COWELL JUDGES U.K. LEADERS DEBATE

As if they were contestants on American Idol, the three candidates who participated in Britain’s televised “Leaders Debates” had their performances appraised today (Wednesday) by Simon Cowell. Writing in the London Sun, Cowell had faint praise for Labor leader — and current prime minister — Gordon Brown, who he said, “is a very sincere man who I respect. He has given a lot of support for our shows and artists but I worry after all of this time how much more energy he can devote to a huge task ahead of him.” Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, however, was simply, in Cowell’s words, “made for TV.” In an assessment of Clegg as withering as any he has made during an Idol episode, Cowell said, “We are not talent show judges picking pretty-sounding contestants now. The future government of our country is so much more important than that.” The winner, according to Cowell (and most likely the winner in Thursday’s election): Conservative leader David Cameron. “I have always trusted my gut instinct — and this was a guy who I thought would do the right things for this country,” he said.