BIG TV DEBATE…THE VERDICTS: Fiery Rishi received the day, says Sarah Vine

Standing at two luminous lecterns, against a backdrop that looked like something out of The Matrix, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour pretender Keir Starmer squared up for the first live debate of this election.

Both suited and booted, both men’s thick heads of hair slickly parted in the same direction, Sunak’s increasingly streaked with grey. The atmosphere sombre and business-like. Thank God for Julie Etchingham’s tough-but-feminine pink trouser-suit.

Starmer first, that now familiar nasal twang: ‘Change, me, plan.’ Sunak: ‘Security, me, plan.’ The audience looked stern.

First question: cost of living.

Paula painting a bleak picture of her financial difficulties. Sunak on familiar territory, setting out his record: my plan is working, taxes would go up by £2,000 for every ­person under Labour.

Starmer’s response more ­emotional, reaching out to the audience, empathising, challenging the Conservative record.

Sunak bullish – pushing his agenda firmly, perhaps a little too firmly. Reminding us all about furlough, underlining his part in helping ­people. Yes, Etchingham counters, but what are you going to do about Paula’s situation?

Starmer coming back in, ­reminding the audience of his own family’s financial troubles as a young man – separating his own experience from Sunak’s. Classic class warfare.

Next up, Janet, a cancer sufferer from Telford. Is the NHS broken?

Starmer first, neatly reminding us of his wife’s involvement in the NHS. So it’s personal. Sunak counters with his GP and pharmacist mum, acknowledges the difficulties, mentions the doctor’s strikes.

Starmer mocking, Sunak defensive, pointing out that the doctors’ union are demanding a 35 per cent pay rise, which he won’t pay.

The first round of applause in the studio; Sunak plays his advantage hard: what would Starmer do differently?

Starmer slightly wrong-footed, resorts to joke about Liz Truss. Then a great ­question from Etchingham: would either of the leaders use private health? Sunak, yes; Starmer, no. The first clear dividing line.

Next issue: social care. Will it be fully funded?

Rishi concise and clear: yes, already costed, in train. Starmer same, it will be in the manifesto. Sunak attacks on tax again, but Etchingham reins him in, politely but very firmly.

On to education, a hot potato thanks to Starmer’s plans to add VAT to private schools. Waffle from him, sharp question from Etchingham about the VAT, second round of applause for his explanation.

Sunak, undeterred, going back in hard on taxes. Etchingham posing an important question: if neither of you are raising taxes, where is the money coming from?

Starmer gets some applause for saying he will scrap non-dom status – Sunak pointing out he’s already done that. Adds that for the first time, under Starmer, pensioners will pay tax. Challenges Starmer directly on that – and he fudges, badly.

Sunak clear and authoritative; Starmer randomly brings up Truss again (he’s clearly been told by his team that’s a good idea). Going into the break, Sunak slicker, clearer, more focused, a clear win.

After the break, it’s straight onto one of the most contentious issues in this election: immigration. Sunak firm and confident: stick to our plan. Starmer attacks the Prime Minister on net migration and small boat crossings: ‘He’s made a promise and he’s failed to keep it.’

But, once again, Sunak turns the attack back on Starmer: what would he do?

Smash the gangs, says Starmer, to enthusiastic applause. But Sunak points out that he voted against Conservative plans in parliament to do just that. Ah.

By now a pattern is emerging: Sunak, despite his terrible ratings, has real fire in his belly. He’s across his brief, on top of all issues, prepared to make tough decisions. Starmer slightly slower, testy, somewhat hectoring in that familiar lawyerly fashion.

Much shaking of his head in a more disappointed than angry sort of a way. Perhaps he expected an easier ride, going into this with the poll advantage. But he did not get it, certainly not when Sunak pointed out his record working on behalf of banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir; Starmer glossing over that.

This was a punchy debate, hosted expertly by Etchingham, who managed to steer the conversation with grace and flawless professionalism.

A winner? Unexpectedly, Sunak. He may not be top of the polls, but judging by this performance, he’s not quite finished yet.

 WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

Rishi was determined, quick-witted and feisty

by STEPHEN GLOVER 

Rishi Sunak came to last night’s ITV debate a bit down in the mouth. Nigel Farage had popped out of the woodwork, threatening to snatch votes from the Tories. Yet another poll envisages a Labour landslide.

But if the Prime Minister felt depressed, he didn’t show it. If he’s cursing himself for calling the election earlier than he needed to, there were no signs.

The question was whether Sir Keir Starmer – who looked slightly nervous to start with – would break his habit of not revealing Labour’s plans. He didn’t. He dug into his trusty playbook, blaming the Tories for ‘chaos’ and for losing control.

The Labour leader reminded us, as usual, that his mother was a nurse and his father a toolmaker. The Starmer family had once had their telephone cut off. His suggestion that Rishi was out of touch was met with a reminder from the PM that his father was a GP.

Mr Sunak was more specific about future policies – the ‘future’ was a word he kept repeating, perhaps because he’s less proud of the past than he might be. The Tories would cut tax, protect pensions and reduce immigration.

Rishi was fired up, the Labour leader stolid. The Prime Minister came across as determined and more quick-witted than Sir Keir, the ponderous barrister.

I doubt many minds were changed. There was no knockout. But Rishi was sharper and his feisty performance will have given encouragement to the Tory rank-and-file – and Rishi himself. He was the clear winner.

 WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

 

Keir turned on charm, humanity and empathy

by DAN HODGES 

This debate was billed as Rishi Sunak’s last chance to save the election. He failed.

The evening was effectively over after the first question. Paula asked a question detailing the human reality of the cost of living crisis.

The Prime Minister gave a polished but robotic response attacking Labour’s plan for tax rises. But Keir Starmer turned on the charm, and the humanity, empathising directly with her plight.

It only got worse for Sunak. The second question was about NHS waiting lists. The PM tried to claim they were coming down on his watch. Starmer, to laughs from the audience, pointed out they had risen under the Tories. Sunak insisted they were coming down from the point at which they were highest. The audience groaned.

The PM had his moments. When pushing Keir on how he would actually solve the NHS strikes, he finally got Labour’s leader on the back foot. But then he promptly vacated the high ground by consistently interrupting Starmer’s responses. ‘How!!!’ he shouted petulantly, and at that moment made Starmer look more like a prime minister than he did.

Tory strategists will be pleased that Sunak stuck to his line about the risk of Labour tax increases. But this was neutralised when moderator Julie Etchingham asked both men to put up their hand if their tax policies differed. Neither did.

Rishi Sunak desperately needed a game changer. He didn’t get it.

 WINNER: KEIR STARMER