The Leader's Debate

by Graham Davies

Just to be sporting, I have decided to give advice to all 3 Leaders for the first televised debate:

1. Have alot of pre-prepared funny one-liners rehearsed and available at the tip of your tongue. This includes YOU, Gordon. These are the words that TV audiences like to hear and journalists like to report. A good gag at the expense of the other 2 candidates will get you more votes than a list of cost estimates.

2. Avoid sloganising: as a device, it only works in front of a crowd of your own supporters. Don't follow the example og George Osborne, who says We Are All In This Together whenever he can'y think of anything else.

3. Be as specific as posssible when you do talk about the amount and location of cuts. The sort of audience that is going to listen for 90 minutes will not want want their stamina rewarded with vagueness.

4. Don't practice gestures. If you think that your likely voters are concerned about where your arms are, you have been woking wiath an unrelistic (probably American) coach.

5. Don't touch the lectern. By all means use it as a place to write and perch notes.....but the white-knuckle death-grip is never inspiring. Speak and move as though the lectern simply doesn't exist.

In the USA, the generally percieved winner of the Presidential Debates has always gone on to win the Presidency. Here, Cameron's Premiership will be confirmed in the same way.