SOCIAL media was buzzing in Oxford following the historic televised leadership debate on Thursday, but the trending parties were not who you might expect.

Despite the presence of the big three – Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats – Oxford was more interested in how the smaller political groups did.

According to Trendsmap, an online programme that maps popular terms on Twitter in particular areas, Oxford was busy discussing the performance of the Green Party, Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru.

The term “SNP” was trending immediately after the debate, along with “Bennett” and “Leanne”, referring to Green Party and Plaid Cymru leaders, Natalie Bennett and Leanne Wood.

The televised debate was the first time the public could see candidates from the seven parties discussing issues including the NHS, immigration, and the deficit.

Following the debate, a YouGov opinion poll placed the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon at 28 per cent, Ms Bennett at five per cent, and Ms Wood of Plaid Cymru at four per cent.

Ms Sturgeon’s performance far outstripped any of the other candidates, with UKIP’s Nigel Farage at 20 per cent; Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, and Witney parliamentary candidate, on 18 per cent; Labour leader Ed Miliband at 15 per cent; and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg at 10 per cent.

The Oxford Green Party claimed victory in the debate with East Oxford Green Parliamentary candidate Ann Duncan saying: “People got a chance to hear the Green alternative, which created a buzz.”