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Dundee Leaders Non Partisans

THE QUALITATIVE ELECTION STUDY OF BRITAIN 2015

Dundee Leaders Debate NightNon- Partisans

(aliases incomplete)conducted April 2nd 2015

Transcribed Focus Groups Dataset

Version 0.9

Date of release: 29 February 2016

Principal InvestigatorDr. Edzia Carvalho, University of Dundee

International Co-InvestigatorDr. Kristi Winters, GESIS, Cologne

Funded by British Academy and Leverhulme Trust Small Grant SG142740

and supported by Carnegie Corporation of New York, GESIS-Leibniz Institute (Cologne) and University of Dundee

QESB Contacts

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

http://wintersresearch.wordpress.com

1Transcribed by: Just Write Secretarial Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Contact: [email protected]

‘QESB’qualesb2015 @qualesb

mailto:[email protected]

Dundee Leaders Non Partisans

READ ME

Transcribed Focus Groups Dataset Version 1.0

On copyright and attribution

Copyright of this transcript belongs to Dr. Edzia Carvalho and Dr. Kristi Winters. Individuals may re-use this document/publication free of charge in any format for research, private study or internal circulation within an organisation. You must re-use it accurately and not present it in a misleading context. You must acknowledge the author, the QES Britain project title, and the source document/publication.

Recommended citation: Carvalho, E. and K. Winters. 2015. 'The Qualitative Election Study of Britain 2015 Dataset', version 1.0. Funded by British Academy and Leverhulme Small Grant SG142740 and supported by GESIS, Carnegie Corporation, and University of Dundee. Available at: http://wintersresearch.wordpress.com

On the transcription

All participants’ names have been changed and any direct or indirect identifiers removed to protect their anonymity

The transcripts in Version 1.0 do not have enhanced data recovery including non-verbal communication. It includes the basic transcription of words said by participants. The participants have been identified through attribution by the moderator or other participants and by an initial attribution by the investigators. Subsequent versions of the dataset will verify attribution of participants by video identification.

The transcripts in this version also do not include extensive instructions given to participants at the beginning of the groups, introductions by participants, and exchanges between participants and moderators during exercises.

Initial Transcription by: Just Write Secretarial Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Contact: [email protected]

Reporting conventions used

We have used ** to indicate words, phrases or sentences which we could not hear.

Italic font indicates we have taken a guess at a word/name etc.

Words in parentheses {} indicate physical gestures or what can be heard on the tape but cannot be clearly articulated into specific words.

Removal of direct and indirect identifiers are set off with + word +



Dundee Pre Group 1

Date of focus group: 2 April 2015

Location: University of Dundee, Dundee

Moderator 1: Dr. Kristi Winters

Moderator 2: Dr. Edzia Carvalho

Participants:

2015 Alias Sex

Special Category

Age group Supporter Party Strength Pre Group

Post Group Constituency

2015 vote preference

2014 Indyref vote

Lauren F Student 25-33 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 Dundee 1 Dundee West Y, and party YesGayle F Student 34-41 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 Dundee 2 Dundee East / Inverness… Y, and partyGavin M Student 18-25 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 No Dundee West Y, and party YesYusuf M N 34-41 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 Dundee 1 Dundee East Y, not which partyErnest M Student 18-25 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 Dundee 2 North East Fife Y, not which partyGemma F 34-41 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 Dundee 2 Dundee West Y, not which partyVanessa F Student 18-25 N NA NA Dundee LD 2 No Y, not which partyHal M Student 18-25 Y Tory 5 Dundee LD 2 Dundee 1 South West Wiltshire Y, and party



Dundee Leaders Debates non partisans

ContentsSelfie with a leader................................................................................................................................5

Gayle..................................................................................................................................................5

Gayle..................................................................................................................................................5

Gayle..................................................................................................................................................5

Gemma..............................................................................................................................................5

Vanessa.............................................................................................................................................5

Lauren................................................................................................................................................5

Gavin.................................................................................................................................................5

Hal.....................................................................................................................................................6

Ernest................................................................................................................................................6

Yusuf..................................................................................................................................................6

Yusuf..................................................................................................................................................6

Parties you could you see yourself voting for........................................................................................6

Gemma..............................................................................................................................................6

Gemma..............................................................................................................................................6

Gemma..............................................................................................................................................7

Vanessa.............................................................................................................................................8

Lauren................................................................................................................................................8

Lauren................................................................................................................................................8

Ernest................................................................................................................................................8

Ernest................................................................................................................................................8

Hal.....................................................................................................................................................9

Hal.....................................................................................................................................................9

Gavin.................................................................................................................................................9

Leader impressions..............................................................................................................................10

Ernest..............................................................................................................................................11

Gavin...............................................................................................................................................16

Views of the debates...........................................................................................................................16

Lauren..............................................................................................................................................16

Debate expectations............................................................................................................................18

Hal...................................................................................................................................................19

Vanessa............................................................................................................................................20




Selfie with a leader

I: That's brilliant, thank you. Okay then, I will start with something very fun. If you were to have a selfie with any of the leaders who are going to be debating today, who would that be and why? And I'll go around the table this way so I have everyone's opinions. So let's start with Gayle.

Gayle: Is it compulsory? Do you have to have a selfie? (Laughter) I'd rather not.

I: You'd rather not, with anyone?

Gayle: With anyone!

I: Why?

Gayle: I don't think they're worthy of my presence. (Laughter)

I: Gemma, what about you?

Gemma: I'm not into selfies but I would definitely take Nigel because he's quite interesting, he's quite controversial. So yes, it would be Nigel Farage. I'm not really into any of them but...

I: Okay, Vanessa?

Vanessa: I don't know. I suppose you could say David Cameron because he's Prime Minister.

I: Lauren?

Lauren: I think maybe Miliband because of his dad. I like his dad so I think you're getting close to his dad.

I: Gavin?

Gavin: Probably Nicola Sturgeon, because she's quite nice. You have to talk to them as well so…

I: So you would like to talk to Nicola Sturgeon. Hal?




Hal: I think I suppose I could always get a photo with Nick Clegg just because it may be the last time he's in major politics. (Laughter) Also, I think last time his views were right but it didn't quite work out.

I: Ernest?

Ernest: I'm not too fussed about the pictures, it's more the meeting around it. They all have different points, ranging from the kind of flippancy of David Cameron to finding out if his face is real or not (laughter) to kind of asking Farage what he's all about, really. But I think behind all the points, all and none at the same time, I suppose, just out of general interest.

I: Yusuf?

Yusuf: I was thinking either David Cameron or Ed Miliband.

I: And why either of them?

Yusuf: David Cameron, because he is Prime Minister, Miliband because he might be the prime minister, so just in case. (Laughter)

Parties you could you see yourself voting for

I: That was great, thank you very much and I hope it kind of relaxed you into the focus group mood. One of the things that we have asked you to fill in, and so if you haven't had the chance to do that you could do that now, is if you imagine yourself standing in a voting booth and you had to vote for somebody, which of the parties listed on the sheet could you see yourself voting for? For example, you may have voted for them in the past or you may be considering voting for them in the future. So if you haven't had a chance to fill in that sheet I'll give you a couple of minutes. Is there anyone who hasn't had a chance to fill it in? Ernest? That's okay, maybe we can go around the table while you fill it in and then we will come back to you, is that okay? So if everyone has filled it in can we have, by a show of hands, anyone who has chosen more than one party? Oh wow, okay. Anyone who has chosen three or four parties? So Gemma, why three and which?

Gemma: Do you want to know the three?

I: Yes

Gemma: One of them was Conservatives, the other one was Labour and the other one was UKip, because they want out of the EU. I like all their members and everything they stand for.

I: And what about the Conservatives and Labour?




Gemma: I do think we do need to keep an eye on the budget financially so that's why I would agree with them. But they've not got great social policies, whereas Labour do have slightly better social policies. I really hate SNP so I wouldn't vote for them. (Laughter) They're wearing a mask.

I: [name ] you said three as well. Which three?

FR: Conservative, Green and Labour. Conservative because I think it got to a time in this country when we could have done with Conservative and that's when they came into power. I moved to the UK 20 years ago, all of my friends told me "you know, you don't know what the culture is like in this country, Conservative and all that." I did vote. Did I regret? Yeah, I did. But I don't know, I think it's time for Labour to get back into power. I voted for them before and I'm going to vote again now for Labour, and Green because I agree with everything they believe and all that. I would not vote for the Liberal Democrats or for any other party.

I: Why not?

FR: Because I don't like their policies, basically. I don't agree with most of what they say.

I: When you say you don't like them, can you say a particular reason?

FR: SNP for obvious reasons. They want to separate Scotland from the rest of the UK, and I've got family down there in England and I've got a voice in Britain as a whole and I don't see any reason to separate them. I think the more you vote for them and you give them power, the more people will listen to them and all that. I don't think it's funny, this whole story of "oh, I'm going to vote for the SNP just to see them in power." I think it's a bit more serious than that. We've got policies and things to decide and it's not just because you lost the referendum that you're going to vote for parties, and that's why.

I: Thank you. [Name] you also raised your hand for three.

MR: I have four. I don't really know much about the Green Party so that's why I said no. I said no to Plaid Cymru because that's Wales, and the UKip, no to them. So it's Conservative, Labour, Lib Dems and SNP. I like policies from each of these parties but there are things I don't like as well.

I: For example?

MR: Just for the Conservatives, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and, at the same time, the policy that I do like is that you have to work in order to... You just can't be given tax benefits and handouts, you have to earn them. The Labour Party, I like some of their policies, they want to tax the richer. Lib Dems, I agreed with them previously; I might vote for them in the future. They lost their credibility when he joined with the Conservatives, I




think. SNP, I think they've done some good things in Scotland, like education in the University, the NHS. So some of the things are good but then obviously they wanted to separate Scotland so I was a little bit unsure about that.

I: Thank you. Did anybody else have three parties? Vanessa, do want to tell us what you have?

Vanessa: I have the Conservative party because I think they've actually done a decent job at the moment with the recession and things and I think I like some of their policies. I said Lib Dems because I like quite a few of their policies. They are not almost as brutal as the Conservative party but fundamentally I quite like it. And SNP because I don't really want to be independent but I do think the rest of their ideas are good and I think if you have some, maybe not have them totally in power but if you do have enough seats then important things get taken care of. I don't really know much about the Green Party. The Labour Party, I kind of heard of this for this election and I just don't really want to put Labour in power at the moment. And then obviously the Welsh party, and then UKip, I just don't really like very many of their policies.

I: Thank you. Lauren? What about you?

Lauren: Yeah, I put the Green party for yes and the Welsh National party because if I moved to Wales then I would possibly vote for them, and the SNP as well.

I: Why?

Lauren: I'm quite left-wing so I guess that's my options, quite limited. I'm not going to vote Conservative because I don't agree with their policies. The Green Party, I think they stand for quality and there are environmental issues that are important. The Welsh one because they believe in autonomy, they want independence, and SNP because I think what they've done in Scotland has been actually amazing for what resources they have, and also they want independence, so very clear-cut.

I: Thank you. We haven't heard from Ernest, Hal or Gavin. Do you want to say what you chose? Ernest?

Ernest: Okay, I've said yes for the Greens, Labour and the Lib Dems. Just sitting here in the first couple of minutes, I'm worried I might be a little out of my depth. I'm not that politically astute, which I'm getting the impression that quite a few of you guys are.

I: As I said at the beginning, we want everyone's opinions. It's not a test so don't worry.

Ernest: Obviously I have 16:50 glances at policies and stuff but I tend to go based on who I feel I can relate to a bit better and who seems like an honest candidate. That being said, I have said yes to the Lib Dems, not based on Nick Clegg but just because my childhood




friend's dad is a real big Lib Dem campaigner. We've had Menzies Campbell round to our house for tea before and he seems like a good guy. I actually agree with what a couple of people said about the Greens, their policy things are good, inasmuch as the leader's name I've forgotten at the moment, she's maybe not interviewed particularly well recently but they seem like decent honest people, which is a large part of the reason why I've put no for the Conservatives, the SNP and UKip. I actually agree with what Lauren said about the SNP, they have done really well but I think they lost a lot of credibility for me. After Alex Salmond's gracious concession of defeat he then seems to be now doing a bit of behind-the-scenes stuff. It's not sitting that well with me.

I: Thank you. Hal?

Hal: I said Conservative and Lib Dem.

I: The coalition? (Laughter)

Hal: Not for coalition, even though it looks like it might happen again. I feel Conservative, especially where I'm from, it's a farming, very rural area and it's one of those things that I might just always be, because it's a place that has historically always voted Conservative. But a lot of the Conservative policies do relate much better to those from a rural background and where I'm from it actually makes a lot of sense and Conservatives actively do play a large role in the councils and the local community and helping farmers. The Lib Dems, I feel their hearts are very much in the right place and I think it would be great to be able to see them, in a way, back in power. Whether it will happen in the next 20 years remains to be seen but I think there is an argument there, the Lib Dems do have the right ideas. Not all of their ideas are right but they do bring a balance, a mixture between social justice as well as economic stability. I think the ideas are there. At this current time I just couldn't see myself voting Labour. For me, partly, I don't think Ed Miliband is a man to run the country. I might touch some nerves there but I don't feel I can rely on that man to run a country, as well as the fact that I don't think, even though their social policies might be right, their financial planning and their economic stability behind it, I just don't think it's feasible and I can see us clearly going back into turmoil, whereas with the Conservative government, I think, yes, you might make one or two people upset but countries don't work if they're bankrupt, and I think in which case if we are getting out of debt, and we are slowly doing that, I don't really see us been able to do it with the Labour government. UKip, no. (Laughter)

I: Thank you very much. We are running out of time, as I tend to. Gavin?

Gavin: The Greens and SNP. I was very much brought up with very left-wing values so that rules out a lot of parties for me. Conservatives, obviously not. Labour... I think a large part of why I wouldn't vote SNP is because Labour no longer represent the left in the same way as they used to, so SNP for Scotland have kind of taken up that role somewhat, and




that's something which I very much believe in. Lib Dems, no. Nick Clegg, I don't like him, don't like their policies, don't like anything about them, really. Plaid Cymru, I don't live in Wales, and UKip are essentially fascist, so no for that as well.

Leader impressions

I: Short and sweet. Thank you very much, thank you for your contributions, that was really, really good and very helpful for us as well. The next exercise that we have for you is an interesting one, given what you have already told us. So I'm going to circulate these. These are on two sides, if you could take one and pass the rest please. These are photographs that we have taken of the seven party leaders, from their websites. So what we would like you to do is to take a little bit of time and give your first impressions. So if I were to say Jeremy Paxman, for example, what are the first words that come to your mind?

MR: Snobby and aggressive.

FR: Is it personal or is it related to the party?

I: It's your first impressions. So we don't want you to think too much. It's like when I said Jeremy Paxman the first word that came to mind was snobby. It's that kind of level. So your first impressions of looking at the party leaders, there are seven of them, obviously, so you'll have to turn the page, and the second thing we want you to do is to mention whether it's a positive, a negative or neutral connotation. So if it's positive put an up arrow sign, if it's negative put a down arrow sign and if it's neutral put an asterisk. So I'll give you a few minutes to write this down and then we'll have a discussion. Don't think too hard, and it's fine if you don't have any opinion on somebody. In the past we've had people write "who?" So it's just your first impressions.

MR: Is it purely based on the photographs and not what we know about them?

I: It's your first impressions. So, yeah, whatever comes to your mind when you see the photograph. Remember to put the positive, negative or neutral signs next to your words. I'll give you another minute, maybe. So what we will do is we will go through the positives, negatives and neutrals for each leader. So I'll call out what we are discussing and then you can say what you have. So let's start with David Cameron. Any positives for David Cameron?

MR: I put he looks quite intelligent. He actually comes across looking like he's got intelligence, from that photo.

FR: He looks like he's got a plan.




I: Any other positives? Okay, any neutrals?

FR: Wealthy, power.

I: And that's a neutral for you?

FR: Well yeah, he just looks powerful and wealthy.

MR: I have a few things but I just put 'unsure' because I was unsure about him.

I: As a neutral?

MR: Yes

I: Any other neutrals for David Cameron? Ernest?

Ernest: I wrote 'well-meaning buffoon.' (Laughter) 'well-meaning' as a positive; 'buffoon' as a negative.

I: And so it balances out. Negatives for David Cameron?

MR: I put 'lording.' I wasn't sure where that came from; it looks like he's kind of lording over you.

MR: He looks like he's potentially untrustworthy, he looks quite smiley.

FR: I think he's quite arrogant.

I: Any other negatives?

FR: Liar.

FR: I just put 'puppet.'

FR: I put he's 'unrelatable.' I just can't relate to this man at all. I think he's a bit ruthless, in general, his current economic policies and stuff. I just kind of see it in his face.

I: Does anybody else have any negatives? Okay, Ed Miliband, positives please.

FR: Seriously, am I the only one? Hope. (Laughter)

I: Any neutrals?

MR: I just put in David Miliband because he would pass for 28:34 in the big five.

MR: I had to describe him as 'well-meaning buffoon' as well . I think they both are.




FR: I put he's passionate to an extent. When he speaks in public he is quite a passionate person but I think he's very egocentric as well. So I think you can see through this passion as an ego trip. So it's kind of negative and positive.

I: Any other neutrals?

FR: Posh boy.

I: Negatives for Ed Miliband?

MR: I put two: one saying he looks like he's out of his depth and also he actually just looks lost; he looks like he just doesn't know where he is.

MR: I put he's trying too hard. (Inaudible- over talking)

FR: I put socially clueless. He claims to be but I don't believe he is.

MR: I just put 'less popular than his brother' with a question mark.

I: Moving on to Nick Clegg, positives for Nick Clegg?

MR: I just said 'he looks quite welcoming.'

FR: I said 'welcoming' as well, and also quite relaxed, he looks comfortable with what he's up to.

FR: Any other positives? Neutrals?

FR: Boring. I really find it hard to write anything about this man. I look at him and I have no thoughts. He's just a blank.

FR: That's how I felt.

I: Any other neutrals?

MR: I wrote compromise, because on the one hand it takes a level of maturity to compromise but also there is such a thing as too much compromise.

I: Any other neutrals? Negatives for Nick Clegg.

MR: He looks tired and also desperate; there are bags under his eyes. I'd say drunk more than tired. (Laughter)

I: Any negatives?

FR: I've got 'loser' but I think it's because after they joined the Conservatives, at least here in Scotland... I live in the Highlands where it's strong Lib Dem and all of that, and I think




they don't stand a chance here anymore but that's just my feeling, from everyone I speak to. A loser came to mind.

I: Loser more in the sense of they are losing the Party rather than him personally?

FR: Yeah, rather than him personally.

MR: I put in 'broken promises.'

FR: I think people are a bit harsh on them, because had they not been in the Conservatives it wouldn't have softened it as much for a lot of people. So they would have helped a bit and they've not had any credit for that, because nobody is going to be able to deliver on all their promises in a coalition and I think we need to accept that.

I: Any other negatives for Nick Clegg?

MR: I put 'he looks a bit like an idiot.' The way his expression is, I know he's got a smile on his face but is like he's got nothing in his head. I don't know if that's since he joined the Conservatives or not but he looks like he's been sucked dry.

I: Okay, so those are the three major party leaders; let's look at the other four. So let's start with Nicola Sturgeon. Positives.

MR: She looks quite self-confident.

FR: She is quite a smart lady, I think. She's on the ball so I think that's to her credit.

MR: I've got 'tenacious.'

MR: I put 'happy and relatable.'

FR: Happy.

I: Happy as well. What about neutrals?

MR: I just put in 32:58

I: Negatives?

MR: I said she actually looks quite untrustworthy.

FR: ??

FR: I put 'clueless.' Every time she speaks on TV you need to restrain because (laughter) I get quite agitated.




FR: Trying too hard to please everyone. And lying, because they're claiming they're socially justice and there's nothing socially... Not when you're looking to 33:36. Their handing a lot of contracts [to their friends ??]

I: What about the next leader, Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru?

FR: I like her a lot.

I: So positives for Leanne Wood.

MR: Quite calm.

FR: She's smart, I think, as well. And she's relatable; as a woman I can relate to her. She's good for feminism.

FR: I think she looks quite confident, self-confident.

I: Neutrals.

MR: I would have said she looks unrecognisable (laughter)

MR: Honestly, I looked at her and I could not put a party to her face. I looked at on the TV and there was something in the back of my mind, but honestly, I could not… She's got one of those faces you don't recognise.

I: What about negatives for Leanne Wood?

FR: I didn't put anything for that.

MR: I just put a question mark because I didn't recognise her.

I: And that was a negative for you?

MR: Yes.

FR: I put 34:50

I: We have two more leaders to get through. Natalie Bennett, any positives for Natalie Bennett?

FR: She's really passionate.

I: Neutrals?

MR: I've put 'well-meaning.'

I: As a neutral?

MR: Yeah well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions (laughter)




I: Any other neutrals? What about negatives?

FR: I put 'financially clueless.'

I: As a negative. Any others?

MR: I put 'indecisive' but decided against it. She doesn't have the killer blow, kind of thing; she's got a good lot of good ideas but she doesn't...

MR: I've put 'she looks lost,' again. I just don't think she is a person that looks like she knows where she is going. I think she's just sailing along for the sake of sailing along.

I: Thank you. Finally, Nigel Farage, any positives?

FR: I put 'funny.' You know when he gets tipsy [??] he's funny. I know people here might hate him but I think he's funny when you see him with a pint.

I: What about neutrals?

MR: I put 36:33 only because there was a magazine that I was reading that made this reference, "he looks like a frog."

FR: Yeah he does; that's funny.

MR: And somebody told me a line between him and Kermit the frog. I put it as a neutral, it doesn't swing me either way, it's just something that pops up into mind.

I: What about negatives?

MR: I put 'he doesn't look like he knows what he's doing.'

FR: I don't think there's anything really remarkable you'd remember. He doesn't look like he's particularly confident, particularly happy, particularly... I don't know, I just think he looks really indifferent. You wouldn't look twice at him if you were passing him in the street.

I: Any other negatives?

FR: Deluded.

MR: I have to be honest, I wrote 'racist.' You said it was the first thing to pop into your head.

FR: I wouldn't agree with that. I think you've misunderstood, because to come out of Europe doesn't make you racist. We're actually more racist been in Europe because it's unfair on everybody...

I: Let's move on because we have a lot to get through. Gavin?




Gavin: I've put that 'he looks expressionless,' and I think that's a very worrying feature in people. Even if he had a bad expression of would be better than being expressionless, and it's not trustworthy.

MR: The first thing that came to mind was 38:12. I think he was trying to be like the common man. I don't think he knows what the common man wants.

I: So that's why it's a negative for you?

Mr: Yes, it's a negative.

Views of the debates

I: Thank you very much. I'm sure that was interesting and rejuvenating. So just keep your documents all together and we'll collect them at the end. So one of the things we want to find out is your opinions about the debates themselves, and the debates have been very contentious this time around, particularly. Some people have been talking about how they feel about the debates, so in terms of your own opinion, do you think the debates are a good thing in general for the UK? Do you think they should be part of every general election campaign? So what you think? Do you think they are a good thing? There are some people nodding. So let's say, with a show of hands, how many people think it's a good thing for the UK? So everyone except Ernest and Hal have raised their hands. Can you say why, why you think it's a good thing and why you think it's not? First let's say it's a good thing; why do think it's a good thing?

MR: I think it's easier to understand what their policies are when they're out there, when they're debating amongst each other. So rather than going through the whole document trying to find out what the policies are, it's easier if somebody has quickly answered a question. I think the audience 39:45. It's just easier, I guess.

FR: You were nodding when he was saying it easier to get the policies.

FR: Yeah, I think it's good. It may be sort of rehearsed a little bit but I think it's good for everybody.

I: Lauren?

Lauren: I just think, in a strange way, it makes them more accountable. So just seeing them up there, it gives them accountability, I think. As opposed to sitting in Westminster debating amongst themselves, it's on national television, so they're exposed, so that's a




really good thing. I guess it brings politics back to the people, which needs to happen in Britain. So yeah, although it's glamorised, I think it's necessary.

MR: I think I would agree with the fact that you're not going to get... As much as you would want the general population to always read the policies of every single party before they decide who they're voting for, the majority of people are not going to do that, it's just not going to happen. So with these debates you get mainstream coverage. People are going to stumble upon it even if they don't want to and see some policies, but also I think it's really important that it works the way it does this year, when you get to see all seven parties, because eventually when hopefully we leave this 'first past the post' thing behind, you know, you really need to hear everyone's view and not just Labour and the Conservative, or Labour and Conservative and Lib Dem, because they're not enough on their own.

I: There are some people nodding their heads so I'll just come back to you, and I'll find out from Ernest and Hal why they think it's not a good thing.

MR: I very much am against it, but I think there's a lot of policies and I think bringing politics to the general public 41:35 where it's easy to access, I'm all for that, I think that's a fantastic thing. My only issue about it is it's turning politics into very much a PR campaign, and it's a lot of people, quite often you're now ending up, I feel that leaders who can look good on television, and it's swinging towards leaders who will look good on television rather than those who might be politically sound. And so just because they look good and read out something that a spin doctor has told them doesn't necessarily mean they're a good politician. But I do think it's a great idea, being able to include all the parties in that.

I: You raised this particular debate, the seven way debate, what do you think about that? What has your opinion been about the way the debates have been organised, how we are now going to have a seven way debate and the challenges debate and three-man debate, what is your opinion about this kind of organisation, especially the way it's happening this time around?

MR: The different ways of putting them through their paces, the better, to be honest. But also I think the more parties involved, the better, I think as well.

MR: I think the more parties that are involved, the better. I'd be very interested to see how this works with seven parties over a two-hour period. It's a lot of people and it would be a lot to take in. It could turn out like PMQs and just be a shouting match.

MR: People might not get enough time to air their views. I don't know how it will work out, maybe it will be good.

FR: Often people forget about the smaller parties because they're not exposed as much, and I suppose it is quite a good point, it is like a PR campaign that can turn into personal




arguments between the politicians, which isn't really that useful. But I think it is good that you get to hear bits from everyone, because quite a lot of people have similar general policies and you don't really know the difference until they're battling it out against each other, which I think is useful.

Debate expectations

I: We are nearly at the end, if you can believe it or not. And the final question we want to ask is what your expectations are. So what sorts of things are you expecting to hear from each of the leaders, and we'll go through each of the leaders. So what sorts of things are you expecting to hear from David Cameron today?

FR: I think he'll talk about the working people and how people go out to work for their money and all that. He'll discount everybody else, he'll not say much about people who are not physically able to work and things like that. A lot of it will be about the working people. He'll give much regard to the working class.

FR: He'll tell us how brilliantly he's done! (Laughter)

I: A lot of people are nodding at this comment by Gayle.

FR: I just think he's going to talk about how he's transformed Britain into this sort of economic powerhouse and so many people are in work, and that's just so not true, we all know that. Yeah, just how amazing the Conservative party have done, and it's all just whitewash or something. I feel like it's got no weight; it's just so false. But they're just going to basically spin it but it's really just bureaucratic nonsense.

MR: He's definitely going to do that thing where he will tell you... It's that thing about scaring everyone into thinking that if you vote for anybody else the economy is going to collapse, which is just... a load of... It's that idea of making you think that although he said it was a one term plan it's now a two term plan and if you screw it up now we are all screwed.

FR: But he's kind of right, because Labour did screw the place up debt wise, we did go into a massive debt situation.

I: Let's get back to the question because we have five minutes left to get to the rest of the leaders. I want to get Hal in. What do you think David Cameron is going to say today?

Hal: I think there's going to be a lot of "look how amazingly I've done." I think he will be asked by someone in the audience about zero hours contracts and then I think they'll basically go into turmoil. But I think then he will go that zero hours contracts are down,




there will be at some point the quote saying zero hours contracts are down with the Conservative government, and that 'to ensure a financially stable country you need to vote Conservative,' will be the 46:32

I: Any other comments on David Cameron? Let's move on to Ed Miliband.

MR: Stuttering.

I: You are expecting stuttering?

MR: Yeah

I: Any other expectations?

MR: He's going to try his best. (Laughter) He's going to try and come across more left than his policies are. He's going to try and suggest that he is 46:53 He's never going to say that he's opposed to austerity but he'll suggest it and lie, essentially, to try and please everyone, which Labour can't do. I think he will bring out zero hour contracts as well, because I've read recently that thing about turning zero hour contracts into proper ones after three months or something, which I think is something he's quite proud of. So I think that will probably come up.

MR: He's going to try and say he's 47:25

FR: I think he's trying to please so many people. If we look at his history, he comes from a very left-wing family so in his head he is in turmoil about what the right thing to do is. He's like 'well, I've got this upbringing, my dad, left, social justice,' and all this kind of thing, and then I think obviously he's quite a privileged man as well so he's got this kind of life. He's a very complicated individual and that doesn't speak well with working class people because they don't believe him, and I think he really wants them to believe him and you just can't, he's not credible, which is a shame.

I: Any other final comments on Ed Miliband?

MR: He'll also try and bring up the privatisation of the NHS. That will come up at some point. He'll try and bring up 'the Conservatives are really trying to privatise the NHS.'

I: What about Nick Clegg? What you think Nick Clegg is going to be talking about? (Laughter)

MR: I think he's going to go "please don't judge me on what I've done." He has been made the scapegoat. I don't think coalitions are a way to have a government, full stop.

MR: I think because of that though, he's going to try his best to separate himself from the Conservatives. "We are different from the Conservatives, we're not the same, we're not just a bad version of the Conservatives." I don't know how he's going to do that.




FR: All of them will try and separate themselves from the Conservatives.

MR: He'll try to defend himself. He said what he had to say last time and I don't know what he'll be saying this time.

I: Thank you. So Nicola Sturgeon, what are you expecting Nicola Sturgeon to say?

FR: I think she's definitely going to want to go out and vote like they did in the referendum and "we can do this together and we are going to..." (Laughter)

MR: Yeah, I think she'll celebrate the political engagement in Scotland since the referendum. I think she's going to be fairly confident because she's got a reason to be at the moment. She's definitely going to show Labour up deliberately to show how neoliberal they have become.

FR: If they mention the oil they'll show her up.

MR: They might have the oil at some point.

FR: That's irrelevant; that debate's past.

FR: I don't know, it still quite current.

I: Vanessa? What are you expecting from Nicola Sturgeon?

Vanessa: I don't know. I suppose I think the SNP have done a really good job through the referendum campaign. They've built a lot of credibility for themselves and I suppose she has a lot behind her for supporting that and so I think she'll probably come across really well. Even if you don't necessarily agree with her policies, I think you probably won't be able to really fault her appearance.

MR: I would say she's the only one on the panel that might be able to show Nigel Farage for what he is.

FR: If we'd went independent she was going to open it up so everybody can come in, and how are we going to financially fund it? Because I'm about finances, how are we going to fund that? You've got to have controls. You can't just keep having everybody in because it will affect everybody that's here, regardless of who they are.

I: Let's get back to the elections.

FR: Also, I think she's going to make a very clear statement saying that they are willing, the SNP are willing to go into coalition with Labour, because apparently Labour, for some time now, have said that even if it does happen they're not going to do it, 'we'll never side with SNP,' but I think SNP have been very open about what they're going to do so I think




she's going to actually deliberately say 'we are open to this. Ed, what do you think?' To provoke him, you know?

MR: Put him on the spot.

I: So we have three more leaders to finish. Leanne Wood, Natalie Bennett and Nigel Farage. Let's take Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennett together. What do you expect from them?

MR: I think they'll do what Nick Clegg did last time.

I: Which is?

MR: 52:06 and get a name for themselves.

MR: There's a difference between what you vote for and what you expect, I think. Is Natalie Bennett the Greens?

I: Yes.

MR: I would hope that she would do well but I'm expecting perhaps a little less than that. I think if she's confident enough...

MR: Natalie Bennett has got a lot of great policies. She'll try and show herself to be the real left, as opposed Ed Miliband, but she is easily tripped over her words and I think she'll come off quite badly because of that. The other leaders have a lot more practice with it.

I: Finally Nigel Farage. What you expect from Nigel Farage?

FR: One word...

MR: Immigration, immigration, immigration. (Laughter) I think he might be a bit of an easy target for the other six. If they have a problem with a question they may well deflect attention away from their problem onto him, because he is an easy target.

FR: I think Sturgeon will mention Trident; the Nats always mention Trident.

I: Have a short comfort break and come back at around 8 o'clock, because the debate will start at 8 o'clock.



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