The final debate has just finished. It was a good debate at the start and then after immigration was brought up (followed by jobs and taxes), so was the temperature. It became very heated with all parties making their views more transparent, agreeing and disagreeing with each other. Much was repeated from the two previous debates but it's all about making sure the people know what you're policies are. If you've seen all three debates and don't know what each party is offering, you probably shouldn't be voting next week... assuming you've not made the decision to vote away from the three main parties.

Nick Clegg cemented my support of the Liberal Democrats with his strong defence of his policies after Cameron's and (less so) Brown's direct attacks. Clegg's performance wasn't his best, due to the pressure from Cameron, but still strong. Clegg really made a point to Cameron when he said "every time you talk about our polices you're wrong" and Clegg was so right their. Much of Cameron's arguments against Clegg were based on not really knowing the Lib Dems' policies.

David Cameron failed to convince me in anyway that Conservatives would be a good thing for the country. Cameron actually made my dislike for him and the Conservatives even stronger. He kept refusing to answer direct questions from both Clegg and Brown. He also kept completely dismissing Brown. I can see why. Labour seemingly don't stand a chance (based on polls and the bookies) but Brown's points weren't as bad as Cameron made out.

Lastly, Gordon Brown come across in a way I can't really sum up in a few words. Most of his policies are better than the Conservatives' but not convincing or as good as the Liberal Democrats. Brown acted like the captain of a sinking ship and who knows it's going down but is trying his hardest to keep a brave face. Much of his arguments where based around fear, trying to scare the public that Clegg and Cameron are not prepared to lead the country and that they'd damage the economy if elected. Part of his final statement Brown even conceded he might not be in power and commented that it would be Clegg and Cameron running the country together. Backing up the sinking ship analogy.

This debate was focused around the economy and the real key issues that came up were immigration, jobs and taxes.

Immigration

As I mentioned early immigration got the debate really going. Clegg's main policy is to get people who have been in the county for 10 years, who speak English, want to work and pay taxes into the system and putting something into this country. This is an amnesty and what both Brown and Cameron were arguing is that it would give the wrong message to people wanting to come to the UK illegally, that they'll be let off. It's definitely a valid point but not how I see it. If you get these illegal immigrants (the figure 600,000 people was used) paying taxes it's definitely a good thing. Then you've got to stop the illegal immigrants coming into the country. So long as that is done and done well the amnesty would be good. I'm not sure how the Lib Dems do plan to do this but one aspect is to gain control of people leaving the county, making sure the people who have been told to go actually go.

David Cameron was all talk about caps and easing. He wants to cap immigration but would not give a figure even after much pressure from both Clegg and Brown. The caps seem like a case of a good idea but with nothing backing it up. Cameron also wants an gradual easing of immigration when new countries enter the EU. A good idea and it would be something that, if he wins, would have to be decided after getting into power. Easing isn't just a case of giving one figure.

Again, I come to Brown last. The reason being I cannot remember any actual plan for immigration. And while writing the post I had Sky News on TV (they are definitely pro Conservatives) and Brown said he still doesn't know what the Lib Dems' polices are and that's not just on immigration. Seriously? He cannot be paying much attention to these debate and hasn't bothered reading their manifesto.

Jobs and Welfare

All three were really similar on what they want for jobs and getting people working. They all want high tech industry and to try to help small business. They all want to stop people who can but don't work. But that's were the similarities end.

Clegg will remove income tax on the first £10,000 you earn. Straight away the majority of the population will be about £1,000 better off. That will provide people who feel they are better off not working much more of an incentive as it should make then see the benefit of working. To create jobs he's really pushing tech. One such area is to make the UK the world leader in manufacturing for green power, such as wind turbines. Also, Clegg really wants to push education and showed this very well when the audience member asked about it. Cameron had a very good idea of committing that a quarter of government spending to be spent with smaller businesses and make it easier for them to get government contracts. That would put a lot of money back into the country's economy and provide jobs. Much of what Brown was saying about getting people off the dole I couldn't take too seriously. One of his lines was "no life on the dole". While he's been in power more and more people are on the dole.

Taxes

Keeping with what he's being saying all along, Clegg will remove income tax on the first £10,000 you earn and put a 10% on banks. That's been a high priority of the Lib Dems consistently and I fully support. He also wants to bring back income related pensions so if you work all you're life you'll be better off that people who didn't. Brown wants to raise national insurance for people earning over £20,000. He already got rid of the 10% tax rate which hurts the poorest and it seems like he's now targeting people on more average incomes. How Brown wants to balance that tax increase is with tax credits. Clegg is also for keeping tax credits but reducing who can claim them, using himself as a example of someone who shouldn't be able to get them so people earning less can benefit more. Again, Cameron didn't mention figures. He kept arguing Brown is targeting the wrong people but not saying who he'll tax. Like Clegg, Banks were a target for Cameron but he gave no figures. It also seems as though Cameron is suggesting more taxes for rich people but never actually says it. Conservatives' old ways of benefiting the rich are definitely not changing.

The next 7 days will be very interesting. Labour seem to be out of the running to win. It looks to me like the Conservatives will get the most seats with Labour and Liberal Democrats very close to each in 2nd and 3rd place. A hung Parliament is highly probable.