British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer clashed in their final debate for the UK Elections 2024 on Wednesday before next week’s election, each delivering pointed personal critiques of the other’s and their parties’ credibility.
As Sunak’s Conservatives lag behind Labour by approximately 20 points in the polls, the prime minister launched an offensive, accusing Starmer of being dishonest with the country regarding migration, tax, and women’s rights, urging voters not to “surrender” to the Labour Party.
Starmer said Sunak was too rich to understand ordinary Britons’ concerns. A YouGov poll showed the debate was a tie, with both at 50%.
On immigration, a key issue for British voters, Sunak dismissed Starmer’s claim of sending migrants back, noting many came from Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan. He said, “Is he going to sit down with the Iranian Ayatollah? Are you going to try and do a deal with the Taliban? It’s completely nonsensical. You are taking people for fools.”
Polls show Labour’s Starmer is set to win the election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. The leaders have met in several debates, focusing on who is better suited to lead the country.
Starmer argued the country was exhausted after 14 years of Conservative “chaos” and claimed he would better understand the challenges families face under soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis. “Part of the problem we have with this prime minister is that his lived world is millions of miles away from the lived worlds of individuals across the country, the businesses, and the families that they’re trying to support,” he said.
Rishi Sunak’s campaign has faced difficulties from the start. He initiated the election in heavy rain at Downing Street and received significant criticism for not attending a D-Day memorial event. Additionally, he has had to deal with a betting scandal involving five party officials, including two candidates, who were investigated for placing bets on the timing of an early election.
Keir Starmer has also encountered criticism during public events, with voters accusing him of adhering too closely to a script and appearing robotic. They also argue that he has not provided sufficient details on how he plans to finance essential improvements to public services.
Following the TV debate, one questioner, Robert, representing many in the audience, expressed his sentiments clearly. He described Sunak as a “pretty mediocre prime minister” and suggested that Starmer might be influenced by senior figures within the Labour Party.
“Are you two really the best we’ve got to be the next prime minister of our great country?” he said to loud applause.
He later told the BBC that he had not yet made up his mind about which candidate to vote for in the upcoming election.