On April 2, seven leaders of seven parties with candidates for seats in the British general election to be held on May 7 took part in a two hour debate on television.
Prime Minister David Cameron led for the Conservatives and Ed Miliband for the Labour Party. Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister in the present coalition government, represented the Liberal Democrats. The other four were Nicola Sturgeon for the Scottish Nationalists (SNP), Nigel Farage for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Natalie Bennett for the Green Party and Leanne Wood for Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Nationalist Party.
There were no clear winners in the debate, which was watched by a large proportion of the electorate, but of the seven participants only Cameron and Miliband have any chance of becoming the next prime minister. The question is whether one or other will command an overall majority in the House of Commons or, more likely, whether he will have to seek a coalition partner or partners, or at least an understanding with another party, that would enable him to lead a minority government.