LONDON -- Leaders from seven political parties took part in a televised debate in Salford Quays on Thursday night, ahead of the UK general election.
The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, the UK Independence Party, the Scottish National Party, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru were all represented at the two-hour session, which was broadcast live on ITV.
After a brief opening speech from each of the leaders, members of the audience asked questions, which were answered by each leader in turn before a lengthy debate on the issue.
Who's opening #leadersdebate statement was the best? Let us know on our #ratethedebate dial http://t.co/GknnyrLwOB pic.twitter.com/NHiONq4fS4— ITV News (@itvnews) April 2, 2015
This is how it went down, through the lens of Twitter.
The format made it look like a quiz show
The Weakest Link, Fifteen to One, Take Me Out - viewers showed their ages with a variety of cultural references as the speakers were introduced.
The Weakest Link Celebrity Specials have really gone downhill. #leadersdebate— Keir Shiels (@keirshiels) April 2, 2015
Although some thought it looked like a Kraftwerk gig
this is the worst kraftwerk gig I've ever seen pic.twitter.com/SaCvGqcMP3 #leadersdebate— David Wyllie (@journodave) April 2, 2015
Nigel Farage was the first to lose it
Calm down dear it's only an election #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/7sLD4QvKTV— Auntie Pegg (@AuntiePegg) April 2, 2015
Jonny Tudor got his 18 minutes of fame
The teenager asked the first question, and didn't seem to expect all the attention.
You said we were going to Nando's Johnny #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/tPZQgEy14S— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 2, 2015
The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon landed the first real blow
Nicola Sturgeon: "There’s nothing Nigel Farage won’t blame on foreigners” #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood swiftly followed with the second
Wow, classy from Nigel Farage. Don't help foreigners with HIV? Leanne Wood says he should be "ashamed" and gets a round of applause.— Kaya Burgess (@kayaburgess) April 2, 2015
Wood says Farage should be ashamed of himself for complaining about people with HIV getting treatment in the UK #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
Everyone had a different angle on the NHS
Taxes on mansions, hedge funds and tobacco companies, Miliband claims, will fund more nurses, doctors, midwives #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
"If you love the NHS so much, why don’t you put your money where your heart is," says Clegg, challenging other candidates. #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
Nick Clegg on NHS: Mental health has been the poor cousin of physical health for far too long #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
We're racing towards the American healthcare system says Bennett #leadersdebate— Mashable UK (@MashableUK) April 2, 2015
As usual, lazy people were completely ignored by all
Why are they always on about hardworking people? Who'll stand up for us lazy buggers? #leadersdebate— Gareth Roberts (@OldRoberts953) April 2, 2015
Ed Miliband stared down the lens way more than anyone else
Look in to my eyes, don't look around my eyes but look in to my eyes... YOU'RE UNDER! #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/Hvhq7UIeTI— David Dixon (@votedave) April 2, 2015
David Cameron revealed he doesn't seem to deal with cash
"There are three sides to this coin" - no wonder our economy's in trouble, Cameron doesn't even know what money looks like #leadersdebate— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) April 2, 2015
Talking about immigration livened things up a bit
#Leadersdebate: good and bad immigration - leaders accuse each other of fearmongering http://t.co/jGOCveyXrk pic.twitter.com/fYUmvkgt4z— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 2, 2015
Footballer Gary Lineker offered some balanced commentary
Always reluctant to offer a political view, but Farage is a dick!— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 2, 2015
A graduate with a good job used her question to humblebrag...
This lass literally just came on TV to gloat. “I’m a graduate with a good job” - well done you mate #leadersdebate— Dylan H Morris. (@dylanhm) April 2, 2015
...but she was upstaged by an awesome moustache
THAT MOUSTACHE #LeadersDebate pic.twitter.com/JD3IlAJADn— Nick M Duffy (@NickMDuffy) April 2, 2015
That moustache tho #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/NohURxjRTe— Danny (@dannyy_kellyy) April 2, 2015
Someone realised there was only fifteen minutes left to heckle
ITV says this audience member who heckled the PM has been removed from the audience #LeadersDebate pic.twitter.com/Jro52Ma8qf— TV Newsroom (@TVNewsroom) April 2, 2015
No-one could really hear her, but they liked her fluffy waistcoat
The leader of The Alpaca Party, there, furious not have been invited to take part. #leadersdebate— Daniel Maier (@danielmaier) April 2, 2015
Almost a million tweets were sent
Nearly 1 million #leadersdebate tweets sent between 8pm and 10pm. More reaction http://t.co/mD9VXAqCfN— BBC Trending (@BBCtrending) April 2, 2015
Nicola Sturgeon was deemed the winner
Debate Result: Sturgeon wins Cameron: 18% Miliband: 15% Clegg: 10% Farage: 20% Bennett: 5% Sturgeon: 28% Wood: 4% 1117 GB adults— YouGov (@YouGov) April 2, 2015
Or perhaps not
Full @ITVNews snap verdict for #leadersdebate PERFORMED BEST 21% Cam 21% Mili 9% Clegg 21% Farage 5% Bennett 20% Sturgeon 2% Wood— ComRes (@ComResPolls) April 2, 2015
The debate caused amusement earlier Thursday, when Twitter users began using the hashtag #massdebate to discuss the evening's event, apparently unaware of the double entendre.