Starmer v Sunak – THE VERDICT: MailOnline panel say Rishi had the ‘trust factor’ but Sir Keir was ‘more relatable’… while others say bad-tempered ITV debate clash told voters NOTHING

Viewers of tonight’s crunch pre-election debate told MailOnline Rishi Sunak had the ‘trust factor’ but the Labour leader was ‘more relatable’.

The Prime Minister battled it out with Sir Keir Starmer tonight, but viewers say they weren’t ‘massively impressed’ and blasted the vague answers of Sir Keir.

Rishi Sunak took on his opposition in their first head-to-head clash since the 4 July vote was called.

The political stakes could not be higher as Mr Sunak tries to stave off a landslide that is currently projected to be even bigger than achieved by Tony Blair in 1997.

An apocalyptic poll tonight underlined the pressure on the PM, suggesting Labour is on track for the biggest majority in modern political history at 324 seats.

The pair clashed over key issues such as the economy, defence, NHS and migration in the biggest moment of the campaign so far.

After the break, host Julie Etchingham asked both leaders to stop speaking over one another after frequent interruptions throughout.

Members of the public told MailOnline they weren’t ‘massively impressed’ with either leader, but many noted that Sir Keir appeared far more relatable.

But they criticised his vague statements regarding taxes and tackling the waiting lists and industrial action plaguing the NHS.

Another slammed the PM as ‘spoilt’ by saying: ‘The super rich need to help fund the super poor. Rishi Sunak is all for the rich.’ 

And a cancer patient told MailOnline ‘the NHS is 100 per cent broken’ and believes the junior doctors need a rise because the staff are ‘absolutely run off their feet’.

However, a YouGov poll shows 51 per cent of viewers thought the PM performed best overall in tonight’s live debate, with 49 per cent voting for the Labour leader.

Lawyer Benedict Sharrock-Harris said he wasn’t ‘massively impressed’ by either of the leaders, slamming them for merely using ‘soundbites’ as answers. 

He added he is especially ‘disappointed’ with the PM not addressing the last 14 years and focusing only on attacking his opposition – going on to say he ‘failed to connect’ with viewers.

‘Keir Starmer was solid but not inspiring. Rishi Sunak came across as he’s run out of plans and all he’s got is dog whistles.’

He noted the Prime Minister’s words about how voting for any party but the Conservatives is ‘to vote for Labour’ being an obvious and pointed reference to Reform UK.

Cancer patient Denise Clarke, 59, from South London, is on universal credit after being forced to leave her Asda supermarket job having being diagnosed.

She told MailOnline: ‘All Rishi Sunak seems to think about are the taxes that Labour is going to cut, and Labour aren’t owning up to to what taxes they are going to cut.

‘If they want to tax pensioners, they need to think again. Pensioners don’t have enough money.

‘Some taxes need to be raised. I believe the super rich need to help fund the super poor because they’re not missing out. Rishi Sunak is all for the rich.’

‘I do believe the NHS is 100 per cent broken. I’ve just gone through two operations and the care I got was amazing. But those poor nurses and doctors are absolutely run off their feet.

‘I don’t think those junior doctors will get their 35 per cent but I do think they need a rise.’

She added that the Labour leader has the upper hand because the PM came across as a ‘spoilt little boy’ who doesn’t ‘need to feel what the poor feel’.

Mr Sunak warned Brits that Sir Keir will ‘raise your taxes and raid your pensions’.

He said it was a choice between him and Sir Keir for No10, insisting: ‘Beyond raising your taxes and raiding your pensions, no one knows what he will do… I have a clear plan for a more secure future for you and your family.’

Mr Sunak had to been interrupted by host Julie Etchingham as he repeatedly accused Sir Keir of plotting to hike the burden by £2,000 a year. ‘Mark my words Labour will raise your taxes,’ he said.

However, Sir Keir said he wanted to ‘turn the page’ and had a ‘practical plan’ for the country. He jibed that Mr Sunak having called the election early demonstrated that he did not believe the ‘plan was working’. ‘If he thinks that things are going to get better why has he called it now?’ Sir Keir said.

Elliot Horner, a 26-year-old business owner, laughed as he said the PM is ‘definitely feeling the pressure’ however added he made some ‘good points’ on tax.

But he said Sir Keir is ‘more relatable’ and praised his promise to increase jobs.

There were groans from the audience as Mr Sunak was challenged over NHS waiting lists, and claimed they were ‘coming down’. ‘They are coming down from when they were higher,’ he said.

Mr Sunak was targeted with more muttering from the crowd as he said the health service had been hit by ‘industrial action’. ‘So you’re blaming someone else,’ Sir Keir shot back.

NHS GP Ellie Cannon told MailOnline she doesn’t think Sir Keir was clear on how he intends to fund his plan to get rid of the waiting lists.

She slammed it as ‘gun-slinging’ with a ‘lack of concrete evidence’ on what either will do about industrial action.

Eldon Davis, 45, who owns his own IT Recruitment company, said he feels Mr Sunak is on the ‘backfoot’.

While Sir Keir seemed ‘stronger’ and showed ‘elements of empathy’, especially in terms of the NHS debate.

Final year University of Bristol medical student Jon Craven, 23, from Norfolk, secured his first job as a doctor in July, and previously voted Lib Dem in his first election.

He told MailOnline both leaders were ‘visibly irritated with one another’.

First year University of Nottingham student Roshini Jaan, 18, from West London, hopes to get future job with the United Nations, is a first time voter and intends to ‘vote Labour all the way.’ 

She applauded the promise to cut the tax break for private schools and said it was ‘unfair’ it existed in the first place. She said it is a good way to raise funds.

She added she is ‘especially concerned’ about the National Service plan and agreed with Sir Keir calling it ‘desperate’ and she thinks it’s ‘wasting a very important time’ of young people’s lives. 

Archie Parker-Goff, 21, is a third year university student renting in Bristol.

He thought Mr Sunak was far more ‘aggressive’ in an attempt to ‘unnerve’ the opposition leader, which allowed Sir Keir to come off as more ‘calm and composed’.

Archie is under the impression both leaders want to improve living standards but while Sir Keir is good for ’empathy and ideals’ he lacks detailed policies.

On climate change issues, he said it was ‘difficult’ to decide between the leaders due to the amount of figures referenced by both without quoting sources. 

The tone of the debate noticeably changed after a question about the conflict in Gaza was raised.

Sir Keir said an immediate ceasefire is needed while Mr Sunak said he hopes a deal put forward by the US is reached.

The question then turned to national security and hostilities soon resume.

After Mr Sunak said Labour couldn’t be trusted to deal with national security, Mr Starmer repeatedly muttered ‘shocking’.

The PM was mocked by the audience as he talked up his plan to reintroduce national service.

He insisted the policy is ‘bold and transformational for young people’ and said Sir Keir can only ‘sneer’ at it because he doesn’t have his own ideas.

Sir Keir countered that it is a show of desperation by Mr Sunak to put something new in front of voters.

The leaders crossed swords on immigration, with Mr Sunak arguing that Rwanda policy could help stop small boats. When Sir Keir branded it an ‘expensive gimmick’ Mr Sunak shot back: ‘You might not like it but I’ve got a plan.’ 

Mr Sunak also confirmed he is willing to take the UK out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights if required to deal with the migrant crisis. 

He said: ‘If I am forced to choose between our national security and … a foreign court I am going to choose national security every time.’ 

The move is controversial and is opposed by a lot of senior Tories on the moderate wing of the party.

The PM will be reeling from Nigel Farage‘s decision to return to the political frontline to lead Reform UK’s campaign and seek a House of Commons seat in Clacton-on-Sea.

He faced a double blow yesterday when a new YouGov poll, released shortly after Mr Farage’s dramatic announcement, showed the Tories on course for wipeout.

Mr Sunak stayed away from the campaign trail today as he focused on prepping, arriving in Manchester in casual clothes accompanied by key aides. Earlier he went to scope out the futuristic set for the clash.

Sir Keir branded Mr Sunak ‘the British expert of tax rises’ as they clashed over tax rates.

The PM hit back with the Tory claim that Labour would put up taxes by £2,000 for every family. Referencing audience member Paula who was struggling to pay her bills, the PM asked the Labour leader: ‘If people are struggling with their bills, why do you want to increase the amount they pay in tax … you name it, Labour will tax it.’

Mr Sunak insisted voters are just ‘starting to see the benefits’ of his economic measures when challenged by an audience member over the cost-of-living crisis.

The first question to the leaders came from a woman from Huddersfield saying she is struggling to make ends meet and ‘genuinely worried about my future’.

He pointed to the furlough scheme, efforts to bring down inflation and said ‘now our economy is growing again’. 

The PM was applauded when he said he would not give junior doctors a 35 per cent pay rise.

A heated exchange followed between the leaders when he challenged Sir Keir to say how he would resolve the long-running dispute.

The Labour leader replied: ‘There’s only two ways forward: one is a continuing strike, which is what we’ve had for a very, very long time – we’re now four-and-a-half weeks from election. He’s going to kick it into the long grass. 

‘Or you get grown up, you go in the room and you resolve this. That does not mean you agree with the 35 per cent, we can’t afford that.’ 

While the Labour leader may not be facing a situation as desperate as his opponent, he is also under pressure tonight. 

Sir Keir drew a laugh from the audience when he mocked Mr Sunak over his claim that NHS waiting lists are coming down.

Asked how long it would take to fix the ‘broken’ health service, the Prime Minister pointed to the damage done by the Covid-19 pandemic, acknowledged it would take time to recover ‘but we are now making progress: waiting lists are coming down’.

He drew chuckles when he responded: ‘They were 7.2 million, they’re now 7.5 million. He says they are coming down and this is the guy who says he’s good at maths.’ 

In his closing statement, Rishi Sunak appealed to voters wavering between the Tories and Reform UK. He told voters ‘you don’t know what you’d get’ if they chose Labour.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir said that re-electing the Tories would be like seeing ‘the arsonists handed back the matches’.

Sir Keir, who has faced his own difficulties with high-profile rows over Labour’s selection of candidates, was seen campaigning in the North West this morning.

But he said he is ‘looking forward’ to tonight’s TV debate. Tonight will be important for the opposition leader – often labelled as ‘dull’ – as this will be the first real impression many members of the public will have of him.

Asked how was feeling ahead of the head-to-head with Mr Sunak, the Labour leader said: ‘Very good, looking forward to the opportunity to speak directly to voters through the debate to put our case, because at the end of the day it is that clear choice, and I think voters will see that tonight.’

After announcing he is taking over from Richard Tice to lead Reform UK, Mr Farage hit headlines after an OnlyFans model threw a McDonald’s milkshake over his head.

Mr Farage, who previously dubbed Clacton the ‘most patriotic’ town in Britain, merely wiped his eyes and continued.

The incident has led to wide condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour’s Yvette Cooper who called it a ‘disgrace’ and ‘completely unacceptable and wrong’.

But Thomas-Bowen, who films her x-rated video clips in the spare bedroom of her mother’s £260,000 house in Grays, told the BBC she flung the banana milkshake because she ‘just felt like it’.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney today reiterated he should have joined Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in the ITV debate tonight.

The SNP leader told Sky News that as leader of the ‘third largest party in the United Kingdom’ he should be entitled to take part in the programme.

He said viewers needed more voices as the Labour and the Conservatives ‘agree on an awful lot of things’ including migration and fiscal restraint.

Mr Swinney added there needed to be a different voice against austerity.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey predicted tonight’s debate will be a snoozefest with viewers ‘switching off’ their TVs if they tune in to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

Speaking to the BBC, he said he has a feeling ‘people are fed up of hearing from the Conservatives’.

He said: ‘Rishi Sunak, I have to tell you, he’s had his chance and he’s messed it up. He has to go. These ideas he’s coming out with are all wrong, just very poorly thought through, so the Conservatives need to be kicked out of office.’

He recently struggled to hold back tears after revealing his fears for his disabled son in an emotional interview.   

Julie Etchingham moderated the first televised head-to-head debate between the leaders of Conservative and Labour.

The 54-year-old newsreader joined ITV in 2008 after previously working at the BBC and Sky News.

She brings plenty of experience to the format having chaired debates between David Cameron and Nigel Farage in 2016, and ITV debates in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Away from politics, Etchingham has also co-presented ITV’s coverage of major royal events such as Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle and the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021.