Debate? Oh, That!

Debate? Hardly. As Tim Montgomerie has said in a tweet, Clegg enjoyed his time in the sun (but remains an airhead irrelevance), Brown survived (just) and Cameron - well, very simply, he must be a hell of a lot harder on Brown in the next two.

I agree with those sentiments, but I would add that Brown looked pretty small in this thing. Perhaps, in addition to hitting Brown as he deserves in the next runs, Cameron has the presence and the plan to rise above that low Labour level and really move on up. He should be the statesman that his future office will demand he is - and that Brown never could be.

Overall conclusion? Clegg is lost without Cable, and is squeezed when in the presence of the serious contenders. Brown, however well he 'survives' these exposes, looks like a burnt out politician and a tired old man haunted by his record and ready for retirement.

Cameron, by contrast, took one step closer to Downing Street. I'm more convinced than ever after this that whatever my disagreement with him, he's a winner and in these desperate times, right now, that's more than enough for me - and exactly what Britain needs.

Big win for the Tories.