NEW DELHI: In a heated final TV debate before the UK general election, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer engaged in a contentious exchange, launching highly personal attacks over their and their parties’ credibility. With Labour holding a significant lead in the polls, the debate in Nottingham was Sunak’s last major chance to boost the Conservatives‘ prospects ahead of the July 4 election.
Sunak’s Conservatives trail Labour by around 20 points in the polls. During the debate, Sunak accused Starmer of not being straight with the country on migration, tax, and women’s rights, urging voters not to “surrender” to the Labour Party. Starmer countered by portraying Sunak as too rich to understand the concerns of ordinary Britons. A snap YouGov poll declared the debate a tie, with both leaders at 50%.
Personal attacks and policy disputes
The debate turned acrimonious as Sunak and Starmer exchanged personal barbs. Sunak accused Starmer of misleading the public about Labour’s immigration policies, suggesting that Starmer was “taking people for fools.” He questioned how Starmer would deal with migrants from countries like Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan, asking, “Is he going to sit down with the Iranian Ayatollah? Are you going to try and do a deal with the Taliban?” Starmer responded by criticizing Sunak’s wealth, arguing that it made him “out of touch” with ordinary Britons’ concerns. Throughout the debate, Sunak urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, while Starmer emphasized the chance to “turn the page” on 14 years of Conservative rule.
Betting scandal overshadows campaign
A major point of contention was a betting scandal involving senior Conservatives and a Labour candidate, which has cast a shadow over the final days of the campaign. Sunak has struggled with this scandal since the beginning of the campaign, including criticism for not attending a D-Day memorial event. Starmer pledged to “reset politics, so that politics returns to public service,” criticizing Sunak’s leadership amid the scandal. Sunak, visibly angered by the allegations, vowed to remove those involved from the Conservative Party. The scandal has dominated headlines, distracting from substantive policy discussions.
Voter frustration on display
The public’s frustration with politicians was palpable when an audience member’s question, “Are you two really the best we’ve got?” received loud applause. This moment underscored the electorate’s disillusionment with the political class after years of Conservative rule marked by austerity, Brexit turmoil, and internal party conflicts. One questioner called Sunak a “pretty mediocre prime minister” and suggested that Starmer’s strings were being pulled by senior Labour members. Despite Sunak’s efforts, the polls suggest many voters had already made up their minds months ago.
Labour’s lead and campaign challenges
Labour has maintained a substantial lead in the polls for over 18 months, benefiting from public fatigue with Conservative governance. Sunak has struggled to narrow the gap since calling the election on May 22, six months earlier than legally required. The betting scandal has further tarnished the Conservative campaign, with two candidates under investigation and a Labour candidate suspended for betting on his own loss. Despite headline-grabbing announcements, such as national service for teenagers, Sunak has failed to shift public opinion significantly. Starmer, while criticized for sticking to a script and not providing enough details on funding public services, has positioned Labour as a stable alternative to the Conservatives.
Starmer’s cautious approach
In contrast, Starmer has adopted a cautious campaign strategy, focusing on reassuring voters that Labour will manage the economy responsibly. Emphasizing the need for change, Starmer argued that the country was exhausted after 14 years of Conservative “chaos,” highlighting challenges faced by families due to soaring inflation and a cost of living crisis. He criticized Sunak’s disconnect from ordinary Britons, saying, “Part of the problem we have with this prime minister is that his lived world is millions of miles away from the lived worlds of individuals across the country, the businesses, and the families that they’re trying to support.”
Protests disrupt final debate
The final debate was further disrupted by noisy protests outside the venue at Nottingham Trent University. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside, their loud shouting occasionally drowning out the debate. Host Mishal Husain acknowledged the disruption, noting that protest is a part of Britain’s democratic tradition. The ruckus added to the messy conclusion of a series of debates that have seen leaders appeal directly to voters ahead of the July 4 election.
Next week, British voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, with the leader of the majority party set to become the next prime minister. Labour’s substantial lead in the polls suggests a significant shift in power might be on the horizon after 14 years of Conservative rule.
Sunak’s Conservatives trail Labour by around 20 points in the polls. During the debate, Sunak accused Starmer of not being straight with the country on migration, tax, and women’s rights, urging voters not to “surrender” to the Labour Party. Starmer countered by portraying Sunak as too rich to understand the concerns of ordinary Britons. A snap YouGov poll declared the debate a tie, with both leaders at 50%.
Personal attacks and policy disputes
The debate turned acrimonious as Sunak and Starmer exchanged personal barbs. Sunak accused Starmer of misleading the public about Labour’s immigration policies, suggesting that Starmer was “taking people for fools.” He questioned how Starmer would deal with migrants from countries like Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan, asking, “Is he going to sit down with the Iranian Ayatollah? Are you going to try and do a deal with the Taliban?” Starmer responded by criticizing Sunak’s wealth, arguing that it made him “out of touch” with ordinary Britons’ concerns. Throughout the debate, Sunak urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, while Starmer emphasized the chance to “turn the page” on 14 years of Conservative rule.
Betting scandal overshadows campaign
A major point of contention was a betting scandal involving senior Conservatives and a Labour candidate, which has cast a shadow over the final days of the campaign. Sunak has struggled with this scandal since the beginning of the campaign, including criticism for not attending a D-Day memorial event. Starmer pledged to “reset politics, so that politics returns to public service,” criticizing Sunak’s leadership amid the scandal. Sunak, visibly angered by the allegations, vowed to remove those involved from the Conservative Party. The scandal has dominated headlines, distracting from substantive policy discussions.
Voter frustration on display
The public’s frustration with politicians was palpable when an audience member’s question, “Are you two really the best we’ve got?” received loud applause. This moment underscored the electorate’s disillusionment with the political class after years of Conservative rule marked by austerity, Brexit turmoil, and internal party conflicts. One questioner called Sunak a “pretty mediocre prime minister” and suggested that Starmer’s strings were being pulled by senior Labour members. Despite Sunak’s efforts, the polls suggest many voters had already made up their minds months ago.
Labour’s lead and campaign challenges
Labour has maintained a substantial lead in the polls for over 18 months, benefiting from public fatigue with Conservative governance. Sunak has struggled to narrow the gap since calling the election on May 22, six months earlier than legally required. The betting scandal has further tarnished the Conservative campaign, with two candidates under investigation and a Labour candidate suspended for betting on his own loss. Despite headline-grabbing announcements, such as national service for teenagers, Sunak has failed to shift public opinion significantly. Starmer, while criticized for sticking to a script and not providing enough details on funding public services, has positioned Labour as a stable alternative to the Conservatives.
Starmer’s cautious approach
In contrast, Starmer has adopted a cautious campaign strategy, focusing on reassuring voters that Labour will manage the economy responsibly. Emphasizing the need for change, Starmer argued that the country was exhausted after 14 years of Conservative “chaos,” highlighting challenges faced by families due to soaring inflation and a cost of living crisis. He criticized Sunak’s disconnect from ordinary Britons, saying, “Part of the problem we have with this prime minister is that his lived world is millions of miles away from the lived worlds of individuals across the country, the businesses, and the families that they’re trying to support.”
Protests disrupt final debate
The final debate was further disrupted by noisy protests outside the venue at Nottingham Trent University. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside, their loud shouting occasionally drowning out the debate. Host Mishal Husain acknowledged the disruption, noting that protest is a part of Britain’s democratic tradition. The ruckus added to the messy conclusion of a series of debates that have seen leaders appeal directly to voters ahead of the July 4 election.
Next week, British voters will elect lawmakers to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, with the leader of the majority party set to become the next prime minister. Labour’s substantial lead in the polls suggests a significant shift in power might be on the horizon after 14 years of Conservative rule.