So last night I went along to take part in this democracy of ours.

The Independent newspaper were hosting a debate in Brighton Pavilion between

Caroline Lucas MEP - Green Party leader and PPC for Brighton Pavilion

Charlotte Vere - Conservative Candidate for Brighton Pavilion

Bernadette Millam - Lib Dem Candidate for Brighton Pavilion

Steve Richards - Chief political commentator on the Independent

Trevor Beattie - Advertising Executive and Labour Party Supporter

it was free, they promised wine and canopes, what was there to lose?

Well the whole thing was great, each of the panel taking up a very distinct personality, the crowd was full of nutters (and some very astute and intelligent people) and I tried, but failed to ask a question.

First things first, the panel.

Now I was aware of the Brighton candidates, and had seem them discuss a few issues on the Politics show a month or two back. I had made my own evaluation of them at the time, but I was willing to be flexible and give them another go.

i was right the first time.

Bernadette Millam, sporting a fresh tan, was as useless and adept as she had been on the TV. I understand that she is running on a platform of "I'm not a politician" but really, you must be able to express yourself. I looked around and people were just switching off. Even Mrs Euzie, who tried to give her the benefit of the doubt agreed as to her absolute awfulness. this is not to say that she had some good beliefs, but if she was voted in, Westminster would eat her alive.

Caroline Lucas. At this point I feel there needs to be full disclosure. i voted green in the London mayoral elections, and for Lucas as an MEP. I have some issues with a few of their policies, but I agree wholeheartedly with many. Now saying this, I would not be adverse to voting tactically in this election, and as I live in Hove, Lucas would not be my local candidate anyway. Also, of late i have found myself questioning who I would vote for. So, back to last night. Caroline Lucas was incredibly impressive. On TV, in small soundbites she can occasionally come across as a bit angry, like an enraged mother at a PTA meeting. But that is can be all down to editing. She was funny, addressed the audience well, and drew great support from the crowd. You can tell the years of experience she carries as well as being her party leader and i think she may have swayed Mrs Euzie to vote Green.

Trevor Beattie is an ad executive who has worked on various political campaigns. He is an ardent labour supporter, and despite my initial reservations (he does come across as Ozzy Osbourne in a suit) he did slowly bring me round. he was funny (though often drifted into just saying "brilliant" a lot) and he most definitely knew his stuff. It was a shame that Lab candidate Nancy Platts was unable to be there, I don't know if she was too busy or just didn't want to come.

Charlotte Vere is a rather odious woman. ignoring my left leanings, she really seems to want to play this sort of pantomime villain role. her opening gambit was about the newly released inflation figures which she addressed as "oooh i know you're thinking what's this figure mean? and ooooh economics is not for me" to be followed later by "yeah of course, boooo hiss" (referring to a reaction she was getting) as well as the rather lovely "i wont comment on this but you're wrong". She seems to be trying to be some form of Young Thatcher in a Cameron guise. She might be a lovely person in real life, feed stray puppies and the like, but she did not win over this crowd, receiving the least applause, and even a subdued boo or two (when she was the only person on the panel arguing that under 18's should not be voting, or in fact having families).

The crowd most definitely played their part well, with heckles on subjects ranging from "Lucas for Brighton " to "I'm glad the Poles can't vote, their own country is on it's knees". there were several questioners who arrived with a pre-prepared question, reading it aloud from shaking hands with grandeur. Although the actual question in question was a bit of a let-down "How would you legislate for greed?" (I understand the Bankers, but surely that also clamps down on kids in sweetshops). And there was one guy who appeared , well just drunk. I tried to ask a question (and not the one I told Mrs Euzie i was going to ask) but in the end my arm wasn't as straight as some of the others and the question "As we appear to be moving forward into an open digital future where anyone can get their voice out there, what are the panels views on the recent digital bill, shoved through parliament at the behest of a few media moguls, that seems to assign us to a prohibitive and censored past?". Ah well.

Core supporters of any party might not have changed their beliefs, but it did highlight the importance of knowing who (or how good) your local candidate is. And also how nuts the angry British public can be.

You can hear the debate by pressing play, if you wish.