BIG TV DEBATE…THE VERDICTS: Etchingham was flawless as host. But Rishi, with real fire in his belly, won the day

Standing at two luminous lecterns, against a backdrop that looked like something out of The Matrix, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak And Work pretender Keir Starmer ready for the first live debate of these elections.

In suits and boots, both men’s thick hair with a smooth parting in the same direction, Sunak’s increasingly gray. The atmosphere is somber and businesslike. Thank goodness for Julie Etchingham’s cool, yet feminine pink pantsuit.

First Starmer, that now familiar nasal tone: ‘Change, me, plan.’ Sunak: ‘Safety, me, plan.’ The audience looked stern.

TV Spotlight: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer with ITV’s Julie Etchingham

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had fire in his belly

First question: cost of living.

Paula paints a bleak picture of her financial problems. Sunak on familiar ground, set his record: My plan is working: taxes would rise by £2,000 for every person under Labour.

Starmer’s response was more emotional, reaching out to the audience, empathetic and challenging the conservative record.

Sunak is bullish – he is pushing his agenda hard, perhaps a little too hard. He reminds us all of the leave and underlines his role in helping people. Yes, Etchingham answers, but what are you going to do about Paula’s situation?

Starmer returns to remind the audience of his own family’s financial struggles as a young man – separating his own experiences from Sunak’s. Classic class war.

Then Janet, a cancer patient from Telford. Is the NHS broken?

Starmer first, who neatly reminds us of his wife’s involvement in the NHS. So it’s personal. Sunak talks to his GP and pharmacist mother, acknowledges the problems and mentions the doctor’s strikes.

Starmer was mocking, Sunak defensive, pointing out that the doctors’ union is demanding a 35 percent pay rise, which he will not pay.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer

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

Starmer, somewhat on the wrong foot, resorts to jokes Liz Truss. Then a great question from Etchingham: would any of the leaders use private healthcare? Sunak, yes; Starmer, no. The first clear dividing line.

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

Rishi short and clear: yes, already budgeted, on the train. The same goes for Starmer, it will be in the manifesto. Sunak attacks again on taxes, but Etchingham politely but very firmly reins him in.

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

Sunak is not deterred and is once again going hard on taxes. Etchingham asks an important question: If neither of you raise taxes, where will the money come from?

Starmer gets some applause for saying he will scrap non-dom status – Sunak points out he has already done so. Adds that pensioners will pay tax for the first time under Starmer. 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 this is a good idea). Going into the break Sunak was slicker, clearer, more focused, a clear win.

After the break, it immediately turns to one of the most controversial issues in these elections: immigration. Sunak firm and confident: stick to our plan. Starmer attacks the Prime Minister on net migration and small boat crossings: ‘That’s him made a promise and failed to keep it.”

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

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

A pattern is now emerging: Sunak, despite his poor ratings, has a real fire in his belly. He is aware of all issues, ready to make difficult decisions. Starmer a little slower, irritable, slightly hectoring in the familiar legal manner.

He shook his head a lot, more disappointed than angry. Perhaps he expected an easier ride, going into this with the poll advantage. But he didn’t understand, especially when Sunak pointed out his record on behalf of the banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir; Starmer glosses over that.

This was a spirited debate, expertly moderated by Etchingham, who managed to steer the conversation with grace and impeccable professionalism.

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

WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

Rishi was determined, quick-witted and feisty

by STEPHEN GLOVER

Rishi Sunak came by last night ITV debate a bit in the mouth. Nigel Farage had come out of the woodwork and threatened to take votes away from the votes Tories. Yet another poll predicts a landslide within Labour.

But if the Prime Minister felt depressed, he did not show it. When he curses himself for calling the election earlier than necessary, there were no signs.

The question was whether Sir Keir Starmer – who looked somewhat nervous to begin with – would break his habit of not announcing Labour’s plans. He didn’t. He delved into his familiar playbook and accused the Tories of ‘chaos’ and loss of control.

The Labor leader reminded us, as usual, that his mother was a nurse and his father a toolmaker. The Starmer family’s telephone was once disconnected. His suggestion that Rishi was out of touch was met with a reminder from the Prime Minister that his father was a GP.

Mr Sunak was more specific about the future policy – ​​the ‘future’ was a word he kept repeating, perhaps because he is less proud of the past than he could be. The Tories would cut taxes, protect pensions and reduce immigration.

Rishi was excited, the Labor leader was firm. The Prime Minister came about as determined and more quicker-witted than Sir Keir, the clumsy lawyer.

I doubt many minds have changed. There was no knockout. But Rishi was sharper and his spirited performance will have been an encouragement to the Tory base – and to Rishi himself. He was the clear winner.

WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

Keir brought in charm, humanity and empathy

by DAN HODGES

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

After the first question the evening was effectively over. Paula asked a question about 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 humanity and empathized directly with her plight.

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

The Prime Minister had his moments. When he pressed Keir on how he would actually resolve the NHS strikes, he ended up backing down the Labor leader. But then he promptly left the high ground by consistently interrupting Starmer’s responses. ‘How!!!’ he shouted petulantly, and at that moment Starmer looked more like a prime minister than he did.

Tory strategists will be pleased that Sunak stuck to his position on the risk of tax rises on labour. But this was neutralized when moderator Julie Etchingham asked both men to raise their hands if their tax policies differed. He didn’t either.

Rishi Sunak was in desperate need of a game changer. He didn’t get it.

WINNER: KEIR STARMER