ConHome's panel of expert commentators give their take on tonight's debate

ConservativeHome re-assembled the expert panel of political commentators who gave their take last week to react to tonight's debate. Here's what they have to say:

Michael Brown - Independent columnist and Conservative MP between 1979 and 1997

A draw. I thought Brown and Cameron were much sharper. I had got too used to Nick Clegg and the novelty had worn off. He was probably no worse or no better than last week but now he is in the big boys' league more is expected and so he has to work harder.

Gordon Brown probably got the better of Cameron on Europe - the rehearsed line "Big Society at home, little Britain abroad" was a good soundbite. Not a game-changer but I predict a small advance for Labour in the immediate polls.  

Michael Dobbs - Author, journalist and former Deputy Chairman of both the Conservative Party and Saatchi & Saatchi

There’s a game on Facebook where you take a stiff drink whenever you hear a specific word or phrase. If ‘let’s be honest’, ‘let’s come clean’ or ‘let’s work together’ were included, the country would be on the carpet. But the discussion was better than last week, more specifics, more for us to learn. Typically Clegg and Brown spent billions with almost every breath, and I hope the post-match analysis will be more rigorous than last week.

With all the guff about honesty, I thought Cameron came to life when he accused Brown and Labour of lying in leaflets about pensions. Several times he took care to draw the differences between the parties – he was particularly good on immigration and jobs tax. Brown clunking, Clegg smiling, and Cameron battling.  A good night for DC.

Sheila Gunn - Political consultant and former press adviser to John Major

David Cameron’s aides must be heartily relieved that he came alive tonight. He talked directly to voters, helped by the much more intimate camera angles than last week. He managed to demonstrate some clear policy differences.  The winner, at least on points.

No, there was no knock-out blow – and, to be fair, Nick Clegg performed much as he did last week, the difference being that he was no longer the squeaky clean kid on the block and his opponents did force discussion on some of the LDs’ loonier policies.  But then neither did Gordon Brown flunk it, although the clunking fist failed to reach a clear target. 

The result?  Three decent men who all performed well.  Hopefully the debate will now generate less discussion on presentation and soundbites and more on policies. So there’s everything to play for.  

Charles Lewington - Managing Director of Hanover Communications and former Press Secretary to John Major

Our man had the best appeal to hard working families; the best narrative on pulling together and he was crystal clear on Trident, energy security and considerably tougher on immigration.

Clegg was fluent but not convincing on policy detail and less able to exploit the bickering between the PM and Cameron because he was fending off attacks himself.

Above all there was room in the discussion for voters to hear that Conservatives offer a fundamentally different prospectus and why claims that a hung Parliament will lead to political consensus are bogus.

Nice flash of anger over Labour smears and Gordon raised his game. One all between DC and Clegg - with one last leg to go.

Nick Wood - Managing Director of Media Intelligence Partners and former Press Secretary to William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith

The Clegg bandwagon stayed on the road tonight. This was his to lose but he managed to brush off the new expenses cloud and stick with his new kid on the block message and add a touch of Obama-style "yes we can" rhetoric at the end.

But Brown and Cameron both raised their game. Mild-mannered Dave showed a flash of genuine anger over Labour "lies" in their leaflets accusing the Tories of planning to rob the elderly of their perks. And he had a backhander for Clegg over his expenses piety, pointing out that no one was entitled to pose on a pedestal when all three parties had fingers in the till.

Brown was punchier and earthier but his was the gaffe of the night - and the story - when he claimed he had not authorised Labour's scaremongering leaflets. Has he lost control of his own campaign?

Clegg is still flying. Safty-first Dave is strapped in at the back of the plane. Gordon has blundered.