David Cameron was widely derided this evening as opposition leaders criticised him for not appearing in the second TV election debate.
The leaders of Westminster’s five opposition parties made a final plea to the electorate in a live debate on the BBC.
Labour’s Ed Miliband, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, the Green Party’s Natalie Bennett, Ukip leader Nigel Farage and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru took part in the event at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster.
Nicola Sturgeon achieved a big cheer early on by attacking the coalition government and branding Mr Cameron "a disgrace" for his absence.
Condemning Mr Cameron's decision not to debate, Mr Miliband said: "David Cameron has chosen not to come tonight. He has chosen not to defend his record. I believe that Britain can do so much better."
The format of a live 90-minute "challengers' debate" was devised after Mr Cameron refused to take part in the three clashes originally proposed by broadcasters, which would have seen him take on Mr Miliband in a one-on-one showdown a week before the election.
Mr Miliband said he will "reject" the arguments of parties trying to break up the United Kingdom, as both Scottish and Welsh nationalists used a televised election debate to say they wanted to work together with other parties in Westminster to end austerity and introduce "progressive" policies.
Ukip leader Mr Farage saw the biggest spike in Twitter chatter as the debate began with 238 mentions a minute as he finished his opening remarks, higher than Ed Miliband at 123 tweets per minute (tpm), Nicola Sturgeon at 172 tpm, Natalie Bennett at 70 tpm and Leanne Wood at 37 tpm.
