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| General Election 2015: Miliband gets his only chance to cross swords with Cameron on TV at the Leaders' debate | General Election 2015: Miliband gets his only chance to cross swords with Cameron on TV at the Leaders' debate |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Ed Miliband will get his only chance to cross swords directly with David Cameron during the general election campaign as they appear in a seven-way live clash between Britain’s political leaders. | |
| The Labour leader has already spent many hours rehearsing for the ITV debate, knowing it offers him another crucial opportunity to persuade the public that he is a prime minister in waiting. | The Labour leader has already spent many hours rehearsing for the ITV debate, knowing it offers him another crucial opportunity to persuade the public that he is a prime minister in waiting. |
| With the overwhelming majority of polls pointing to a hung parliament, the performance of the leaders of the smaller parties will come under intense scrutiny. So what's at stake for the participants? | |
| Hopes: He cuts a prime ministerial figure – referring to his experience in world politics – and wins public sympathy as all the others take aim at him. | Hopes: He cuts a prime ministerial figure – referring to his experience in world politics – and wins public sympathy as all the others take aim at him. |
| Fears: He loses his composure as the combined impact of his rivals’ onslaught and jibes about his posh background leaves him a diminished figure. | Fears: He loses his composure as the combined impact of his rivals’ onslaught and jibes about his posh background leaves him a diminished figure. |
| Hopes: He is able to win plaudits for the Lib Dems’ influence on Coalition policies as he sets out his “progressive centre” vision. | Hopes: He is able to win plaudits for the Lib Dems’ influence on Coalition policies as he sets out his “progressive centre” vision. |
| Fears: His voice is drowned out by the new kids on the political block. | Fears: His voice is drowned out by the new kids on the political block. |
| Hopes: He touches a populist nerve, particularly on immigration and Europe. | Hopes: He touches a populist nerve, particularly on immigration and Europe. |
| Fears: Sustained criticism from the others leaves his party looking extreme, while Cameron wins some Ukip voters back to the Tories. | Fears: Sustained criticism from the others leaves his party looking extreme, while Cameron wins some Ukip voters back to the Tories. |
| Hopes: She uses her rare national platform to attract left-wing voters through her opposition to austerity. | |
| Fears: A faltering performance intensifies questions about her leadership qualities. | |
| Hopes: He builds on last week’s strong debate performance to boost his low standing with voters by getting the better of Cameron. | Hopes: He builds on last week’s strong debate performance to boost his low standing with voters by getting the better of Cameron. |
| Fears: The SNP, Plaid and Green leaders attract left-leaning voters by accusing Labour of pursuing a watered-down austerity measures. | Fears: The SNP, Plaid and Green leaders attract left-leaning voters by accusing Labour of pursuing a watered-down austerity measures. |
| Hopes: She consolidates her position as Scotland’s most popular politician by landing blows on Westminster’s leaders. | Hopes: She consolidates her position as Scotland’s most popular politician by landing blows on Westminster’s leaders. |
| Fears: A sceptical English audience is not as receptive to her message as Scots voters. | Fears: A sceptical English audience is not as receptive to her message as Scots voters. |
| Hopes: She raises her profile across the UK and gives fresh impetus to her party’s campaign in Wales by positioning Plaid to the left of Labour. | Hopes: She raises her profile across the UK and gives fresh impetus to her party’s campaign in Wales by positioning Plaid to the left of Labour. |
| Fears: Her relative inexperience on a national stage shows as she struggles to project a distinctive message and ends up on the fringes of the debate. | Fears: Her relative inexperience on a national stage shows as she struggles to project a distinctive message and ends up on the fringes of the debate. |
| The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as possible. | The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as possible. |
| Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed: | Click the buttons below to explore how the main parties' fortunes have changed: |
| All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report) | All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report) |