John
04-30-2010, 06:34 AM
Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have issued passionate rallying cries to their supporters after the Tory leader emerged as the winner from the third and final TV debate.
With the Prime Minister again seen as the worst performer after Thursday night's clash, Mr Brown acknowledged that Britain could have a Conservative government next week and pleaded with voters to trust him on the economy and not "put recovery at risk".
A combined series of snap polls taken after the debate declared Mr Cameron as the clear victor on 38%, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on 32% and the Mr Brown trailing on 26%.
The Prime Minister told a group of supporters afterwards: "From now until next Thursday we have got to campaign like we have never campaigned before."
Minutes earlier, his rival Mr Cameron told a jubilant rally: "We've got just six and a half days to go between now and polling day. Don't waste one minute, don't waste one hour, this country is crying out for change, we need to explain to people the only way to get it is a Conservative government."
The election campaign was set for a new twist with former PM Tony Blair expected to enter the fray for the first time. He is expected to visit a constituency in London ahead of other visits in the UK next week.
The three current party leaders locked horns on the economy and immigration in the debate, staged at the University of Birmingham just a day after Mr Brown was forced to apologise for branding pensioner Gillian Duffy "bigoted" when she raised concerns over migrants.
The PM tried to draw a line under the row, issuing a plea to voters to judge him on his economic competence and not his personality.
Mr Cameron said that a Labour victory next Thursday would mean "more of the same", while Liberal Democrats would bring "uncertainty".
And Mr Clegg urged voters not to be frightened by the other parties out of voting for "real change".
With the Prime Minister again seen as the worst performer after Thursday night's clash, Mr Brown acknowledged that Britain could have a Conservative government next week and pleaded with voters to trust him on the economy and not "put recovery at risk".
A combined series of snap polls taken after the debate declared Mr Cameron as the clear victor on 38%, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on 32% and the Mr Brown trailing on 26%.
The Prime Minister told a group of supporters afterwards: "From now until next Thursday we have got to campaign like we have never campaigned before."
Minutes earlier, his rival Mr Cameron told a jubilant rally: "We've got just six and a half days to go between now and polling day. Don't waste one minute, don't waste one hour, this country is crying out for change, we need to explain to people the only way to get it is a Conservative government."
The election campaign was set for a new twist with former PM Tony Blair expected to enter the fray for the first time. He is expected to visit a constituency in London ahead of other visits in the UK next week.
The three current party leaders locked horns on the economy and immigration in the debate, staged at the University of Birmingham just a day after Mr Brown was forced to apologise for branding pensioner Gillian Duffy "bigoted" when she raised concerns over migrants.
The PM tried to draw a line under the row, issuing a plea to voters to judge him on his economic competence and not his personality.
Mr Cameron said that a Labour victory next Thursday would mean "more of the same", while Liberal Democrats would bring "uncertainty".
And Mr Clegg urged voters not to be frightened by the other parties out of voting for "real change".