UK Conservative Gets Boost After Final Televised Debate

Early opinion polls put Conservative David Cameron in lead with between 35 and 41 percent of vote

30 April 2010

Britain's opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron looks up after signing "a contract with the voters" at the Landau Forte College in Derby, England, 30 April 2010

The leaders of Britain's top political parties have concluded the last of three live televised debates before the upcoming general election. With less than one week to go before voters head to the ballot boxes, analysts say there is still no clear winning party but early opinion polls after Thursday's debate put Conservative David Cameron in the lead with between 35 and 41 percent of the vote.

Seven-and-a-half million people watched the TV debate, which focused on Britain's economy. The three main candidates, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Conservative leader David Cameron, met in Birmingham.

Prime Minister Brown said he was the only man able to get Britain's finances back on track.

"Things are too important to be left to risky policies under these two people. We are desperate to get this country through the recession and into recovery and that is what I intend to continue to do," said Mr. Brown.

Prime Minister Brown leads the Labor party, which used to be headed by Tony Blair and has held power for 13 years.