THE second of four TV debates before next month’s unpredictable general election will be held tonight – and people around Gwent are keen to tune in.

The ITV Leaders’ Debate, which will be aired on ITV1 for two hours from 8pm, will feature seven parties. They will include leaders of the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Greens and Ukip for the first time.

Tonight the leaders will stand from left to right: the Green Party’s Natalie Bennett; Nick Clegg; Ukip’s Nigel Farage; Ed Miliband; Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood; the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon and David Cameron.

Other debates will be held with five party leaders on April 16 and with Conservative leader and Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Liberal Democrats' and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on April 30.

And John Reynolds, who works for Communities First in Newport, said he will be watching tonight and that he has sympathy for the debate’s host, Julie Etchingham: “I think the first thing is how the whole thing runs because it could be fairly chaotic.”

While Louise Jones, who leads Weight Watchers classes in Risca, said the debates are a good thing for British democracy.

She said: “I think they can only help. The more information we know the better. I think it is going to be a massive thing in the community. I haven’t seen people out and about as they usually are trying to get votes. In past years I have seen a lot more activity from the parties. But I don’t know much this year.”

A YouGov poll released last month showed the majority of voters around the UK agree with her. Of those questioned, 69 per cent said there should be debates in the run-up to a general election; 19 per cent disagreed. The first debate, Cameron and Miliband: The Battle for Number 10, was shown on Channel 4 and Sky News last week.

The landlady of the Golden Lion in Magor, Louise Jones, said: “I will definitely watch it. I’m not totally impressed by any of the leaders at the moment. I’m not sure which way I’m swinging - but I will watch it.”

Chef Tom Beavan, 21, who also works at the Golden Lion, will be voting in his first general election. He said he could be convinced to vote for a party if their leader impresses at tonight’s debate.

He said: “I am open to listening to the parties if they come across with good points. If they have good enough plans I would go for them. I wouldn’t want to make an uninformed decision.”

His view was echoed by the chairman of the Ebbw Vale and Blaenau Gwent Business Forum, Philip Edwards. He said although he will definitely be watching the debates, there was no particular party that he supports.

Another business owner, this time in Blackwood, said she was also unsure which way to vote on May 7 – but that she will be watching the debate later.

Esther Apoussidis said she was still “hovering” as to which way she will vote.