22:02

More from Nazia Parveen backstage in Salford, where she has been talking to politicians sent out to bat for their teams –

Lisa Smart, Hazel Grove candidate for the Liberal Democrats said: viewers would have been “appalled” by Farage defending Trump’s “deeply misogynistic” comments.

“The British public deserve better than what they saw from Farage, who let’s not forget is Boris Johnson’s cheerleader. The only way to stand up for liberal values, stop Boris and stop Brexit at this election is to vote Liberal Democrat,” she added.

Green party co-leader, Jonathan Bartley, speaking backstage said that it was frustrating to see the main parties failing to discuss climate change as part of the debate.

“It should have been a central component but nobody seemed to take the lead on it. Sian (Berry) had to keep raising it and she did really well with that but it was very disappointing to see something so important being pushed aside.”

Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng defended the prime minister’s decision not to attend the debate saying that he was busy dealing with the terror incident. “I am not his campaign manager but he has been dealing with the terror incident since Friday and he is busy doing that at the moment,” he added.