From the spin room of the first leader’s debate

In the spin room…though I gather there are plans to confect “real spin” rooms where the hacks can talk to the politicos away from the cameras.

This was supposed to be all about an “unmediated” dialogue with the British people but you get the impression that Messers Alexander, Coulson, Ashdown etc are here to do some serious mediating.

Immigration kicked off which the debate organisers will consider a moment of connection with the voters who consistently put this issue in the top two most important issues. Gordon Brown tried a “gang up” up David Cameron with Nick Clegg but it didn’t really go anywhere or sound that convincing.

Gordon Brown got a bit heavy on the statistics, twice interrupting David Cameron slightly talking over him with stats – not sure that gets you far, especially as on one of these occasions Nick Clegg could come in cleanly portraying DC and GB as doing the usual same old two-party thing.

Gordon Brown seems to have forgotten some of the recent lessons he’s been given in lighter touch presentation. DC and NC find this easier by instinct.