LONDON -- The leaders of five UK political parties went head-to-head Thursday night in the final live television debate before the general election.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg were absent from proceedings but the leaders of Labour, the UK Independence Party, the Scottish National Party, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru were all represented during the 90 minute session, which was hosted by David Dimbleby for the BBC.
Following a similar format to the epic seven-way battle of two weeks ago, the debate saw five key topics raised by members of the audience with each leader given a chance to answer before arguing ensued.
As usual, Twitter was on hand to watch it so you didn't have to, and this is what we learnt.
The venue was a lot nicer than last time
Unusually grand, isn't it? It's like Hogwarts up in this #BBCDebate.— The Pool (@thepooluk) April 16, 2015
The ties were much more epic too
Lots of love for David Dimbleby's goldfish tie, an early leader in tonight's debate #ge2015 pic.twitter.com/Mk67ySr2Oi— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
What shall I wear tonight? Oh, a tie with GIANT FRIGGING FISH ALL OVER IT #BBCDebate— Sathnam Sanghera (@Sathnam) April 16, 2015
Nigel Farage had a stray piece of hair that annoyed people for a while
As if I didn't hate Farage enough he has a stray piece of hair. #BBCDebate— Chairman Meow (@JackHughes666) April 16, 2015
Anyone else only looking at Nigel's out of place hair strands? #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/C2N6gj4qhi— MISS SHEFFIELD 14/15 (@Chantelleeee_x) April 16, 2015
The BBC's worm was a data visualisation too far
#bbcdebate 'worm' on BBC News is interesting but a bit distracting, sort of like a continuous game of Snake #GE2015 pic.twitter.com/6kPWrrJduf— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
People kept asking where Cameron was. One person had a theory
Sit down, Nick! It's starting! pic.twitter.com/lgW08nO5ia— Fudgey (@fudgecrumpet) April 16, 2015
Debt was raised first
No-one could agree on the issue.
Question 1: Is it fair to increase govt spending when the younger generation will be forced to pay back the debt? #GE2015— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
Affordable social housing came up next
Nigel Farage blamed the problem on immigration.
Question 2: What do the leaders plan to do about the lack of affordable social housing #ge2015 #BBCDebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
The Liberal Democrats took to Twitter to vent their frustration at not being there
We wanted to ensure that at least one all party debate took place so we very reluctantly agreed to the current proposal. #BBCDebate 1/2— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) April 16, 2015
But it is outrageous that David Cameron's cowardice has led to our exclusion. #BBCDebate 2/2— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) April 16, 2015
For clarity, I was not invited to #BBCDebate. I would have happily taken part and proudly defended our strong @LibDems record in government.— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) April 16, 2015
Eventually they found someone who remembered them
Might have been nice if @nick_clegg had been allowed to take part. Hardly democratic free debate— Dr Bel Brooks-Gordon (@BelindaBG) April 16, 2015
Quite a few people got excited by Nicola Sturgeon's responses
Literally every time Sturgeon speaks: #BBCDebate #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/2D0YGFuUPW— Joseph Stashko (@JosephStash) April 16, 2015
Ed Miliband had practised an insouciant response
Miliband's stock response #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/IuQHxt3dF0— Tim Chester (@timchester) April 16, 2015
He also kept us informed about what he was about to say
Ed Miliband's favourite sentence starters: "Let me just say.." "Let me address this directly" "What I'm going to say is.." #BBCDebate— Sammy Jenkins (@samanthajenkins) April 16, 2015
Does Miliband always have to say what he's doing before he does it? 'I'll answer you directly'. Will he forget otherwise? #bbcdebate— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) April 16, 2015
Nigel Farage managed to piss off the audience by suggesting they were biased
Farage has been reading @toadmeister's book #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/I8VI80e1WH— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 16, 2015
#BBCdebate: #UKIP's Nigel Farage says audience is left-wing "even by the standards of the BBC" http://t.co/jsd8Jb1lYA http://t.co/QzcjB056PX— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 16, 2015
Trident was raised at around the half time mark
Natalie Bennett and Ed Miliband were more interested in talking about ISIS.
Question 3: With global instability can we really give up Trident and allow defence spending to fall below 2% of GDP? #ge2015 #bbcdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
It wasn't long before tweeters - and the politicians - realised Farage was stationed on the far right
These far right jokes based on Nige being positioned at the furthest right end of the podium could run forever #BBCDebate— Eddy Davis (@EddyZDavis) April 16, 2015
Immigration was the penultimate issue
Question 4: Immigration has put public services at great risk, what are your plans to deal with this? #GE2015 #BBCdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
It got a bit boring until Natalie Bennett started shouting "ED MILIBAND"
Natalie Bennett just keeps shouting 'Ed Miliband' for some reason #BBCDebate— GeneralElection 2015 (@GeneralElec2015) April 16, 2015
If we've learnt anything tonight, it's don't get on the wrong side of Natalie Bennett #bbcdebate https://t.co/CprwmyFqzV— Ben Whitelaw (@benwhitelaw) April 16, 2015
Finally we broke some new ground and it culminated with a Miliband V Sturgeon face-off
Question 5: What kind of deal would you be willing to enter into in the event of a hung parliament (crucial question) #ge2015 #bbcdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
Miliband to Sturgeon: We won't put the UK at risk by having a coalition with the SNP "it's a no," he says #bbcdebate #ge2015— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
Very interesting exchange! Sturgeon really pushing Miliband: "The people will never forgive you" if you dont put Tories out of govt #GE2015— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 16, 2015
At the end Ed Miliband issued a direct challenge to Cameron
Miliband has never looked more tough than tonight: 'Come and have a go, Cameron'. Expect some Tories will be nervous. #BBCDebate— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) April 16, 2015
"Debate me and let the people decide." Ed Miliband's audacious direct message to David Cameron who, if he has any sense, is watching a film.— Tim Ross (@TimRossDT) April 16, 2015
Miliband calls for another debate. Groans from the BBC organisers loitering at the back...— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) April 16, 2015
.@David_Cameron I believe my plan can give this country a better future than yours. Disagree? Prove it - debate me & let the people decide.— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 16, 2015
However, most people ended up just as confused as before
Confused Brits ask Google, "Who should I vote for?" http://t.co/wRRzncMJdr #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/2wi1YCUmG2— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) April 16, 2015