Cable won the TV debate, but it doesn’t matter

Vince Cable won the chancellor's debate hands down, but Lib Dem strategists will be aware of the limitations in his performance.

By Ian Dunt

Vince Cable easily won the chancellors' debate on Channel 4, using his assured public persona to win applause and warmth from the audience.

It is for this very reason that his victory has no meaning in terms of the general election. Cable pulled through today because of his personality, not his party's policies. He appears reasonable, funny, confident, and reliable. He has a disarming knack of readily agreeing with those suggestions from other politicians which he accepts, and turning out a wicked turn of phrase when he wants to go on the attack. In short, he most closely resembles a real human being, albeit one with a political instinct.

The Lib Dems have some strong economic policies - the proposal to take those on lower incomes out of income tax altogether should be particularly effective with a TV audience. But the applause he won was for his mannerisms and his turn of phrase, not for the policies. If liking Vince Cable could win a party elections, Lib Dem polling would far more robust than it is. After all, the party's Treasury spokesman is rarely outside the TV studios. It is not enough, and tonight served to consolidate that impression.

As George Osborne said late in the debate: the Lib Dems are not going to win the election. Cable benefits from being above the party debate. If he had to engage in the grudge match politics of Labour or the Tories he might not be so effective.

It is worth remembering the other two men however, who both put in surprisingly accomplished performances as well. Alistair Darling was confident and reliable. He even made some decent jokes. At one point the chancellor admitted stealing his stamp duty policy from the Budget from Osborne's own policy. "Nothing like cross-party cooperation, George," he said, to much laughter. "We're all in favour of that."

The debate was effective at revealing a capacity for quick-witted comebacks and interesting personality traits, outside of the formal restrictions of the Commons.

Osborne put in one of his best performances since becoming shadow chancellor, even if he did come last in Channel 4's poll. He began the debate with the greatest weakness, that he is considered too young and is not liked. He did not quite vanquish those concerns, but he did not fall victim to them either. The man has a habit of pulling it out for the big occasions, such as tonight, or last year's conference speech, which was probably the best of the entire season.

All three men probably went home thinking they did well, and they did.