Blog 2023 Malcolm Blair-Robinson

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The most accurate response is that they all did. The minor parties appeared centre stage for the first time and acquitted themselves well. None of the party leaders had a breakthrough but none was savaged. The big outcome is that it is now perfectly acceptable to vote for a minor party and doing so might make your vote count much more than if it were still a two party system. The event was not a game changer for any one party or leader, but it may have been a game changer for the way we vote and the way governments are structured in the UK.

The three women showed themselves feisty and passionate in their advocacy. Wood and Bennett were more niche players because of the nature of their offer, which was very strong if you feel it affects you either because of where you live or what you believe in. Sturgeon was outstanding because not only did she promote Scotland but she showed an interest in the UK as a whole and a clear vision of what her party stood for in the context of the union of all the four nations.

Among the men there were no surprises. Farage punched way above his weight with his simplistic narrow view, Clegg did his best to justify propping up a Tory led government for five years, Cameron was his usual avuncular self, full of common sense and reassurance. Maybe Milliband gained the most. Most polls put him neck and neck with Cameron, one in the lead. For a leader who began the race as the geeky outsider with bacon sandwich issues, to now be galloping neck and neck with the favourite is indeed a change.