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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Nadia Khomami

#BattleForNumber10: Cameron v Miliband generates half a million tweets

Number 10 Downing Street is now at the centre of an intense battle on social media
Number 10 Downing Street is now at the centre of an intense battle on social media. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty

The first leaders’ programme of the general election campaign was huge on social media, generating more than 500,000 tweets – the equivalent of up to 3,400 tweets per minute. So what was everyone talking about?

As excitement mounted, viewers imagined what the setting of the programme would look like, and exactly how the leaders were preparing for their impending battle. Bacon sarnies were a recurring theme.

David Cameron was the first to be grilled by Jeremy Paxman, who was on top form, asking the prime minister some tough questions about foodbanks, zero-hours contracts and the state of the NHS.

Viewers predicted that Ed Miliband was halfway across the country by now.

Everyone was shocked when an audience member named Zayn Malik was lined up to ask Cameron a question. They were swiftly disappointed.

Miliband’s time with Paxman started off just as awkward and frustrating as Cameron’s.

But responses took a more comical turn when Paxman called Miliband a “north London geek” and design your own T-shirt sites experienced a huge surge in business.

Twitter went a bit crazy when Paxman asked Miliband if he’s tough enough to be prime minister, to which Miliband replied: “Hell yeah, I’m tough enough.”

A few people rejoiced when Katie Hopkins said she would leave the country if Miliband did become prime minister.

Rupert Murdoch got a bit sassy too.

As did Gary Lineker.

But the most-Tweeted-about moment was when Paxman was overheard asking Miliband if he was OK after the debate had ended.

Long live the social media election, a sign of times to come.

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