The general election is hotting up. On Wednesday night we had the first of the televised Leader Debates (in which 16.6% of the Leaders failed to turn up).

Ever ahead of the national media, The Westmorland Gazette held its own election debate last Thursday. LibDem leader Tim Farron (who was at both) attended along with Labour candidate Eli Aldridge and Conservative James Local-Farmer (possibly standing in for Theresa May, who can say? - he did make great play of having the ear of government if he gets elected but only if the government turns up).

It was a very lively debate. Eli is notable for still being at school and only 18, something he won’t be able to claim in a year.

To be honest, he didn’t need to claim it now as his age was immaterial and he held up impressively against two experienced political operators.

James Local-Farmer is notable for being a local farmer. He lives locally and farms. Possibly in the 1950s as he referred to women as housewives.

He also called anti-Brexiteers ‘remoaners’, a brave thing to do in an area which voted predominantly to stay in the EU.

He was keen to mention Eurocrats and made some interesting claims about the UK’s wonderful new post-Brexit opportunity to trade with countries it is already trading with by virtue of being in the EU. (Apropos of nothing much, why are European bureaucrats viewed with such disdain? I presume our own Civil Service is regarded with universal love and admiration.)

Overall the debate went well. All three candidates received some cheers and applause. James Local-Farmer was the only one who managed to get booed a couple of times. Judging by live audience reactions on Twitter, he came out worst from the debate.

So, time for this year’s Election Blog swing-o-meter. In previous years, we had the Tim-o-Meter (when 66% of candidates were called Tim), the Grin-o-Meter (2010 was a good year for grinning) and the Sock-o-Meter (I have no idea why).

This time, in view of Brexit, we have the Cliff-o-Meter. Here, in my view, is the current position of the three candidates - it will be very interesting to see how it develops in the final week of campaigning.