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Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage slug it out over EU in BBC debate Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage get personal over EU in BBC debate
(35 minutes later)
Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage are battling it out in a BBC TV debate on Britain's future in Europe. The gloves are off in the battle between Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg as they go head-to-head in the second of their debates on Europe.
Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg is expected to attack Mr Farage's comments about admiring President Putin, which he called "utterly grotesque". Mr Clegg accused the UKIP leader of living in a "fantasy world" and of believing in conspiracy theories.
But the main focus of the hour-long debate - with questions from the public - will be whether Britain is better-off in, or out of, the European Union. The flashpoint was Mr Farage's claim Vladimir Putin had averted war in Syria.
He accused the Lib Dem leader of being "hell bent" on 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" but decided not to.
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".
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 is a "dangerous fantasy that is simply not true".
The two men are battling it out in a BBC TV debate on whether Britain is better-off in, or out of, the European Union.
They clashed on trade policy, immigration and jobs.
Mr Clegg brandished a UKIP leaflet - featuring a picture of a Native American - which he says 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 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 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 is moderating the BBC Two debate - has said he hopes one of the two will deliver a "knockout blow" after last week's initial sparring.David Dimbleby - who is moderating the BBC Two debate - has said he hopes one of the two will deliver a "knockout blow" after last week's initial sparring.
Strict rules The two men drew straws to see who made their opening statement first - they flipped a coin last week.
The veteran presenter hosted the last live BBC TV debate on Europe 40 years ago - between anti-EU MP Tony Benn and pro-EU MP Roy Jenkins. 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.
The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said "Team Clegg" wanted to see more passion from their man this week, while the Farage camp wanted to see more detail. 'Billy no mates'
Asked if there were any nerves ahead of tonight's debate, Mr Clegg replied: "I'm going to enjoy it, it's a big debate on an important issue. I'm looking forward to it." 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 Farage also told reporters he was "looking forward" to the debate. 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 said: "This is great - UKIP, mocked and derided, our arguments written off as being mad and extreme - and here we are on national television having a debate." 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.
The BBC debate has strict rules:The BBC debate has strict rules:
The UKIP leader has refused to back down in his battle with Mr Clegg over his comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He has stressed that he did not support Russian actions in Ukraine or admire the Russian president "as a human being" but he did believe Mr Putin was a skilled political "operator".
Shortly before the debate got under way, he told BBC News: "We were about to go to war in Syria because poison gas, sarin gas had been used and everyone in London, Washington and Brussels assumed they had been used by Assad - and Putin said 'hang on a second, don't be so sure'.
"It turns out it's more than likely the rebels who used the gas. If Putin hadn't intervened we would now be at war with Syria."
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.