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Leaders prepare for second debate Leaders prepare for second debate
(19 minutes later)
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg are preparing for their second head-to-head 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 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 south west ahead of the debate in Bristol, hosted by Sky from 2000 BST.
Mr Clegg, whose party enjoyed a poll boost after last week's debate has faced newspaper attacks. Mr Clegg, whose party enjoyed a poll boost after last week's debate, faced newspaper attacks on Thursday.
He denied any wrongdoing over political donations and his party say he is being smeared by Tory-supporting papers. Meanwhile the BBC Trust has not upheld an appeal by Plaid Cymru and the SNP about the next debate on 29 April.
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. Mr Clegg came under attack by various newspapers on Thursday over party donations, past comments and his policies - his party says he is being smeared because of his success in the debate last week.
He dismissed the attacks and said he hoped people would not be "bullied into... not choosing something different". Mr Clegg 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.
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.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.
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.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.
"Not everybody will want to see it that way but I want to talk about the substantive issues.""Not everybody will want to see it that way but I want to talk about the substantive issues."
Campaign intensityCampaign 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".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."
I think it's quite an insult that we were not represented in that debate Alex NeilSNP Analysis: What leaders must do Clegg under attack before debateI think it's quite an insult that we were not represented in that debate Alex NeilSNP Analysis: What leaders must do 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".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".
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.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.
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.
Trident policyTrident policy
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.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.
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
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." Meanwhile the BBC Trust has rejected a joint appeal from the Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties against the BBC's decision to exclude them from the prime ministerial debates - separate leaders' debates are being held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
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."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.
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".
• 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.