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Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage get personal over EU in BBC debate Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage get personal over EU in BBC debate
(35 minutes later)
The gloves came off in the battle between Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg as they went head-to-head in the second of their debates on Europe.The gloves came off in the battle between Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg as they went head-to-head in the second of their debates on Europe.
Mr Clegg accused the UKIP leader of living in a "fantasy world" and of believing in conspiracy theories. Mr Clegg mounted a strong attack on the UKIP leader, accusing him of living in a "fantasy world" and of believing in conspiracy theories.
The flashpoint was Mr Farage's support for Vladimir Putin over Syria. Mr Farage accused the Lib Dem leader of "wilfully lying" to the British people.
Instant polls said Mr Farage had won by a bigger margin than he did in their first debate last week.
YouGov's snap poll gives the debate to Mr Farage by 68% to 27% while a poll for the Guardian suggested 69% of people watching thought the UKIP man came out on top.
The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Clegg was much more fired up than he had been last week, while Mr Farage had been more measured.
The main flashpoint in the BBC debate was Mr Farage's support for Vladimir Putin over Syria.
He accused the Lib Dem leader of being "hell bent" on getting involved in a war - but Mr Clegg accused him of trivialising the issue.He accused the Lib Dem leader of being "hell bent" on getting involved in a war - but Mr Clegg accused him of trivialising the issue.
Mr Clegg says Mr Farage's views on Mr Putin are reminiscent of a "pub bar discussion" - and that the Russian leader could have brought the conflict in Syria to an end with "one phone call".Mr Clegg says Mr Farage's views on Mr Putin are reminiscent of a "pub bar discussion" - and that the Russian leader could have brought the conflict in Syria to an end with "one phone call".
Poking fun at Mr Farage, the Lib Dem leader suggested the UKIP leader would claim next that "the moon landing never happened, Barack Obama is not American and Elvis is not dead".Poking fun at Mr Farage, the Lib Dem leader suggested the UKIP leader would claim next that "the moon landing never happened, Barack Obama is not American and Elvis is not dead".
Mr Farage said the British people have "had enough of getting involved in foreign wars".Mr Farage said the British people have "had enough of getting involved in foreign wars".
He said he did not want Britain to be part of an "expansionist" EU foreign policy, claiming that the EU wants its own "army and navy".He said he did not want Britain to be part of an "expansionist" EU foreign policy, claiming that the EU wants its own "army and navy".
Mr Clegg said this was a "dangerous fantasy that is simply not true".Mr Clegg said this was a "dangerous fantasy that is simply not true".
Mr Clegg wants to remain in the EU - Mr Farage wants the UK to quit.Mr Clegg wants to remain in the EU - Mr Farage wants the UK to quit.
The pair traded verbal blows over the percentage of British laws that are made in Brussels, with Mr Clegg claiming it was only about 7%. He also said the European Commission only employed the same amount of staff as Derbyshire County Council.The pair traded verbal blows over the percentage of British laws that are made in Brussels, with Mr Clegg claiming it was only about 7%. He also said the European Commission only employed the same amount of staff as Derbyshire County Council.
Mr Farage accused the deputy prime minister of "wilfully lying to the British people about the extent to which we have given control of our country and our democracy and I am really shocked and surprised you would do that". Mr Farage told the Lib Dem leader: "I said yes to these debates.
'Wilfully lying' "I thought you would honestly make the pro-EU case. By saying 7% of our laws are made in Brussels, you are wilfully lying to the British people about the extent to which we have given control of our country and our democracy and I am really shocked and surprised you would do that".
Mr Clegg hit back, accusing the UKIP leader of "making things up to make a point". They also clashed on trade policy, immigration and jobs.Mr Clegg hit back, accusing the UKIP leader of "making things up to make a point". They also clashed on trade policy, immigration and jobs.
Mr Farage said being a member of the EU had benefited the rich but been a disaster for the white working class - saying the UK cannot hope to provide jobs when there is an "open door" to 485 million people.Mr Farage said being a member of the EU had benefited the rich but been a disaster for the white working class - saying the UK cannot hope to provide jobs when there is an "open door" to 485 million people.
The Lib Dem leader suggests that Mr Farage "does not like modern Britain" and that, in contrast, he is very comfortable with it.The Lib Dem leader suggests that Mr Farage "does not like modern Britain" and that, in contrast, he is very comfortable with it.
Mr Clegg brandished a UKIP leaflet - featuring a picture of a Native American - which he said suggests that if the British people ignore immigration, they will "end up on a reservation".Mr Clegg brandished a UKIP leaflet - featuring a picture of a Native American - which he said suggests that if the British people ignore immigration, they will "end up on a reservation".
Mr Farage said he did not "recognise" the leaflet and does not "endorse its sentiments".Mr Farage said he did not "recognise" the leaflet and does not "endorse its sentiments".
The pair went head-to-head in an hour-long debate on LBC radio last week, which was won by Mr Farage, according to an instant You/Gov poll, although some pundits felt Mr Clegg had the edge.The pair went head-to-head in an hour-long debate on LBC radio last week, which was won by Mr Farage, according to an instant You/Gov poll, although some pundits felt Mr Clegg had the edge.
David Dimbleby - who moderated the BBC Two debate - said he hoped one of the two will deliver a "knockout blow" after last week's initial sparring.
The two men drew straws to see who made their opening statement first - they flipped a pound coin last week.The two men drew straws to see who made their opening statement first - they flipped a pound coin last week.
Mr Farage began, saying, as he did last week, that the British people would not vote to join the EU if they were not already in it.Mr Farage began, saying, as he did last week, that the British people would not vote to join the EU if they were not already in it.
'Billy no mates''Billy no mates'
But also he made a direct attack on Mr Clegg, saying the EU was only backed by people like the deputy prime minister, "the career political class and their friends in big business".But also he made a direct attack on Mr Clegg, saying the EU was only backed by people like the deputy prime minister, "the career political class and their friends in big business".
Mr Clegg also got more personal in his opening statement than he did last week - saying Mr Farage's arguments for quitting the EU were a "dangerous con", telling the audience in the BBC's radio theatre "if it sounds too good to be true, it is".Mr Clegg also got more personal in his opening statement than he did last week - saying Mr Farage's arguments for quitting the EU were a "dangerous con", telling the audience in the BBC's radio theatre "if it sounds too good to be true, it is".
He also got the first soundbite in, saying that if the country left the EU it would become "A 'Billy no mates Britain, a 'Billy no jobs' Britain."He also got the first soundbite in, saying that if the country left the EU it would become "A 'Billy no mates Britain, a 'Billy no jobs' Britain."
David Dimbleby hosted the last live BBC TV debate on Europe 40 years ago - between anti-EU MP Tony Benn and pro-EU MP Roy Jenkins.David Dimbleby hosted the last live BBC TV debate on Europe 40 years ago - between anti-EU MP Tony Benn and pro-EU MP Roy Jenkins.
Conservative leader David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband declined to take part in the debate.Conservative leader David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband declined to take part in the debate.
* You can watch the whole debate live on the BBC News website, with rolling video and text coverage of the key points, reaction and analysis. There is a BBC News Channel special programme from 18:30 BST to 21:00 BST.* You can watch the whole debate live on the BBC News website, with rolling video and text coverage of the key points, reaction and analysis. There is a BBC News Channel special programme from 18:30 BST to 21:00 BST.