YouTube/Facebook Digital Debate: The Leaders Have Answered
Cross Post from YouTube UK Blog by Jamie Dolling.
More than 5,300 questions were put forward for the debate, with the Top 10 only decided after the casting of 180,000 votes. Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg have now delivered their responses – offering you the fresh opportunity to back your favourite responses at the UK Election channel.
The process threw up some interesting responses from the leaders, including Brown arguing that civil liberties are “the fundamental tenet of our constitution”, Cameron maintaining that burglars “leave their human rights at the door” and Clegg conceding that he “couldn’t predict how I would react” if confronted by an intruder at his family home.
The Top 10 included questions on the funding of scientific research, the voting system, student loans, drug policy, private property, policing, immigration, the UK-US relationship, the Digital Economy Bill and the economy – also the theme of this evening’s televised leadership debate on the BBC.
In the spirit of all that is YouTube, some of the more interesting and exotic questions that didn’t make the cut are listed below. What can we say, beyond suggesting that the Philosopher King idea could prove quite the vote-winner.
"Where are the jobs. Where are they? Also what is your favourite food?" Dmackers, Durham "What is your opinion on a philosopher king? Should our policies that govern our lives be justified more through philosophy and ethics rather than money?" Macroverse, Shropshire "The Stocks looked to have been an effective crime deterrent in the Middle Ages. Would you consider the introduction of a modern equivalent, perhaps financial/electronic but immensely public that would perhaps have more impact than current measures?" Kevin Peirce, Ipswich "What's your favourite type of Pokemon?" Sheridan, Northumberland