Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was deemed to have narrowly edged a fractious live television debate with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, dominated by the issues of tax and immigration.
On climate change, Sunak said he had taken “bold” decisions that would mean Britain meets its obligations while protecting the budgets of hard-pressed families. Starmer vowed that Britain would “win the race” to develop renewable energy under a Labour government.
Starmer said he would end “the chaos and division we’ve seen over the last 14 years”, trying to present his Tory opponent as out of touch with the country he governs: “He lives in a different world.”
Sunak promised he would “cut your taxes, protect your pension and reduce immigration”, repeatedly hammering a heavily disputed claim that Labour would put up taxes by £2,000 for every working household. “With Keir Starmer, apart from higher taxes, you don’t know what you’ll get and neither does he,” Sunak claimed.
His punchy performance raised Tory spirits but it remains to be seen if it can transform the campaign.
Starmer said he would end “the chaos and division we’ve seen over the last 14 years”, trying to present his Tory opponent as out of touch with the country he governs: “He lives in a different world.”
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I must have been watching another debate because I watched Starmer humiliate Sunak. Sunak was truly terrible….
If that’s your take, then you are simply an enthralled partisan.
The debate revealed that (no matter how hard these two try to poke holes in each other’s manifestos) there is no daylight between them on 90% of policy issues.
Neither of them managed to answer the audience’s questions directly. Rishi challenged Keir with concrete points on immigration and healthcare, and Keir had no real answer (unless you consider ‘I will get in and negotiate’ to be an answer. What happens when that inevitably fails, buddy?). For his part, Keir came across as slightly more in tune… Read more
@AgileCicadaRepublican2yrs2Y
I disagree. I thought sunak was awful but expected as much. But I was disappointed with Starmer given it was all for the taking - if I’m being objective he waffled a lot, didn’t really answer questions straight and didn’t do a good job of outlining Labour’s plans. Instead lots of pleas to emotion, personal attacks and talk of the past. We all know the tories did a terrible job but he needs to tell us explicitly what Labour will do differently!
I was disappointed by Starmer to be honest. It was so easy for him to win that debate and take sunak to the cleaners and yet when asked to give straight answers on questions he didn’t. Simply saying you’ll sort things like junior doctor pay and illegal crossings isn’t enough - you need to explain the plan. Tony Blair he is not.
@MellowTunaUnity2yrs2Y
We get the politicians we deserve. We moan, but leave it at that. Until this country gets off its collective backside and realises there's more to democracy than just voting for the least worst option on offer every 4-5 years, not much will change.
As an example, I'm part of a grassroots campaign group pushing for PR voting that goes to speak to clubs/societies (both political and non-political) around the country promoting the system, something I expect to intensify after this election.
@DreadfulDeficitVeteran2yrs2Y
When Rishi said they had settled pay rises for everyone in the NHS except junior doctors, it was not true. GP surgeries have been given 2%. This is swallowed up by energy costs and living wage rises for junior staff. 99% of GPs have rejected the contract and are awaiting a decision by the DDRB. The current offer means cuts to GP services and/or no pay rise at all for practice nurses and GPs. The BMA is likely to take action.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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