PM Cameron edges Miliband in first election tussle, as both struggle against Paxman

LONDON (ShareCast) - In the first televised political exchange of the UK 2015 general election campaign, Prime Minister David Cameron edged out Labour party leader Ed Miliband according snap polls. However, the latter is thought to have performed better than commentators expected. In ICM's instant poll, the viewing public thought Cameron did marginally better, winning 54% to 46% while a YouGov (LSE: YOU.L - news) instant poll published tighter results, with Cameron claiming victory 51% to 49%.

In a heated exchanges with broadcaster Jeremy Paxman, Cameron defended his record of returning the UK economy back to health but admitted that his pre-election pledge to reduce net migration had "not been met".

Cameron said that he could not live on a "zero-hours contract" when probed but claimed the coalition government had gotten more people back to work with the country's unemployment rate at record lows.

Miliband largely stuck to rehearsed answers under grilling from Paxman but failed to rebut accusations that his forecast on job losses and economic growth was wrong.

However, the audience responded positively to a slightly humorous, sturdy style from Miliband when the issue of a personal duel for Labour party leadership with his brother David Miliband entered the discussion.

Miliband's selective admissions of "getting things wrong" when Labour was in power had a mixed response.

The broadcast also included an audience question and answer session on top of the Paxman exchange. However, neither the Prime Minister nor his opponent could land a telling blow on the other side, according to the polls.