Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer ripped apart each other’s election promises on tax and immigration in the first fiery TV debate of the campaign.
The pair had a testy exchange in front of an ITV studio audience in Salford, with Starmer accusing Sunak of being “the most liberal Prime Minister we have ever had on immigration” and pledging to keep Britain in in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Labor leader hit out at the Conservatives’ record after 14 years in power and accused Sunak of failing to take personal responsibility for his failings, including on the cost of living and the NHS, as the leader sought to draw a clear line between the two parties. waiting time.
Sunak sought to paint Starmer as an unreliable politician seeking power for the sake of power. He has repeatedly claimed that Labour’s policies would result in a £2,000 increase in household tax, an attack the Conservatives plan to repeat during this election campaign.
“Labour will raise your taxes. It’s in their DNA. Your job, your car, your pension – Labor will raise taxes on them,” the Prime Minister said. In response, Starmer said the Conservatives were “putting fake Labor policies to the Treasury” to produce a fantasy figure.
Starmer said the Prime Minister’s decision to call an election now showed he did not think his plans for the economy or illegal immigration would have any effect.
“If he thinks things are going to get better in the second half of the year, why is he announcing it now? He’s calling it that now because he knows, and I’m going to ask him this, he knows inflation is going to pick up, he knows energy prices are going to pick up in the fall, Starmer said. “That’s what he won’t tell you.”
Both leaders have pledged not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT. Starmer defended his policy of introducing VAT to private schools, saying it was a “difficult choice” but necessary, earning applause from the audience.
The prime minister appeared to suggest he was willing to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights if it blocked its controversial policy of sending asylum seekers across the English Channel to Rwanda.
“I’m very clear, I believe all of our plans are consistent with our international obligations, but if I were forced to choose between protecting our borders and our country’s security or foreign courts, I would choose our country’s security for once. ,”He said.
The Labor leader defended Britain’s membership of the European Court of Human Rights. “We will not withdraw from international agreements and international laws that are respected around the world,” he said.
“Because I want Britain to be a respected player on the global stage, not a pariah who disagrees with international law.”
Both leaders said they would work with Donald Trump if he is re-elected as US president in November.
On the cost of living, Starmer accused Sunak of being out of touch with reality and living in a “different world”. The Labor leader spoke of his own childhood in response to a question from an audience member, saying: “I do know the pain of worry when the postman brings the bill, what is the bill, can I pay it?” I don’t think the Prime Minister quite understands the situation you and others are in.
He has ruled out returning to austerity if he becomes chancellor, something Sunak has not done. Sunak insisted voters were “starting to see the benefits” of his economic policies.
Sunak said he would use private health services if a loved one was on a long waiting list for surgery. Starmer said he would not and would only rely on the NHS.
Starmer said in his closing speech that getting the Conservatives re-elected would be like “an arsonist handing back the matches”.
“I’m not going to offer you gimmicks or unfunded promises like Rishi Sunak did,” he said. “I won’t pretend there’s a magic wand that can solve all problems overnight. Instead, I propose a practical, common-sense plan to transform Britain.
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He continued: “Imagine how you feel when you wake up on July 5 and see that the Conservatives have five years left in office. Another five years of decline and division. The arsonist returns the match.
“Now imagine a Labor government rolling up its sleeves, getting back to work and making the country work for you again.”
Sunak told voters “if you think Labor will win, start saving” while defending his record on climate. He denied breaking his environmental commitments, saying: “No, we will stick to the targets we set, but we will do it in a way that saves you all your money.
“I’m not going to impose thousands of pounds on you to tear out your boiler, replace your car, retrofit your house at will.”
As the second week of campaigning draws to a close, the Conservatives appear to have done little to erode Labour’s 20-point poll lead.
Sunak is under intense pressure from his party to find a way to reverse his campaign defeat. Nigel Farage’s decision to return to the political front this week has further undermined Tory morale.
While Labor has been running a cautious, safety-first campaign, the Conservatives have made a series of policy announcements in the first two weeks, some of which they hope will appeal to voters.
So far Sunak has announced plans to introduce compulsory military service for 18-year-olds, penalize points on the driving licenses of illegal dumpers and impose annual caps on immigrant visas. His proposal for national service was ridiculed by the ITV studio audience.
Labor has unveiled a “triple lock” commitment to Britain’s nuclear weapons, pledged to reduce immigration and conduct a review of security threats facing the UK within its first 100 days in power.
Responding to Sunak’s claim that Labour’s policies would mean a tax rise of £2,000 for households, Labour’s national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden said: “Rich Sunak’s claims about Labor and tax are absolutely Untrue. Labor will not tax working people.
A Snap YouGov poll showed that 51% thought Rishi Sunak performed best in the live debate, with 49% voting for Sir Keir Starmer.
