Sunak, Starmer spar in first TV debate as both parties brace to contest election

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clashed in a combative TV election debate, attacking each other's records and making conflicting claims on tax, NHS, and migration policies.

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer held the first leadership TV debate on Monday evening, challenging each other on their past performances and their policies as the two parties prepare for the general election.

Right from the beginning of the debate, Sunak launched attacks on Starmer questioning how he would finance and deliver Labour’s policies such as addressing the ongoing NHS strikes. ITV’s Paul Seddon noted the performance: “The prime minister sounded like the man in opposition, challenging his Labour counterpart for answers over how he would enact his policies. ”

Starmer hit back by comparing the chaos of Liz Truss’s short time as prime minister and claiming that Sunak was ‘ashamed of the last 14 years of Tory Government’. He accused Sunak of being the “British specialist in increasing taxes” due to the policies of frozen tax bands.

Biographies were important, with both leaders often painting a picture of their background compared to the previous professions of the competitor. Sunak briefly mentioned that his parents worked in healthcare while Starmer discussed his family’s poverty background.

Another clear split was seen regarding the utilization of private healthcare when waiting for treatment via the National Health Service with Sunak stating he will go private in case of his relative’s ailment but Starmer stating, “I don’t use private health. I use the NHS. ”

Sunak continued the previous attacks that Labour would increase taxes by £2,000 per household, while Starmer called it fake “pretend Labour policies.

They also disagreed on the European Convention on Human Rights, where Sunak implied he could pull out of it on certain migration policies, while Starmer passionately supported continuing to be “a valued member of the international community.

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Starting with the debate that officially kicked off the campaign, both leaders stated their opening statements to the voters in a fiery first face-off that can be expected to be repeated many more times in the future.