It's Boris Johnson versus Jeremy Corbyn.

So the first TV debate of the 2019 general election

has just finished.

So who won?

Well, the answer is nobody particularly.

The whole event had the feel of a zero-sum game to it.

Neither candidate to be the UK's next prime minister

scored any particular points or made headway

in their campaigns.

Both bought out generic soundbites

we've heard many times before.

And, I know you'll not want me to say this,

but we need to get Brexit done...

So that's a no, then.

...in order... in order to deliver a priority.

They didn't engage in any proper debate about policy

or any arguments that moved the campaign forward.

Can you rule it out in...

We've witnessed nine years of chaotic coalitions already.

OK.

The first half of the debate, hosted on ITV on Tuesday

evening, was dominated by Brexit.

That was much more comfortable territory

for Boris Johnson, who has his clear slogan of getting Brexit

done by January the 31st before moving on

to other domestic priorities.

He managed to win applause from the crowd with his message

there and his attacks on his rival, who

still hasn't said how he wants Brexit to be resolved.

And we still don't know, by the way, what he proposes to do...

OK.

...nor whether he is in favour of it or against it.

All right.

Jeremy Corbyn's policy is to have another referendum

and let the British people decide

if they want to stay in the EU or leave with his deal.

And he was attacked repeatedly by Boris Johnson

for that matter.

We will have a referendum.

We will have to go to the nation and we

will abide by that result.

After the break, things moved on to the NHS,

which is more comfortable territory for the Labour

leader.

And yes, he did manage to get some good points scored

about the privatisation of the health service

and cuts under the Conservative government.

You're going to sell out to the United States.

But the attacks were blunted by Mr Johnson's promise of more

cash and more hospitals.

So where does this leave the campaign?

This is really the beginning of the 2019 general election

campaign.

It's been rather slow so far with not much movement

from either side.

But Boris Johnson is a clear 10 to 15 points ahead from Jeremy

Corbyn, and the Labour leader needed to get some momentum

tonight.

And he didn't find it.

He didn't score any blows.

He didn't get any big applauses.

So in the matter of this campaign,

it feels like Boris Johnson might have just about emerged

on top.