After TV debate surprise, UK could be headed toward a true three-party system

Source: The Independent

Nick Clegg broke the duopoly in British politics with a strong performance in last night’s historic first televised election debate between the three main party leaders.

The Liberal Democrat leader seized the moment by matching Gordon Brown and David Cameron blow for blow during 90 minutes of lively exchanges which confounded expectations that the 76 strict rules of engagement would produce a sterile discussion.

A ComRes poll for ITV News found that 43 per cent of viewers believed Mr Clegg won the debate, well ahead of Mr Cameron on 26 per cent and Mr Brown on 20 per cent. A YouGov survey for The Sun gave the Lib Dem leader an even bigger margin of victory – 51 per cent, with the Tory leader on 29 per cent and the Prime Minister on 19 per cent.

... Although all three parties inevitably claimed victory afterwards, Mr Clegg’s relaxed, confident and passionate performance raised hopes among the Lib Dems that Britain had finally entered a new era of three-party politics. Last night’s debate in Manchester, screened live on ITV, came 50 years after the first US presidential debate between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy. It offered a unique opportunity for Britain’s third party to compete on an equal footing with Labour and the Tories and Mr Clegg took it.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-smashes-through-twoparty-system-1946273.html

Elizabeth May, the Green candidate put in such a strong performance, many say she won the debate.

Just goes to show you that a well-informed, passionate progressive CAN take on the moderate and conservative parties and BEAT them in a fair fight.

Proportional Representation helps. The US don't have that. We were too early for that. And these days in my view it is the only way the duopoly will be broken.

If the Whig... err GOP goes away, another party will rise, but three parties? No, and that is by design.

For that reason, my guess is that a situation with three competitive major parties is untenable over the long run. The rules that they have and that we have (single-member districts, plurality election) tends to result in a two-party system.

As for proportional representation, it has worked fairly well (Germany) and has been a disaster (Italy). Arguing about its merits is rather beside the point, though. It won't happen here. One big reason is that the system of primaries to choose candidates provides a more readily available outlet for voters disgruntled with the current direction of their party.

as the veto power that can bring down the government if necessary.

I didn't watch the debate, but there seems to be a consensus that Clegg did best (although partisans for all 3 main parties are trying to claim that their man won it).

The thing is, I won't be voting for Clegg, or Cameron, or Brown as none of them are standing in my constituency. I am planning to attend a debate between the candidates in my constituency instead as those are the people who are going to be on my ballot paper.

Con: 36%
Lib-Dem: 35%
Lab: 24%

that the House of Commons will not be made up of 35% Lib Dems after May 6.

When it comes to voting - many votes will switch to other parties and back to Labour.

Still, it would be good to see Cameron and Brown get a bloody nose at this election from the LibDems.

Clegg probably did win on points, but then he had nothing to lose and was always likely to come out on top, just by virtue of gaining some rare exposure...it isn't suddenly going to make Britain a "true" 3 party system, although it may help the Liberals hang on to a few seats they were expecting to lose to the Tories- which is obviously good news for Labour.

I guarantee Cameron is as we speak talking to those Obama campaign debate advisors he hired and intensively training to emulate Clegg's success. Next debate I'll wager he'll be talking to the camera not the audience for instance, which Clegg did - seems obvious but it works. The man is a slippery and crafty customer, he can't be underestimated, he'll learn his lessons.