In their first televised debate, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Kier Starmer fiercely debated key election issues, including taxes, the NHS, and immigration. The debate, conducted on ITV, saw a heated exchange of barbs between the two leaders.
Starmer initiated the clash by accusing Sunak of being “the most liberal prime minister we’ve ever had on immigration.” He pledged to keep the UK in the European Convention on Human Rights and criticized the Conservative government’s 14-year record, accusing Sunak of failing to take responsibility for the cost-of-living crisis and NHS failures.
Sunak responded by attacking Starmer as an “unreliable politician pursuing power for power’s sake.” He claimed that Labour’s policies would lead to a £2,000 tax increase for families. Starmer countered by accusing the Tories of producing a “fantasy figure” by presenting false Labour policies to the Treasury.
Both leaders agreed not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT, but Starmer defended his decision to introduce VAT on private schools. Sunak, on the other hand, expressed a willingness to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights if it blocked his policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Starmer defended the UK’s membership in the ECHR, emphasizing the importance of international agreements and law.
The debate showcased the differing approaches of the two parties, with Labour adopting a more cautious strategy and the Tories announcing a flurry of policy announcements in an attempt to appeal to voters. The country is set to go to the polls on July 4.
