This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8636279.stm

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
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 preparing for their second head-to-head 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 three leaders are campaigning in the south west ahead of the debate in Bristol, hosted by Sky from 2000 BST.
The three leaders are campaigning in the region on Thursday. Mr Clegg, whose party enjoyed a poll boost after last week's debate has faced newspaper attacks.
Mr Clegg has come under attack over political donations paid into his own bank account. He denies any wrongdoing. He denied any wrongdoing over political donations and his party say he is being smeared by Tory-supporting papers.
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 boostPoll 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.
He dismissed the attacks and said he hoped people would not be "bullied into... not choosing something different".
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 debateMr 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. On a visit to Airbus UK in Filton, Mr Brown said he was fighting for a majority Labour government, not a coalition with the Lib Dems.
Asked how he was feeling on Thursday morning, Mr Cameron said he was "looking forward to it". He said he would say "what I want to say and what I think needs to be said" in the second debate and told Sky News: "I plan to focus on what I think are the big challenges for the country and show that I've got the answers.
No dress rehearsals "Not everybody will want to see it that way but I want to talk about the substantive issues."
Campaign intensity
In Exeter, Mr Cameron has been speaking to armed services personnel. Asked how he was feeling about the debate he said he was "looking forward to it".
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". I think it's quite an insult that we were not represented in that debate Alex NeilSNP class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636394.stm">Analysis: What leaders must do class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636311.stm">Clegg under attack before debate
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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636394.stm">Analysis: What leaders must do class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8636311.stm">Clegg under attack before debate Mr Clegg was visiting a parents and toddler group in Bristol. He 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 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. Thursday's debate is being held at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, hosted by Sky's political editor Adam Boulton, and will focus on foreign affairs.
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. 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.
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.
Trident policyTrident 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. The Lib Dems are expected to highlight their opposition to the Iraq war. 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 commentHAVE 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. Meanwhile Alex Neil, of the SNP, told the BBC that Scotland "wasn't mentioned once" in last week's debate adding: "Quite frankly, given the contribution that we make to the United Kingdom and the fact that we subsidise the United Kingdom, I think it's quite an insult that we were not represented in that debate."
And Nigel Farage, of the UK Independence Party, said all three leaders were "signed up 100%" for British membership of the EU, adding: "This is the one debate in which UKIP should have taken part. After all the last time we discussed this issue nationally was the European elections last year, we came second across the entire United Kingdom. So my feeling is, on these big questions tonight, no UKIP, no real debate."
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.
• 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.