8pm to 10pm Thursday night: the TV Leaders Debate

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-campaign.html

Seven leaders, four questions, two hours, 42 speaking slots: How Cameron will have the last word in the only major TV debate of the election campaign

• Strict rules revealed on who will speak and when during two-hour show
  
• ITV draws lots to agree which podium each leader will stand behind
• Just four 'substantial election questions' will be asked during the night
• ITV newsreader Julie Etchingham will keep order with just on ad break

Battlelines have been drawn for the only major TV debate of the election campaign, when seven party leaders will go head-to-head in a two-hour marathon. The debate takes place tomorrow night (Thursday) from 8pm to 10pm.

Tory leader David Cameron, Labour's Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg will share a platform with Ukip's Nigel Farage, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, the Green Party's Natalie Bennett and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood.

Strict rules released by broadcaster ITV for Thursday's night's event spell out in minute detail who will speak when, and for how long, with host Julie Etchingham trying to keep order.

Podium line up (in that order)

Lots have been drawn to agree where each of the leaders will stand and when they get to speak.

The agreed line up behind the podiums will be, from left to right: Natalie Bennett (Green), Nick Clegg (Lib Dem), Nigel Farage (Ukip), Ed Miliband (Labour), Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) and David Cameron (Conservative).

Names drawn out of a hat also helped to decide who will get to speak first, with Ms Bennett opening proceedings and Mr Cameron having the final word by giving the last closing remarks.

The two-hour live debate will be be screened from 8pm to 10pm on Thursday night.

Each leader will give an opening statement to a studio audience of around 200 people.

They will then be allowed to deliver an uninterrupted one-minute answer to each question, before 18 minutes of debate on each question. There will be just four 'substantial election questions' covered during the night.

Each leader will then give a closing statement to the cameras, before the programme ends at 10pm.

Mr Cameron will speak last, enabling him to have the last word. He is likely to repeat his refrain that a vote for anything other than a Tory majority will mean 'chaos'.

Producers insist that the leaders will not see the questions in advance and an 'experienced editorial panel' will select them.

Polling company ICM has chosen the 'politically-balanced' audience, with around 20 per cent said to be undecided voters.

During the entire two-hour programme there will be just one advert break, a highly unusual move for Britain's biggest commercial broadcaster.

The live programme is the only debate involving all of the main leaders scheduled for the campaign, after months of protracted negotiations between broadcasters and the parties.

YouGov

Mr Farage said he was disappointed to be placed near the middle of the line-up for the debates, rather than near Mr Cameron. Speaking on a visit to the Coastguard pub, close to the White Cliffs of Dover, Mr Farage said: 'I'm disappointed that Mr Cameron is so far away from me but we'll make the best of it.'

In the run-up to the 2010 election there were three debates, in which Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg took on Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

However, other parties including Ukip and the Greens demanded a slot, while Mr Cameron refused to take part in several debates once the campaign got underway.

Labour have accused the Tory leader of being 'chicken' for refusing to go up against Mr Miliband.

On April 16 the BBC will host a 'challengers debate' with only the leaders of opposition parties including Labour, Ukip, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru.

Then on April 30 there will be a special of BBC's Question Time, with Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Mr Clegg appearing separately to answer questions from a studio audience.

ITV has asked the audience for their questions while viewers have been asked to submit questions via [email protected].

Well Mr Cameron got his wish of including almost everybody and only having one debate... which means he won't face the mauling Clegg had when he took on Farage. In terms of who will come off best, my money would be on Nigel Farage and Nicola Sturgeon as they are both very strong speakers... in terms of worst I think David Cameron (purely for the reason he's going to have to be on the defence constantly) as well as Natalie Bennett. But who knows?

I'm watching this one, might aswell as thanks to the Chicken we're only having the one.

Vote in the poll (MULTIPLE CHOICE) as to who you think will come off the best in the debates even if you don't support them.

Thoughts?

[Inseriousity.]

Should be interesting. Sturgeon must be over the moon at her podium placement lol.

[GommeInc]

It seems a bit peculiar that they have it in that order. I would have made it fixed with the outgoing PM in the middle, the two historic major parties either side and a random mix up by draw of the outer four.

Not that it matters as this is just for show. I can't say I will purposefully watch it.

[MKR&*42]

Why (based on the poll) is Nick Clegg so far down.

IIRC when he debated Nigel Farage on the EU he was considered to be ''good at debating''?

Also, ms bennett will do the worst.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Why (based on the poll) is Nick Clegg so far down.

IIRC when he debated Nigel Farage on the EU he was considered to be ''good at debating''?

Also, ms bennett will do the worst.

The polls for Nick Clegg after debating Nigel Farage suggested a crushing defeat.

[MKR&*42]

The polls for Nick Clegg after debating Nigel Farage suggested a crushing defeat.

Oh woops I must have gotten mixed up somehow

[-:Undertaker:-]

Oh woops I must have gotten mixed up somehow

Found the polling for it.

First televised Clegg v Farage debate had Clegg on 36% and Farage on 57%

Second one had Clegg on 31% and Farage on 69%.

I assume the same will be held after the debate tonight so it'll be interesting to see who comes out tops. But you made a fair point though, Clegg is considered and is a good debater compared to both Cameron and Miliband which makes me think they are both in for quite a ride tonight especially against Sturgeon/Farage.

[-:Undertaker:-]

A picture of the studio for tonight has been released.

[lemons]

you are the weakest link

goodbye

[-:Undertaker:-]

Bookies tip Farage odds on to win the debate tonight which matches our own HxF poll at the moment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ampp3d/...medium=twitter

It's Farage. Nigel Farage will storm off with the Leaders Debate today, according to betting company Betfair. The bookies calculate the Ukip leader has a 36% chance of victory, putting him top of the list as their most likely winner. Put a tenner on Nigel Farage winning and you could make back £17.50.

Put a tenner on Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood winning and you could make back £220.

Reading that ComRes, Survation and YouGov confirmed to be doing polling straight afterwards. Rumours of other pollsters around too.