RISHI Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were battered by disgruntled voters last night as heated exchanges dominated the race for Number 10.
The two party leaders were dealt blow after blow, and the moody members of the audience were not convinced that they were the right man for prime minister.
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Sky News presenter Beth Rigby grilled Rishi Credit: PA
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The Labor leader was momentarily speechless when he was branded a ‘political robot’Credit: Getty
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Voters in Grimsby attacked two politiciansCredit: PA
The Labor leader was momentarily speechless when he was branded a “political robot” which was met with brutal laughter.
The Prime Minister was left feeling the heat as he was grilled over his promises to cut taxes, his early abandonment of D-Day commemorations and his failure to control migration to the UK.
The Sky News televised debate took place halfway through the election campaign with Sir Keir leading by 20 points in the polls – with Nigel Farage’s Reform Party hot on the Tories’ heels.
Also about last night’s clash:
Sir Keir Starmer even alarmed beleaguered motorists when he hinted that fuel duty could be increased under a Labor government.
The Labor boss told motorists that the levy decision would be assessed every year, costing motorists more in their pockets when they fill up at the pumps.
The warning comes as the Sun’s Keep It Down campaign has put pressure on every chancellor – keeping the post frozen since 2011.
He said he would not be “writing budgets for the next five years” during last night’s ‘Battle for Number 10’ debate on Sky News.
No knockout punches…but plenty of punches
Harry Cole Analysis:
No knockout punches for either of the leaders, but plenty of punches from the crowd and host.
Starmer has fared better since his BBC appearance, but Sunak is in desperate need of a revival despite a difficult few days.
Easy TV event of the campaign, so far… But it’s not the last time these two will be grilled.
Want to see these two quizzed by Sun readers… or even ask the questions yourself on June 24?
Our election reckoning – which takes place just ten days before voting day – is your chance.
Register your interest HERE: http://thesun.co.uk/showdown
Speaking in front of a live audience in Grimsby, he added that measures such as the fuel duty would be decided “budget by budget”.
He said: “It has to be decided on a budget by budget basis but my results say we have supported the fuel tax cap every time it has come up but I want to do things differently.
“If we keep doing things the same way we’ve been doing for the last 14 years, we’re going to end up in the same mess. I’m not ready to do that.”
An annoyed Keir Starmer asked ‘how can ANYONE trust you?’ while raving about flip flops and supporting Corbyn
The decision for shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, if Labor forms the next government, would also decide on the temporary 5p cut in duty which expires in March next year.
He was also pressed by Sky News investigator Beth Rigby on whether there would be tax increases in the next parliament.
He said: “There are no tax increases in the plans in our manifesto, no tax increases for workers, no income tax, national insurance or VAT increases.”
Asked if he would raise taxes, Sir Keir said to the first round of applause of the night: “The Tories are in no position to lecture anyone about tax increases.
“We have the biggest tax burden in 70 years… We need to get the economy going.”
During the 45-minute barbecue, Sir Keir was momentarily speechless when an audience member accused him of being a “political robot”.
The man added that he “formed into more politicians” compared to the time when he was the director of the state attorney’s office.
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Sir Keir said: “I think it’s probably a result of coming to politics late, because I’m not a tribal politician, I actually believe there are good people who vote apart from Labor who want their family, their community and their country to move forward.”
Sir Keir Starmer has hit back at claims he suffers from “trust” issues in his first debate talk on Sky News.
He was asked why he backed Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 election, but said he knew the left-wing leader would not become prime minister.
Sir Keir said: “I was sure we were going to lose the election in 2019. I was campaigning for Labour, of course I was.
“I wanted good colleagues to return to the Labor Party.” Asked again if he meant it when he said he would back Corbyn, he said: “I was sure we were going to lose”.
In an emotional moment, he hoped a move to the No.10 spot if elected would affect his family – referring to his teenage son and daughter. He said: “I guess my only real fear is for my family.
He added: “I’ve got a boy who’s just turned 16, he’s 15 and three quarters, and a girl who’s 13, these are really tough years for my kids… My only fear is the impact it’s going to have on them.
“I want them to be able to walk to school and be as calm as possible.”
The Prime Minister insisted he would “keep fighting hard until the last day of the election” despite trailing by 20 points in the polls – and the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party.
He said: “Well, I have to say it hasn’t been an easy 18 months overall, but what I’ve done is I’ve continued to do my best for people and that’s what I’m doing going into this campaign.”
Mr Sunak said he believed the economy had “turned a corner”, adding: “We have a clear plan for the future to help people – reduce their taxes, reduce immigration, protect pensions.”
He also said that levels of net migration over the past three years had been “too high”.
When asked how many people will be deported under the Rwanda removal program, he said: “We have already started detaining people, airports are on standby, planes are booked, the date for the first flight is July 24, I think .
“We haven’t given any more details beyond that so as not to compromise operational security, but there will be a regular cadence of flights, not just one.”
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The Prime Minister was left feeling the heat as he was grilled over his promises to cut taxes Credit: Getty
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Sir Keir Starmer even alarmed harried motorists by warning that fuel duty could be increased under a Labor governmentCredit: Getty
AUDIENCE AGAINST RISHI: RISHI Sunaka was booed by an audience member after he blamed strike doctors for failing to deliver on their promise to reduce NHS waiting lists.
The prime minister said he had not made “as much progress” as he would have liked. And as he claimed, “everyone knows the impact of industrial activity . . . “, one of the audience turned to him loudly.
BEST ZINGER: SKY political editor Beth Rigby pulled no punches after delivering a brutal indictment of the Conservative Party’s broken promises. It sent the audience into applause.
She said: “It’s a catalog of broken promises. Surely you can see why so many voters think it’s time you and the Conservatives got your P45.”
AWKWARD MOMENT: PM and Mathematician Rishi Sunak fumbled with some numbers that were put to him.
He did not know what the net migration was in the last three years (1.9 million), nor what the figure was before Brexit (about 800,000).
He also took heat over mounting NHS debt and waiting lists, despite winning both cases.
AUDIENCE v KEIR: SIR Keira was asked by a voter if he was actually a “robot”. Being a bit boring becomes a sore point for the wannabe Prime Minister, who is trying to shake off that image.
And he paused long enough before answering that it seemed like he actually broke down, drawing brutal laughter from the audience.
BEST ZINGER: “WHEN politicians say they ‘don’t plan’ to do something, what they mean is ‘might’.”
Sky presenter Beth Rigby expertly translated what Sir Keir Starmer really meant when he gave a weak response to a possible rise in capital gains tax if they win power. The Labor leader also did not rule out increasing duty on fuel.
AWKWARD QUOTE: CHALLENGED to campaign for former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn — who he has now renounced — Sir Keir insisted: “I was sure we were going to lose the 2019 election.”
He also denied being a political switcheroo and claimed he never thought Labor had a “chance” to win the polls five years ago.
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Source: HIS Education