Gordon Brown's biggest whopper last night was on defence. He smugly insisted military spending was sharply up, and vowed he would never send troops into battle without proper equipment. Yet under him the opposite has been the reality. Just ask Our Boys. Voters will want to reflect on what they heard in the first live TV election debate. But The Sun has no doubt David Cameron looked a far more impressive figure than Gordon Brown. Perhaps it was the cloud of volcanic ash swirling over Manchester that fogged the PM's mind. He seemed unable to see HE bears responsibility for the mess the country is in. Pinned down on immigration, crime, the expenses scandal, education, the economy, defence, health, and care for the elderly, he relied on a smarmy smile and his usual barrage of statistics. The significance of the leaders' answers was not so much in the detail as in the impression they gave of their fitness to Mr Brown was shifty, arrogant and bullying. He rudely talked over his opponents. Mr Cameron, in contrast, was plain-speaking, courteous and came across as a decent person. In the debate, Mr Brown fell back on Labour's record. Mr Cameron was the one with fresh ideas. On immigration, Mr Brown said he had listened to the country. But he hasn't. And he ducked the issue last night. Mr Cameron said immigration was too high and he would cut it to sensible past levels. A straight answer. On crime, Mr Cameron wanted more police and tougher sentences. Mr Brown waffled unconvincingly about crime falling. Mr Brown's memory failed him again over the Westminster expenses scandal. He said it sickened him. So why did he ignore Cabinet fraudsters? On education, Mr Brown fell back on his usual tactic of inventing scare stories about Tory cuts. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg performed well, but Mr Brown attempted to hijack him. The PM made him his new best friend. He smarmed all over him like a rash. But having Mr Clegg in his pocket won't help Mr Brown persuade Britain it wants five more years of Old Labour. Choose hope over fear, the Tory leader urged. How The Sun agrees. Mr Cameron took the fight to Gordon Brown last night and saw him off. Now he must finish the job in the next two TV debates.
WHEN you've been twisting the truth for years, it's hard to stop doing it - even when half the country is watching.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
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