New Delhi: In a heated final TV debate before the Lok Sabha elections UK general electionsBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader keir starmer By engaging in controversial talk, he has made highly personal attacks on his own credibility and that of his parties. With Labour holding a significant lead in the polls, the debate in Nottingham was Sunak’s last big chance to boost his credibility. Conservatives‘ We are considering the possibilities before the elections to be held on 4 July.
Sunak’s Conservative Party trails Labour by around 20 points. During the debate, Sunak accused Starmer of not dealing directly with the country on issues such as immigration, tax and women’s rights, and urged voters not to “surrender”. labour partyStarmer responded by describing Sunak as unable to understand the concerns of ordinary Britons. A quick YouGov poll declared the debate a tie, with both leaders on 50% support.
Personal attacks and policy disputes
The debate turned bitter when Sunak and Starmer traded 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 such as Iran, Syria and Afghanistan, asking, “Is he going to sit down with the Iranian ayatollah? Are you going to try to do a deal with the Taliban?” Starmer responded by criticising Sunak’s wealth, arguing that it had “removed” him from the concerns of ordinary Britons. During the debate, Sunak urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, while Starmer emphasised the opportunity to “turn the page” on 14 years of Conservative rule.
Betting scandal overshadows campaign
A major point of contention was a betting scandal involving a senior Conservative and a Labour candidate, which has cast a shadow over the final days of the campaign. Sunak has been battling the scandal since the start of the campaign, including criticism of his absence from a D-Day memorial event. Starmer criticised Sunak’s leadership amid the scandal, vowing to “reset politics, so that politics returns to public service”. Sunak, clearly angered by the allegations, vowed to remove those involved from the Conservative Party. The scandal has dominated headlines, distracting attention from policy discussions.
Voters’ frustration was evident
The public’s disappointment with politicians was clearly evident when a viewer asked, “Are you two really the best we have?” to loud applause. The moment underlined voters’ 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 Starmer’s strings were being pulled by senior Labour members. Despite Sunak’s efforts, polls show many voters had already made up their minds months ago.
Labor’s lead and campaign challenges
Labour has maintained a substantial lead in the polls for more than 18 months, benefiting from public fatigue with Conservative rule. Sunak has struggled to close the gap since calling an election for May 22, six months earlier than legally required. A betting scandal has further tarnished the Conservative campaign, with two candidates under investigation and a Labour candidate suspended for betting on his own defeat. Despite headline-grabbing announcements such as national service for teenagers, Sunak has failed to significantly shift public opinion. Starmer has been criticised for sticking to a script and not giving enough detail about funding public services, but he has established Labour as a stable alternative to the Conservatives.
Starmer’s cautious approach
In contrast, Starmer has pursued a cautious campaign strategy, focusing on reassuring voters that Labour will manage the economy responsibly. Emphasising the need for change, Starmer argued that the country is tired after 14 years of Conservative “chaos”, highlighting the challenges faced by families due to rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. He criticised Sunak’s detachment from ordinary Britons, saying, “Part of our problem with this prime minister is that his lived world is millions of miles away from the lived world of the individuals, businesses and families across the country he is trying to support.”
Final debate disrupted by protests
The final debate was further disrupted by noisy protests outside the venue at Nottingham Trent University. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside, their loud voices sometimes drowning out the debate. Host Mishal Husain acknowledged the disruption, saying protests are part of Britain’s democratic tradition. The uproar added to the chaotic conclusion of a series of debates in which leaders made direct appeals to voters ahead of the July 4 election.
Next week, British voters will elect MPs to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, with the leader of the majority party becoming the next prime minister. Labour’s substantial lead in the polls suggests a significant shift in power could be coming after 14 years of Conservative rule.
Sunak’s Conservative Party trails Labour by around 20 points. During the debate, Sunak accused Starmer of not dealing directly with the country on issues such as immigration, tax and women’s rights, and urged voters not to “surrender”. labour partyStarmer responded by describing Sunak as unable to understand the concerns of ordinary Britons. A quick YouGov poll declared the debate a tie, with both leaders on 50% support.
Personal attacks and policy disputes
The debate turned bitter when Sunak and Starmer traded 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 such as Iran, Syria and Afghanistan, asking, “Is he going to sit down with the Iranian ayatollah? Are you going to try to do a deal with the Taliban?” Starmer responded by criticising Sunak’s wealth, arguing that it had “removed” him from the concerns of ordinary Britons. During the debate, Sunak urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, while Starmer emphasised the opportunity to “turn the page” on 14 years of Conservative rule.
Betting scandal overshadows campaign
A major point of contention was a betting scandal involving a senior Conservative and a Labour candidate, which has cast a shadow over the final days of the campaign. Sunak has been battling the scandal since the start of the campaign, including criticism of his absence from a D-Day memorial event. Starmer criticised Sunak’s leadership amid the scandal, vowing to “reset politics, so that politics returns to public service”. Sunak, clearly angered by the allegations, vowed to remove those involved from the Conservative Party. The scandal has dominated headlines, distracting attention from policy discussions.
Voters’ frustration was evident
The public’s disappointment with politicians was clearly evident when a viewer asked, “Are you two really the best we have?” to loud applause. The moment underlined voters’ 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 Starmer’s strings were being pulled by senior Labour members. Despite Sunak’s efforts, polls show many voters had already made up their minds months ago.
Labor’s lead and campaign challenges
Labour has maintained a substantial lead in the polls for more than 18 months, benefiting from public fatigue with Conservative rule. Sunak has struggled to close the gap since calling an election for May 22, six months earlier than legally required. A betting scandal has further tarnished the Conservative campaign, with two candidates under investigation and a Labour candidate suspended for betting on his own defeat. Despite headline-grabbing announcements such as national service for teenagers, Sunak has failed to significantly shift public opinion. Starmer has been criticised for sticking to a script and not giving enough detail about funding public services, but he has established Labour as a stable alternative to the Conservatives.
Starmer’s cautious approach
In contrast, Starmer has pursued a cautious campaign strategy, focusing on reassuring voters that Labour will manage the economy responsibly. Emphasising the need for change, Starmer argued that the country is tired after 14 years of Conservative “chaos”, highlighting the challenges faced by families due to rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. He criticised Sunak’s detachment from ordinary Britons, saying, “Part of our problem with this prime minister is that his lived world is millions of miles away from the lived world of the individuals, businesses and families across the country he is trying to support.”
Final debate disrupted by protests
The final debate was further disrupted by noisy protests outside the venue at Nottingham Trent University. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside, their loud voices sometimes drowning out the debate. Host Mishal Husain acknowledged the disruption, saying protests are part of Britain’s democratic tradition. The uproar added to the chaotic conclusion of a series of debates in which leaders made direct appeals to voters ahead of the July 4 election.
Next week, British voters will elect MPs to fill all 650 seats in the House of Commons, with the leader of the majority party becoming the next prime minister. Labour’s substantial lead in the polls suggests a significant shift in power could be coming after 14 years of Conservative rule.
