The two leading political figures in the United Kingdom election, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer have clashed on issues bordering around their manifestos in their final televised debate ahead of the polls.
The duo went head-to-head over issues from taxes, health to immigration in a debate held in the central city of Nottingham.
Read also: Why UK Tories are still heading for ‘A Pasting’ despite what PM Rishi Sunak says
The event presents the last opportunity for Sunak’s right-wing Conservatives, who are trailing Labour by about 20 points, a fighting chance in the July 4 polls.
Sunak repeatedly accused Starmer of planning tax rises and having no plan to deal with illegal immigration, in the 75-minute BBC event.
He accused Starmer of “taking people for fools” over Labour’s plans to reduce immigration.
The Labour leader in return accused Sunak, one of the country’s wealthiest men, of being “out of touch” and too rich to understand the plight of most common Britons.
The British Prime Minister urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, while Starmer stressed that the election was an opportunity for the country to “turn the page” on 14 years of Conservative government.
In a growing sign of disdain in the back and forth clash between the pair, one audience member asked: “Are you two really the best we have got?”
Read also: Britain’s Labour Party deals double blow to PM Sunak’s Conservatives
The two leaders have met at several debates and public sessions with voters, increasingly focusing on who was better suited to lead the country.
Sunak sought to hammer his Labour opponent over tax, just as he did in their first clash at the start of the campaign.
He also told the audience that under a future Labour government, “the state pension will be subject to a retirement tax”.
Starmer was more combative in his responses than in the first debate, accusing Sunak of “repeating a lie” after the PM asked the audience: “Can you afford to pay at least £2,000 more in tax?”
At other times, Sunak dominated the debate, firing questions at his Labour opponent over his stance on illegal immigration and stopping small boat crossings.
The Labour leader attacked Sunak’s plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, but was drowned out by the PM repeatedly asking: “What would you do with them?”
He then asked if Starmer was planning to make a deal with the Taliban to send back asylum seekers rejected from the UK.
With the opinion polls pointing to a Labour victory next week, the debate may have been Sunak’s final chance to turn things around before polling day and he came out fighting.
British voters are choosing 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons, and the leader of the party that secures a majority of seats, either alone or in coalition, will become prime minister.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
