Your election feedback

What do you think of the election issues? What else would you like to see on the election stage?

And what do you think of Newsnight's coverage of the campaign?

Tell us what you think and read a selection of your comments here.

Click here to send us your views

If you have a complaint about Newsnight or any other BBC programme or service please go to the

BBC Complaints Website

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Too rude?
The Paxman interviews
Student House
Musical manifestos
General comments

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TOO RUDE?

I always enjoy Jeremy Paxman's interviews and his moral compass is usually beyond reproach. However I feel his interview with Martin McGuinness was well below par. The question had already been answered. I didn't understand where on earth Mr Paxman was coming from. For us here in Ireland the northern election is of the utmost importance. The effect of the interview was one of trivialisation and small mindedness towards the issues.
Philip Connolly, R.O.Ireland

Mr Paxman's Newsnight interview of Martin McGuinness was cringe-worthy. This type of approach seems to be more about Mr Paxman's opinion than a discussion. Such displays are an insult to your viewers. I didn't tune in for pantomime or to watch a one-trick-pony.
Paul O'Connor, London

I think that people like Jeremy Paxman are essential for British democracy. If he appears rude and abrasive when interviewing politicians, it is because the politicians are being so evasive and are not giving straight answers. Keep on Jeremy. The British people need you. British Democracy needs you.
Ian Robson, England

How much longer are we expected to put up with the extremely bad-mannered Jeremy Paxman? Surely his parents brought him up to understand that it is rude to interrupt someone when they are trying to reply to you. I am furious when he continues to break-in, not even allowing the interviewee to complete a sentence. The interview that has prompted my e-mail was the one with Jack Straw earlier this week - it was outrageous. I wanted to hear what his response was and Paxman continually butted in. The next night, Paxman's appalling manners seemed to have rubbed off on Kirsty Wark who would not let Patricia Hewitt finish her sentence. Do not insult the public by assuming that we don't know if the interviewee is not giving a straight answer.
Sheryl Edwards, Cardiff

Who are these dreary folk who have complained about Paxman's interview style? The Paxman interviews are about the only occasion during this election when the party leaders have been given a good grilling and not been allowed to get away with their usual fatuous spin and bull.
Andrew, St Albans

I want to put on record my support for Jeremy Paxman. Sure, he can be probing and perhaps a little rude but if the politicians of all sides gave a straight answer to a straight question and were more ready to admit their failings instead of ducking the issues (and questions) then Jeremy could conduct a different style of interview.
Andrew Pankhurst, UK

THE PAXMAN INTERVIEWS

Click here to watch the interviews online

The Prime Minister was intellectually outclassed by Mr Paxman, and came across as quite petulant in some instances. Mr Kennedy, on the other hand, conducted himself in a far more statesmanlike manner, and impressed me greatly.
Paul O'Brien, Surrey

Pity that Jeremy Paxman, when Blair said that it would have been impossible not to reveal David Kelly's name, did not ask why the same openness does not apply to the legal advice on the war. Otherwise, great interview.
Guill Gil, London

Watching Mr Paxman's interview with Tony Blair makes me very proud that I am from a country where we can actually ask our heads of state to be accountable for their actions. What are the chances of Jeremy getting 30 minutes with George W Bush?
Derek Crolla, New York City

The BBC should be more responsible and less aggressive when dealing with issues that could insight racial tension. Your audience knew the PM was not prepared to tell the truth after the fifth time of asking about asylum numbers and it was an insult to your audience to continue with that line of questioning.
Joan Hawkes, Chorley Lancashire

I am thoroughly enjoying the Paxman interviews and feel privileged that we have an independent corporation like the BBC taking the politicians to issue like this. More often than not, we only see the politicians interviewed by other politicians with an agenda or by less-than-well-informed members of the general public. I would pay very good money to see Jeremy interview President Bush. Now that would be worth watching.
Richard Paynter, Richmond

Paxman was repetitive to the point of seeming slow on the matter of rejected asylum seeker figures. In both interviews I was left with the impression that he was more interested in finding questions it would be hard (or impossible) for his guest to answer than in elucidating key issues of policy and rigorously analysing their implications. Paxman has been so much better than this.
Robert Smith, Bradford

Well done BBC for grilling the three leaders this week. A strong emphasis on accountability has made these interviews thrilling to watch.
David, Henley

I think Tony Blair made a very good job of ducking out on every question he was asked. I don't think we will ever get an answer to a question from him without some sort of spin.
Michael Worth, Poole

Thanks to Jeremy Paxman for asking the PM the questions I wanted asking - pity we didn't get the answers!
Pat Cunningham, Liverpool

I found Michael Crick's report on "failed asylum seekers" (TX 21.04.05) very disappointing. It was hard to escape the feeling that Newsnight was only following the story because it was one of the few obvious wobbles that Blair had shown in their own Paxman interview. Newsnight should really use Crick's talent for some decent journalism, rather than adding to all the misleading scare-mongering surrounding the asylum issue.
Nicholas Mathew, Oxford

Being a Conservative voter all of my adult life (I am now 47), I sat down to watch Jeremy Paxman "interview" Charles Kennedy on BBC1. It was very obvious from his bully boy tactics that Mr Paxman has nothing but contempt for Mr Kennedy. By the end of the programme, I was fully on the side of the "underdog" and greatly impressed with Mr Kennedy's patience. I will be voting for the Liberals.
Malcolm Blackmore, Epsom

I think Mr Paxman asks good questions, but please LET THEM ANSWER and don't interrupt so much. The public know whether the politician is answering the question. We are not stupid!
Andrew Norman, St Albans

I just watched Jeremy Paxman's interview with Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, broadcast here in the US on C-SPAN television. Bravo! It was a joy to watch such a dogged pursuit of the facts from a television interviewer. Unfortunately, here in the states, our TV people tend to lob softball questions. Rarely does one truly grab hold of an issue and keep pursuing. Keep up the good work.
Tony Connors, New York City

STUDENT HOUSE

Student House: What a great programme. Congratulations on making politics more accessible and interesting to the thousands of students across the country who previously were fairly disaffected with the whole election. Stephen Smith, you're a legend - loved Maniflexo!!
Jeremy, Nottingham University

What is wrong with young people today? As a student, some 25 years ago, I spent three years smashed out of my skull. But that was back in the good old days, before the invention of media studies. The Newsnight Student House is far too orderly; where is the vomit on the walls? By the way, I still managed a first.
Rob Hamilton, Leeds

MUSICAL MANIFESTOS

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Please, no more. What is the point of this nonsense? The tune is ridiculous, the lyrics don't scan and the graphics are puerile. Don't you think you're already trying our patience enough with wall-to-wall election coverage? Please leave the idiotic stunts to the idiotic politicians.
Kathy Dent, Bordon Hants

The Europe song was bloody hilarious! Thanks for that. I can't believe that was actually on TV! Could you get Dead Ringers to do the voices?
Juliet Samuel, London

GENERAL

A lot of people felt that the media and the main parties avoided talking about the BIG issues facing this country. Please can we have some sensible discussion and questioning of politicians on matters such as climate change and Europe?
Patrick Vickerman, East Grinstead

I find it ironic that when many of us are switching off TV because of the excessive amount of coverage of this meaningless election, the BBC should allocate more of its scarce funds to the news coverage of the topic! We kid ourselves if we think that life out here will change, whoever wins!
Trudy Gallagher, Worthing

I want to hear more debate about our country's voting system. I am effectively disenfranchised in my constituency. For me and for many millions like me, there is no democracy; there is no opportunity to influence the future governance of this country. Surely that is a very serious issue.
Gordon Stewart, London

Please provide more coverage of the smaller parties. Most of the policies of the main parties are pretty similar and giving the other parties a voice will perhaps stir up more interest in this election!
Nick Foster, Reading

I confess to being a politics groupie, but I have never enjoyed Newsnight's election coverage so much. I think you've pitched it excellently. I shall continue to stay up after my bedtime if you keep up this standard.
Melanie Winterbotham, Ruislip, Greater London

What on earth has happened to the top of the Newsnight desk? Looks like it's suffered some serious scratches.
John Watkins, Wells

When I go out canvassing I meet lots of people who have NEVER HEARD of the Green Party. Looking at your programme's coverage, no wonder. Call this a democracy?
Martin Harrison, Skegness

Because of your self-important inability to finish your programme on time, I've missed the end of "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" - a classic that probably won't be repeated for another 10 years - even though I added a few minutes to the end of the video timer programme.
Ron West, Croydon

I was disappointed that, during your focus on the lack of environmental issues in the election, when inviting members of the three main parties on the programme, you did not invite a representative of the Green party.
Gordon, Bath

Just how far west is West Dorset? According to Martha Kearney's weather map it appears to be in Cornwall!!!
Francis Boundy, Windsor

My wife and I enjoyed the Newsnight programme at the earlier time tonight (Monday 2 May), in particular the "Grumpy Grandees" perspective on changes in government. It has informed our vote.
Dr J M Evans, Abergele, Wales

Great to see some decent news programming in the early evening for a change on the BBC. More early editions of Newsnight please.
Helen Rice, Newcastle

David Blunkett speaks in a bullying and patronising tone, showing contempt for the people he is talking to, the people he is talking about (the electorate), and thereby proving the criticisms he is trying to deflect.
Angela Conyers, Bradford

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