General Election Q&A with the party leaders

Do you think this general election is any different from others that you have fought and why?

Clegg: Yes, totally. Usually general elections are simply about who will win – Labour or Tory. This time, everyone knows that no party can win an overall majority. So the question facing voters isn’t Labour or Tory – but which party do you want them to have to listen to.

Labour and the SNP would mean more borrowing, threatening the economic recovery. And the Conservatives and UKIP would mean devastating cuts to the services we all rely on. Only the Liberal Democrats will take a stand against the extremes of right and left – securing the recovery but in a way that is fair.

Cameron: This is the most important election in a generation. After five years of difficult decisions, hard work and patient sacrifice Britain is on track to a brighter, more secure future. We have dealt with Labour’s great recession and are delivering the great recovery. We can’t risk throwing that away. 

Sturgeon: This general election is the first time all views and all parts of the UK have been properly represented with an equal chance of influencing who will form a government. In Scotland this election is also taking place at a time when the electorate is more engaged than ever in the campaign and in politics. It also has a lot more selfies in it.

Miliband: All elections are different in different ways – but this time there is a big choice between the Tories and Labour that will really shape our future. Only a Labour government will scrap the bedroom tax, ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and abolish the non-dom tax status.

Do you think Westminster as we know it now will resemble the Westminster of 2025?

Clegg: I hope not. Westminster desperately needs to change. It’s no secret that my attempts to bring the system kicking and screaming into the 21st century have often fallen victim to the manoeuvres of the two larger parties. Both Labour and the Tories will fight like mad to preserve the status quo – because it suits them.

People in Scotland feel this particularly acutely. Liberal Democrats offer real reform, and more powers for Scotland, but within the security of a strong United Kingdom.

Cameron: It will be different, not least because the Conservatives will deliver real devolution to Scotland and Wales and tackle the thorny issue of English votes for English laws. We will continue to devolve power to where it is most effective, at local levels. 

Sturgeon: No, I hope Westminster will be more representative by then, both of the country and of the population.  I’m hopeful we will see a lot more women elected this time and that by 2025 perhaps we can have a UK Parliament that properly reflects our society. We have also clearly moved away from two party politics, which can only be good for our political system. By 2025 I think Westminster will be more used to the idea of governments that don’t have a majority than it is at the moment.

Miliband: Westminster needs to change so it works better for Scotland and the whole of the UK. If I’m Prime Minister I will replace the House of Lords with a Senate of the Nations and Regions, deliver more powers to the Scottish Parliament and devolve more power to city and county regions across England and Wales.

You have all taken part in various televised debates together, who impressed or surprised you and what will be your overriding memory of the experience?

Clegg: My overriding memory will be how crowded the stage was: seven party leaders all with a competing view of how the country should be run. We have fundamentally broken the mould of two party politics and Labour and the Tories now know they will have to work with other parties. This is a much better way of doing politics. Of course the electoral system still lags behind and forces most voters to make a choice between two parties – in many seats across Scotland it is only the Liberal Democrats who can stop the SNP.

Cameron: It was right that the leaders of the seven parties debated together. I can’t say I was particularly impressed by any of the others, apart from Julie Etchingham! It was clear that the other parties represented chaos and confusion, at a time when our country needs a clear, decisive and accountable majority Conservative Government.

Sturgeon: During the advertising break in the first leaders’ debate from Salford I took the time to speak to some of the audience and find out what they were making of the debate. Their enthusiasm for our anti-austerity message and for hearing all views in the debate showed me that it’s not just Scotland that wants change but the rest of the UK as well.

Miliband: I’ve really enjoyed being able to speak directly to people in Scotland and across Britain about the issues that matter for our country. It is a shame that David Cameron hasn’t taken me up on my offer of a one-on-one debate between the only two people who could become Prime Minister.

One word that sums up your leadership style?

Clegg: Resilient.

Cameron: Resolute.

Sturgeon: Principled.

Miliband: I’ll leave others to summarise my leadership, but one word that summarises what I stand for is fairness. 

Drink of choice on the evening of May 8th?

Clegg: A good, relaxing glass of Spanish white. 

Cameron: A pint of Hobgoblin.

Sturgeon: A nice glass of red wine.

Miliband: I’m fully focused on the general election campaign so I’m not making plans for May 8th. 

Read more answers in the print version of Holyrood magazine - subscribe here