Commentary on the final British Election Prime-Ministerial debate

Commentary on the final British Election Prime-Ministerial debate
April 29, 2010

This evening the three party leaders Gordon Brown (Labour), David Cameron (Conservative Party), Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat) held their third and final public debate together televised by the BBC which I was able to view from New York via internet.

Sartorially the opposition party leaders wore ties echoing the colour of their party (Cameron Blue & Clegg Orange) whilst Gordon opted for a purple tie (blue & red!).

Early in the debate the issue of efficiency savings came up - playing to Brown's knowledge of financial issues. Unfortunately Gordon continues the bullfrog-like gasping for breath mid-sentence though powerfully referring to the 1930s as the risk of budget cuts.

Also the leaders all indicate the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will not be spared the efficiency cuts - some 6 Billion pounds. Under Blair the Gershon efficiency savings have struggled to deliver after the initial push of the Office of Government Commerce in the late 1990s. The MOD was only mentioned in the context of Gordon Brown maybe or maybe not providing rises to the defence budget.

Nick Clegg appears to come across more as a moderator "here they go again" and less as a political party leader - which might translate into positive votes on May 6th, 2010.

David Cameron looks like he has been in a spa for several days - facials, sun tanning and botox ?! Gordon Brown looks exhausted though combatative.

The second discussion revolved around taxes - the incumbent government indicated the priorities for spending - policing, education and health care. Brown was combatative focusing on class differences (conservatives - inheritance tax) "unfair & moral".

The third question focused on remuneration in the financial sector. Interestingly, the Conservatives started out wanting to increase regulation and to tax banks (a variant of the windfall taxes of the late 1990s?) and to block banks from participating in certain activities. Liberal Democrats state no cash bonuses for board level bankers. Labour push the saving of voters deposits by nationalising banks and therefore their protectors.

Bizarre follow up by David Cameron that Labour hitched the economy to the City of London, despite the pivotal role of the Thatcher Government in privatisation during the 1980s and financial services liberalisation.

NIck Clegg articulated a good argument for simple methods to improve the state of the manufacturing base and hit out at the bailout of the Royal Bank of Scotland who were involved in the Kraft:Cadbury acquisition which led to job losses in the UK.