home from Afghanistan? Queen_Becci_B Send your comment | HAVE YOUR SAY The most important issue that needs to be discussed is when can our troops come home from Afghanistan? Queen_Becci_B Send your comment |
| Mr Clegg will be in the middle of the three leaders, with Mr Cameron on the left when looking at the screen, and Mr Brown on the right, which is where he stood last week. | Mr Clegg will be in the middle of the three leaders, with Mr Cameron on the left when looking at the screen, and Mr Brown on the right, which is where he stood last week. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Clegg has indicated to the Independent newspaper that his party will demand a fully proportional voting system for Westminster elections as the price of their support if they hold the balance of power following the general election. | Meanwhile, Mr Clegg has indicated to the Independent newspaper that his party will demand a fully proportional voting system for Westminster elections as the price of their support if they hold the balance of power following the general election. |
| He said the Alternative Vote (AV) system proposed by the prime minister was "a baby step in the right direction", and said he would not settle for "a miserable little compromise thrashed out by the Labour Party". | He said the Alternative Vote (AV) system proposed by the prime minister was "a baby step in the right direction", and said he would not settle for "a miserable little compromise thrashed out by the Labour Party". |
| He backs the "AV-plus system", which would retain MPs' constituency link but deliver a result which was more proportional to the number of votes cast. | He backs the "AV-plus system", which would retain MPs' constituency link but deliver a result which was more proportional to the number of votes cast. |
| • The second prime ministerial TV debate is being shown simultaneously on Sky News, Sky 3, and the BBC News Channel from 2000 BST to 2130 BST. It will also be streamed live on the BBC News website, and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It will then be re-run on BBC Two, starting at 2330 BST. | • The second prime ministerial TV debate is being shown simultaneously on Sky News, Sky 3, and the BBC News Channel from 2000 BST to 2130 BST. It will also be streamed live on the BBC News website, and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It will then be re-run on BBC Two, starting at 2330 BST. |