Public suppose Keir Starmer gained debate in opposition to Rishi Sunak, in a single day ballot finds

Keir Starmer edged out Rishi Sunak in the first TV head-to-head of the General Election campaign, an overnight poll found.

Mr Starmer and the PM traded blows in the ITV debate, which saw the PM laughed at as he made bold claims about National Service and NHS waiting times. The under-pressure Prime Minister, reeling after two mega-polls suggested the Tories face wipeout on July 4, really needed a game-changer.

But according to Savanta, 44% of viewers thought Mr Starmer had come out on top. That was 5% up on Mr Sunak, who 39% believe had won. The poll of 1,153 adults found nearly one in five viewers (17%) couldn’t pick a winner.

Savanta found Sir Keir trounced Mr Sunak on the NHS and public services – 63% to 25% – on the economy by 52% to 36%, and defence and security 43% to 41%. The firm also found Mr Starmer “came across as most honest”, by a margin of 54% to 29% for Mr Sunak. Viewers also felt the Labour leader “remained the calmest” 51% to 36% for the Conservative Prime Minister.

Following last night’s often ill-tempered clash, Labour Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth said: “I think Rishi Sunak looked desperate, he looked desperate and weak tonight. And he is desperate, isn’t he? He’s desperate and weak and I think that’s what came across tonight.”

On a tricky night for the Prime Minister, Mr Sunak was confronted by a mum who said she couldn’t use her oven because of rising energy bills. He was also challenged by a bereaved cancer survivor who said the NHS is broken.

And the Prime Minister was also forced to concede the Government needs to do more to support young people after an audience member asked him: “ What future can you offer my generation, and when will we become your priority? “

Mr Sunak was met with laughter as he claimed his controversial National Service plan – which Mr Starmer branded “desperate” – would be transformational. The Savanta poll came after an on-the-whistle YouGov survey found 51% thought the PM had done better. But Mr Ashworth hit back: “There will be lots of opinion polls in the election campaign and the only poll that matters is election day.

“But we are pleased tonight. We think Keir leaves, and the Labour Party leaves, Manchester stronger than when we arrived because Keir tonight talked about our plan for the National Health Service, he talked about our plan to cut energy bills for good, to create good, well-paid jobs.

“He talked about our plan to give every child the best start with more teachers in our schools. And actually, all we saw tonight was a desperate, chaotic response from Rishi Sunak lying – lying about Labour’s plans because they know they’ve got nothing left in their locker.”

This wasn’t echoed by Cabinet member Michael Gove – who is stepping down at this election. Mr Gove brazenly said: “I very much enjoyed that debate. Six-nil victory.” The veteran Tory minister added: ” Keir Starmer was flat on the canvas at the end of that.”

The Tories were rocked by a YouGov poll on Monday which found they could be reduced to 140 seats, less than half the 365 they won in 2019. And MRP polling by Survation for Best for Britain suggested they could do even worse – getting just 71.