Clegg's Presentational Oxygen

by Graham Davies

There is widespread disbelief today that the Lib Dems could have done so badly after Nick Clegg's top class presentational performance in the election debates. The fact is that the electorate realised that crap policies presented well are still crap policies.

But presentation was still vitally important to Clegg's party. If he had not been so brilliant, their vote share would have dropped dramatically below what they managed to achieve in 2005. Without the boost that his debating skills gave them, they would now be able to have a meeting of their Parliamentary Party in a phone box.

For the Tories and Labour, good presentation is a vital tool in their fight for victory. For the Lib Dems it is what they will continue to need in their fight for survival.