VOA News Item 2

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[by:华研外语]

[00:00.54]Britain's political life has been dominated [00:02.75]for the past three decades by two parties [00:05.38]- the Conservatives, now led by David Cameron, [00:07.96]and Labor headed by current Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

[00:11.33]But a third party, the Liberal Democrats,

[00:13.67]are turning this election into a three-horse race. [00:16.91]Their campaign was given a major boost

[00:18.93]by Britain's first ever televised debate last week; [00:21.93]Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg emerged as the clear winner.

[00:25.93]Viewer polls taken after this second debate, [00:28.30]which focused on foreign policy, [00:29.96]showed there was no runaway victor.

[00:32.32]The last time Britain had a hung parliament was in 1974.

[00:36.33]A final televised debate is to take place next Thursday,

[00:39.70]followed by the election on May 6.