Tories’ Mordaunt locks horns with Labour’s Rayner in ITV debate
Tory minister Penny Mordaunt, Labour‘s Angela Rayner and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage clashed in another TV general election debate tonight.
The senior politicians engaged in a second live on-air bout – six days after they staged heated exchanges in a seven-way BBC debate.
They were among leading figures from the seven main UK parties appearing on a 90-minute ITV programme this evening.
Also appearing were the Liberal Democrat‘s Daisy Cooper, SNP‘s Stephen Flynn, Green Party’s Carla Denyer, and Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Mr Farage – who was judged to have won last week’s BBC debate by viewers – risked a sexism row when he suggested the heated exchanges between the Ms Mordaunt and Ms Rayner represented a ‘catfight’.
Tory minister Penny Mordaunt , Labour ‘s Angela Rayner and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage clashed in another TV general election debate tonight
Speaking ahead of tonight’s debate, Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign coordinator, said: ‘Today we launched our manifesto with a stronger economy and more wealth creation throughout the country at its heart.
‘It is practical and costed plan for change which will make a real and positive difference to people’s lives and a big contrast to the latest recipe for more chaos published by the Tories on Tuesday.
‘In tonight’s debate, Angela Rayner will make Labour’s case for change and reach out to the public to turn the page on the Tory years.’
The latest seven-way debate came after Sir Keir Starmer launched Labour ‘s election manifesto earlier on Thursday.
The Labour leader warned there would be ‘no quick fix’ if he is handed the keys to No10 by voters on 4 July, following 14 years of Tory ‘chaos’
Despite launching a manifesto which contained no new policy announcements, Sir Keir denied he was being overly cautious ahead of polling day.
The party’s manifesto focused on a goal of generating economic growth and making Labour the ‘party of wealth creation’.
But Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Labour plan – whch included plans to raise £7 billion in taxes – would result in ‘the highest taxes in history’.
Sir Keir was challenged about the lack of eye-catching new policies and whether he was being careful to do nothing that might dent his poll lead – the so-called ‘Ming vase’ strategy.
Acknowledging the absence of a ‘rabbit out of the hat’ in the policy document, Sir Keir said: ‘If you want politics as pantomime, I hear Clacton is nice this time of year.’
The Essex seat is where Mr Farage is campaigning to become an MP.
Asked whether it was a ‘Captain Caution’ manifesto, he said: ‘It is a serious plan for the future of our country.’
He added: ‘I’m not going to do what Rishi Sunak does, which is offer things that he can’t deliver because they’re unfunded.
‘People have had too much of that, they’re fed up with that.’
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt attacked the plans, labelling it a ‘tax trap manifesto’.
‘Under Labour’s published plans, taxes will rise to levels never before seen in this country,’ he said, before claiming that further hikes could be needed.
‘They are refusing to rule out taxing your job, your home, your pension, your car, your business and they think they can get away with it without anyone holding them to account.
‘Be under no illusion, from cradle to grave you will pay more taxes under Labour.’
