UK voters' panel: Gerry Harris

MEET THE PANEL Name: Gerry Harris Age: 52 Lives: Glasgow Works: Promotions Current voting intention: Undecided In 10 words or less: "Family man, business man, independent individual expecting beneficial political intervention" Watch message

The programme was well managed and presented, if somewhat unsatisfactorily given that the politicians had refused to go head-to-head.

Charles Kennedy gave a confident and capable performance.

He was probably the best of the evening overall and he probably benefited from being up first as the audience warmed to their work as the evening wore on.

Furthermore the Liberal Democrats' position as the third party with fewer 'tribal issues' between them and the other two main parties probably also had a bearing on the treatment Kennedy received from the audience.

Nevertheless, his performance had polish and he was comfortable with all of the issues.

Michael Howard was also confident in his pitch.

Despite being in some rougher waters he stuck to his guns and gave responses that outlined his and the Conservative policy position even when it was going to be unpopular.

He was discomfited by a heckler, who although he obviously felt that he had an issue for Mr Howard to address, made little sense other than to rant.

VOTERS' PANEL Alistair Quinn Gary Watson John Devenney Gerry Harris

I thought that the Iraq issue caused Howard some difficulty, however, when he declared that had it been his decision and 'knowing then what he knows now', he would still have gone to war in Iraq.

Eventually we came to the main event of the evening, not because of the politics, more due to the 'Coliseum' feel that prevailed from the moment the booing greeted Mr Blair.

During his performance I felt that the prime minister was taken aback by the degree of animosity that lay behind the questions.

However, he stuck to his usual line - tell the story, refer to the numerous inquiries, state that if people go and look it up, they will see what he saw and they can then decide whether they make that claim again!

Unfortunately, it seemed for him that many had already pored over the details he referred to and continued to press him for definitive answers.

Dimbleby finally asked him why he would not go head to head with the other party leaders and that kind of summed up his night.

He let himself down, his party and his Chancellor when he wouldn't even be strong in support of Brown as his successor. One word summed him up then - shifty.

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Your comments:

Why should Tony go head to head, he appears on more programmes to be questioned by the public than any other PM before him. If the Tories were so fantastic at running the country why was everything not perfect when Labour came in. I remember only too well 15% interest and unemployment.
Carol Akers, Ashbourne, Derbys

"They" didn't refuse a three-way debate. Tony Blair did. Howard and Kennedy were all for it.
Ann Keith, Cambridge

Blair refused to go head to head because it would not have been a fair fight as in the US two-party system. It would inevitably become a two-against-one scenario on many issues with the incumbent on the defensive all the time.
Seb Dance, London, United Kingdom

Charles Kennedy would have gone head to head with either Blair or Howard! It was Blair who refused and we can only wonder why!
Christopher Wheatley, London

Blair obviously thought that, as frontrunner, he could only lose by going head-to-head, so he refused. As it was, he lost by giving a performance which was totally unconvincing. His only consolation was that Howard was also very poor. Kennedy won easily and has convinced many doubters.
Tony Fisher, Ryedale, UK

Why go head-to-head when all you will get called is a liar by people ready to do anything to get votes. Blair is only human and can only take so much from people.
Olujimi, Barking, London

It is always the sitting Prime Minister that refuses to go head-to-head with the opposition parties. Thatcher refused a face-to-face with Kinnock, Major refused to go against Kinnock and then Blair. Blair refused to face Hague, and now Howard. Those in power have more to lose in 'statesmanship' than those in opposition. It will always be so!
Rob Cox, Borehamwood, Herts

Actually, only Tony Blair refused to go head to head. Both Kennedy and Howard had been in favour of head to head debates. Judging by his poor performance last night I can see why Blair was against them.
Richard Tyndall, Newark, England

It was Mr Blair who refused to go head to head. The programme therefore took a thoroughly unsatisfactory format, merely designed to protect Tony from the cut and thrust of debate with other party leaders.
Keith, Wantage