Mum who cannot afford to make use of oven stuns Rishi Sunak with first debate query

A mum has told Rishi Sunak she can’t afford to turn her oven on as she confronted the PM over the soaring cost of living.

During an often bad-tempered ITV debate, the PM was told how bad things were by audience member Paula from Huddersfield. She told him: “In the last few years I’ve found it hard to make ends meet. All I do is work to live.”

She went on: “My savings are gone and I’m genuinely worried about my future. I don’t think you actually understand how this is for people like me.” Paula said she’s been unable to use her oven because of soaring energy costs, demanding: “ So what can you do about that?”

A clearly-flustered Mr Sunak gave a stuttering answer referencing the furlough scheme and falling inflation. But Keir Starmer said the Government had “lost control” of the economy, with people like Paula paying the cost.

The PM said: “I know how much of a strain the last few years have put on family finances. And that’s why my priority has always been to do what I can to support you. That started with bold action, like the furlough scheme during the pandemic, and more recently, my clear plan to bring inflation back to normal.”

Mr Starmer told Paula: “There’ll be millions of people watching this who feel in a similar position to you that the cost of living is really bearing down on them with constant worry.” He said that the invasion of Ukraine and Covid had had an impact, but went on: “This government has lost control. Liz Truss crashed the economy. They made it worse here than in other countries. It’s people like you that are paying the price.”

Mr Starmer said: “There will be millions watching this who feel the cost of living crisis bearing down on them.” He said the Government has “lost control” with “people like you paying the price”.

Warning that inflation is likely to go up and energy bills rise in the autumn, Mr Starmer said: “If he things are going to get better why has he called an election now?” He went on: “I don’t think he believes the plan is working because he thought the plan is working he wouldn’t call an election right now.”

He dismissed Mr Sunak as “the British expert in tax rises”. Addressing Paula’s concerns Mr Sunak pointed to his work during the pandemic. “When disaster struck our country I implemented the furlough scheme,” the PM said.

Shortly before the debate began, The Mirror revealed the Tories are currently leading in just 54 seats across the country – and are likely to win just 71 in the General Election.

It came during a blistering opening exchange during which Mr Sunak was also told the state of the NHS is “unforgivable” as a bereaved cancer survivor said the NHS is “broken”.

The PM and Labour leader Keir Starmer are going head-to-head in a General Election debate on ITV. The often bad-tempered clash follows two humiliating mega-polls which suggest the Tories are in for a hiding on July 4.

Cancer survivor Janet, from Telford, told the leaders: “No one is brave enough to tell us the truth. The NHS is broken. Be honest, how long will it take to fix it?” She revealed she’d lost her cousin while waiting for treatment.

Mr Starmer said: “You can see how angry I am that it’s been broken. It’s unforgivable what they’d done to the NHS.” Mr Sunak meekly claimed that waiting lists were going down – but the Labour leader pointed out that they had risen in the past 18 months since the PM pledged to bring them down.

The mega-poll found Mr Sunak’s party is trailing by less than 10% in 131 seats. That’s according to MRP polling by Survation for Best for Britain. It means any narrowing of the polls in the remaining four weeks of the campaign could be the difference between the Tories losing – and being wiped out almost entirely.

The mega poll of 30,044 people projects Labour will win a mammoth 487 seats, with the Lib Dems in third place on 43. All of the polling was carried out before Nigel Farage confirmed he would stand for election and resume leadership of Reform UK – which could cause an even bigger headache for the Conservatives. There are 68 seats where the Conservatives are less than 5% behind either the Labour, Lib Dem or SNP front runner. In a further 63 they trail by less than 10%.

The under-fire PM will need an unprecedented turnaround if he’s going to keep his job as his party faces a historic wipeout. A seperate mega-poll by YouGov says the party could be left with just 140 seats after July 4 – having won a massive 365 in 2019.

Mr Starmer is expected to sweep into Downing Street with a majority of 194, pollsters predict. Even Reform UK chief Nigel Farage said the contest is “over” and a Labour Government is inevitable. The Prime Minister needs nothing less than a knock-out blow against Starmer to revive his campaign. Sunak drafted in TV debate coach Graham Davies on a £110,000 taxpayer-funded contract to train ministers.