Evening summary
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have clashed over their responses to the Westminster gambling scandal, as it emerged the Metropolitan police is to widen its role in the investigation into bets placed on the general election. As Jessica Elgot and Pippa Crerar report, in the last head-to-head debate before voters go to the polls, the Labour leader launched a fierce attack on the culture at the top of the Conservative party, saying it showed the “wrong instinct” to place bets on the future of the country – likening it to the cavalier attitude to Covid rules. In the angry exchanges, Sunak repeatedly urged the country not to “surrender” to Labour’s plans on tax and migration and said the general election should not be decided purely based on frustration with the Conservatives. Here is Jessica and Pippa’s full story.
Here is Eleni Courea’s article on five things we’ve learned from the debate.
And here is John Crace’s sketch.
Debate verdict from commentariat on X
And this is what some journalists and commenators are saying about the debate.
From Lucy Fisher from the Financial Times
Well, that was Sunak unleashed tonight
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) June 26, 2024
Which prompts the obvious question... where was that sense of fight before now?!
I suspect his team will be thrilled with his performance, but one week out from polling day feels far too late to shift the narrative in any significant way
Well, that was Sunak unleashed tonight
Which prompts the obvious question... where was that sense of fight before now?!
I suspect his team will be thrilled with his performance, but one week out from polling day feels far too late to shift the narrative in any significant way
From Lewis Goodall from the News Agents podcast
Similar feel to the first debate. Starmer often quite slow off the mark to make his points. Sunak more spirited to the point of aggression. If he and the Conservatives hadn’t made so many unforced errors in the campaign it might have mattered. As it is it probably won’t.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) June 26, 2024
Similar feel to the first debate. Starmer often quite slow off the mark to make his points. Sunak more spirited to the point of aggression. If he and the Conservatives hadn’t made so many unforced errors in the campaign it might have mattered. As it is it probably won’t.
From Robert Shrimsley from the FT
If Sunak had been able to be this guy all through the campaign the Tories might not be in quite so much trouble. They’d still lose but not in the way we are now discussing.
— robert shrimsley (@robertshrimsley) June 26, 2024
If Sunak had been able to be this guy all through the campaign the Tories might not be in quite so much trouble. They’d still lose but not in the way we are now discussing.
From George Eaton from the New Statesman
Sunak has channelled the ghost of Ian Paisley tonight: “No surrender”.
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) June 26, 2024
Sunak has channelled the ghost of Ian Paisley tonight: “No surrender”.
Starmer truly resembled someone carrying a Ming vase tonight; Sunak was simply intent on throwing it at him. https://t.co/1xZ0AzOeZk
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) June 26, 2024
Starmer truly resembled someone carrying a Ming vase tonight; Sunak was simply intent on throwing it at him. https://t.co/1xZ0AzOeZk
From Lizzy Buchan from the Mirror
Not sure about the “do not surrender" to Labour line that Rishi Sunak is so keen on tonight. Bit patronising to voters?
— Lizzy Buchan (@LizzyBuchan) June 26, 2024
Not sure about the “do not surrender” to Labour line that Rishi Sunak is so keen on tonight. Bit patronising to voters?
From Christopher Hope from GB News
Rishi Sunak's use of the word "surrender" is interesting on "tax rises", cutting welfare and the border. "Don't surrender," Sunak keeps saying. An appeal to Reform UK supporters not to give up on the Tories?
— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) June 26, 2024
Rishi Sunak’s use of the word “surrender” is interesting on “tax rises”, cutting welfare and the border. “Don’t surrender,” Sunak keeps saying. An appeal to Reform UK supporters not to give up on the Tories?
From Paul Brand from ITV
This “do not surrender” line that Sunak has used at least a dozen lines is interesting. They’ve obviously tried to work out a line that sounds like a positive, active, even defiant action for voters, in an election where nobody feels massively motivated.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) June 26, 2024
This “do not surrender” line that Sunak has used at least a dozen lines is interesting. They’ve obviously tried to work out a line that sounds like a positive, active, even defiant action for voters, in an election where nobody feels massively motivated.
Sunak has clearly decided to leave everything on the debating floor tonight. As I said recently on @GMB you have to give him credit for fighting hard and never giving up. A lot of people would be feeling pretty wounded after the few weeks he’s had.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) June 26, 2024
Sunak has clearly decided to leave everything on the debating floor tonight. As I said recently on @GMB you have to give him credit for fighting hard and never giving up. A lot of people would be feeling pretty wounded after the few weeks he’s had.
From James Ball from the New European
As with the first debate, Sunak needed a big cut through moment and didn’t get it. Starmer just needed to have no horror show moments, and did. 50/50 as an on-the-night verdict is frankly a bonus for Labour. https://t.co/8Cbx45VvBO
— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) June 26, 2024
As with the first debate, Sunak needed a big cut through moment and didn’t get it. Starmer just needed to have no horror show moments, and did. 50/50 as an on-the-night verdict is frankly a bonus for Labour.
From Stephen Bush from the FT
The central problem with this format is that it allows two politicians who are not being straight with us about tax-and-spend to keep doing it, because no-one can intervene and go 'but the IFS says you're both full of it, doesn't it?' in an effective way: https://t.co/97E3A2BogJ
— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) June 26, 2024
The central problem with this format is that it allows two politicians who are not being straight with us about tax-and-spend to keep doing it, because no-one can intervene and go ‘but the IFS says you’re both full of it, doesn’t it?’ in an effective way:
From Harry Cole from the Sun
YouGov debate snap poll: 50% say Starmer won, 50% say Sunak won
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) June 26, 2024
Given Sunak is 20 points behind nationally.. that's quite a feat.
And don't forget YouGov also have 52 disapproval rating for Starmer....
Astonishing stat for someone heading for large majority.
YouGov debate snap poll: 50% say Starmer won, 50% say Sunak won
Given Sunak is 20 points behind nationally.. that’s quite a feat.
And don’t forget YouGov also have 52 disapproval rating for Starmer....
Astonishing stat for someone heading for large majority.
From Michael Savage from the Observer
The extent to which Sunak is dominating this so far is quite striking. It all hangs on what people watching actually make of that approach.
— Michael Savage (@michaelsavage) June 26, 2024
The extent to which Sunak is dominating this so far is quite striking. It all hangs on what people watching actually make of that approach.
From Kate McCann from Times Radio
This debate format isn't currently working for Keir Starmer. He's better when given time to make a logical coherent argument, not so good when confronted with constant barbs from Rishi Sunak (who has very little to lose, so doesn't much care if he comes across as snippy)
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) June 26, 2024
This debate format isn’t currently working for Keir Starmer. He’s better when given time to make a logical coherent argument, not so good when confronted with constant barbs from Rishi Sunak (who has very little to lose, so doesn’t much care if he comes across as snippy)
From Peter Walker from the Guardian
That rather unsavoury small boats exchange on the BBC election debate illustrated what is essentially the entire point of the Rwanda deportation scheme: to give the government a way to say, ‘We have a plan!’ even when they know it’s not actually a plan, more of a slogan.
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) June 26, 2024
That rather unsavoury small boats exchange on the BBC election debate illustrated what is essentially the entire point of the Rwanda deportation scheme: to give the government a way to say, ‘We have a plan!’ even when they know it’s not actually a plan, more of a slogan.
From Sam Freedman for Prospect
Sunak is the most unpopular party leader in history with a week to go before an election. It doesn't make the blindest bit of difference how he does in a debate.
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) June 26, 2024
Sunak is the most unpopular party leader in history with a week to go before an election. It doesn’t make the blindest bit of difference how he does in a debate.
It's genuinely astonishing that we're getting "that was a good debate for Sunak" takes given the polls today. It's likely complimenting someone on their shirt while they're having a heart attack.
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) June 26, 2024
It’s genuinely astonishing that we’re getting “that was a good debate for Sunak” takes given the polls today. It’s likely complimenting someone on their shirt while they’re having a heart attack.
