One Down, Two To Go

Just like a semi decent striker faced with an open goal, Nick Clegg coolly slammed the ball into the back of the net last night. He probably couldn’t believe his luck when talk of the debates was first suggested. He would take centre stage on an equal footing with the two main parties in British politics.

And having been given the chance, he did not pass it up. The Lib Dems no doubt agonised for days over which tactics they should employ, but Clegg pulled them off masterfully. Having said that, Brown and Cameron didn’t do all that badly, it’s just that Clegg did better.

He looked relaxed, down to earth with his hands in his pockets, but probably most importantly – believable. And that seems to be resonating in the latest polls with the Lib Dems gaining significant ground on Labour. In fact, Political Betting is suggesting that they might have overtaken them tonight.

Of course, if someone is winning, then someone inevitably has to be losing out. And the fear for the parties that were not involved in last night’s debate is that it might be them. But after saying that the SNP was irrelevant, Clegg might have actually given the SNP a boost. People, I don’t imagine, will like to hear someone calling their governing party irrelevant.

But does Scotland matter to anybody anymore? Just about half the questions last night started with, “This question is about issues that are devolved in Scotland,” which essentially meant it is irrelevant to Scotland.

If the Tories get into Downing Street which thankfully is looking less and less likely, there will be even less people around who care about Scotland.

So use your vote wisely on May 6th!