Poll is not a popularity contest - Gordon Brown

The leaders of Britain's three biggest parties made their appeal to voters in the second live televised debate of the General Election campaign yesterday, each aware that their performance could have a decisive impact on the race for Downing Street.

After accepting that he was outshone on presentation in last week's debate, Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged voters not to treat the election as a "popularity contest" and insisted that he was the man to get the big decisions right.

Conservative leader David Cameron said voters had shown over the past week that they wanted change, but insisted the only way change can be delivered would be through the election of a majority Tory government on May 6.

Meanwhile, Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats - widely seen as the victor of last week's debate, which gave his party a boost of up to 12 points in the polls - said that if voters chose to do things differently, Britain could "be proud once again" of its role in the world.

The first half of the 90-minute live debate on Sky News was dedicated to questions on foreign affairs, and Mr Clegg was quick to remind viewers that his party was the only one to oppose the war in Iraq.

Mr Cameron said that only the Conservatives would guarantee a referendum on future transfers of power from Westminster to Brussels, while Mr Brown warned that the Tories would leave Britain with "an empty chair in Europe".

Opening the debate, Mr Brown told viewers: "This may have the feel of a TV popularity contest, but in truth this is an election about Britain's future, and a fight for your future and your jobs.

"If it is all about style and PR, count me out. If it is about the big decisions, if it is about judgment, if it is about delivering a better future for this country - I am your man."

Mr Brown said that a future Prime Minister would need to have a plan to keep Britain's streets free of terrorism and build international alliances to deal with nuclear weapons, climate change, poverty and financial reforms.

"Like me or not, I can deliver that plan and the way to do it is with a majority Labour government."

Mr Cameron said: "It is clear from last week's debate that the country wants change but the question is what sort of change and who's best placed to lead that change?

"If you vote Conservative you will get a new team on May 7 and we won't be stuck with what we have got now."

He added: "Real change comes not just from politicians but from when we all recognise that we have responsibilities, we are all in this together."

Mr Clegg said he was "proud" of Britain's traditions of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, but said the two "old parties" had let these values down by allowing the UK to be involved in the Iraq War and implicated in abuses like rendition.

"I want us to lead in the world and I want us to lead in Europe, not complain from the sidelines," he said.