Starmer and Sunak to go head-to-head in BBC debate week earlier than General Election

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will go head-to-head in a debate just a week before the country heads to polls, the BBC has announced.

It comes as the Labour leader and the PM prepare for their first televised showdown of the General Election campaign on ITV on Tuesday evening from 9pm.

The BBC said it will hold a series of events across the country, finishing with the Prime Ministerial Debate moderated by presenter Sophie Raworth on June 26. It will be just eight days before the General Election on July 4.

The broadcaster will first host a debate between representatives of the seven biggest parties, including Labour and the Tories, on Friday, hosted by Mishal Husain. There will also be a Question Time Leaders’ special on June 20 with Fiona Bruce.

Jonathan Munro, Deputy CEO of BBC News, said: “TV debates have become a key part of elections in the UK, giving voters the chance to hear leaders and senior politicians debate policies and ideas directly with each other, which rarely happens on the campaign trail.

“The BBC brings people together. Providing a shared space for people to debate and discuss is a vital part of our mission, so I’m delighted we’re holding this series of debates and election specials, hosted by such talented presenters.”

The round of TV debates comes after the Tory leader used a column in the first week of the campaign to accuse Mr Starmer of lacking the “courage” to face him in six head-to-head showdowns. Mr Starmer denied he was dodging debates, saying they are “a big part of election campaigns and there will be debates in these elections”.

He said at the time: “He [Mr Sunak] is sounding increasingly desperate, I have to say. Of course there are going to be TV debates. They are part and parcel of the election cycle now. I obviously want to spend as much of my time talking to voters directly.”