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Setbacks for two leaders today.

For Alex Salmond, a .

For Gordon Brown, .

Ever resilient, Mr Salmond says he now anticipates seeking a judicial review on the principle underlying the debates, having been knocked back in his appeal for an interdict against tomorrow's ´óÏó´«Ã½ show.

It may be a little more tricky for Mr Brown or his aides to discern elements of consolation from the awkward aftermath of his encounter with Gillian Duffy in Rochdale whom he labelled a bigot as he was driven off, forgetting that he was still wearing a broadcast microphone.

To add to the PM's joys, he was then interviewed on the wireless by Jeremy Vine.

This being the modern world, the exchange was also recorded for the telly. Mr Brown is shown with his head in his hands as the tape is played. Contemplative mood, perhaps.

Ordinary voter

Politicians have been caught previously in unguarded, but taped comments.

One thinks of John Major condemning the "b*s" in his cabinet. Or Henry McLeish delivering comparable comments about his supposed comrade, John Reid.

However, those were criticisms of party colleagues, part of the common currency.

Mr Brown's lapse is of a rather different order. His remarks are aimed at an ordinary voter. You remember, the ones who will decide this election.

Back to Mr Salmond. He continues to condemn, vigorously, his exclusion from the televised debates.

But in a half hour interview with me, to be broadcast this evening on ´óÏó´«Ã½1, he also contrives to add a little humour to the issue: brandishing an old-style TV test card with the legend "except for viewers in Scotland" and taking a satirical pop at Jeremy Paxman.

There's lots more, of course, on the economy and party strategy. Tune in, if you get the chance.

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