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Both sides claim victory after Cameron and Miliband grilling

David Cameron and Ed Miliband have faced public questions for the first time in the run-up to the 2015 General Election.

An ICM opinion poll of 1,123 people for The Guardian immediately after the programme found that 54% thought David Cameron "won" the Battle for Number 10 interview show, while 46% said Ed Miliband was better.

However, Labour said Miliband's performance showed "why David Cameron doesn't want to go head-to-head", after the PM rejected proposals a two-man debate.

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Key points from Q&A show with Cameron and Miliband

David Cameron and Ed Miliband have taken part in the first interview and Q&A show ahead of the General Election.

Below are the key points from both leaders.

David Cameron:

David Cameron admitted he would not be able to live on an exclusive zero-hours contract. Credit: Stefan Rousseau / PA WIRE
  • Admitted that he would not be able to live on an exclusive zero-hours contract.
  • Said the UK was "immeasurably stronger" after five years of his premiership and claimed that "we've turned the economy round".
  • Accepted that his Government had failed to meet the "no ifs no buts" pledge he made in 2010 to get net immigration down.
  • Insisted he would serve "every day of a full second term" if re-elected in May.
  • Pressed on further cuts to the welfare budget he said: "We know there will be difficult decisions and we will have to go through every part of the welfare budget."

Ed Miliband:

Ed Miliband said his relationship with his brother David was still Credit: Stefan Rousseau / PA WIRE
  • Miliband said his relationship with brother David was still "healing" after their bruising battle for the Labour leadership.
  • He said wealth creation is an incredibly important part of building a more prosperous society and a fairer society.
  • Mr Miliband said democratic socialism remained an important Labour value.
  • Firmly defended his decision to rule out an in/out EU referendum, arguing that it was not a priority for the country.
  • Refused to put a figure on a maximum population for the country and admitted Labour "got it wrong" on immigration.

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