So, what did you think of the first debate?

He isn't a public school boy, he attended Reigate Grammar School when it was a grammar, before it became private.

Sunak is considered to have narrowly won. I just found the whole thing tedious,

I’m aware of their ages.

You say that like they’re the same age. Sunak is 44, Starmer is 61.

the format did not work, 45 seconds is not enough and sunak ruined it by constantly talking over. I think starmer was trying to stick to the rules of engagement and expected Bellingham to shut him down more effectively. However sunak was so arrogant he didn’t care and just kept on and on.
I didn’t believe any of sunak’s claims. Remember, everyone loved Boris, he got a landslide victory in the last election but his premiership was a moral vacuum, followed by Liz Truss and her cataclysm of arrogant incompetence. Sunak has shown himself to be weak yet over confident. He has no idea what it is like to live in the real world where people are struggling. He hasn’t delivered on any of his promises where he pledged to be held personally accountable.
he hasn’t got nhs waiting lists down
he hasn’t stopped small boats
he hasn’t “got Rwanda done”
he just hasn’t done anything much
His “bold” policies are bizarre. Didn’t Truss justify herself by saying she was “bold”….
I’m not surprised the audience laughed at the national service plan. It’s an anachronism that no young person will accept. If he did get in it would be another massively expensive embarrassment that never gets off the ground just like the Rwanda scheme.

I despair really. It's turning into the USA where the only 2 candidates are useless. I live in NI so can't actually vote for labour or conservatives thankfully as I wouldn't be able to chose between dumb and dumber and both parties policies are clear as mud.

I felt less cringey watching sunak. I just don't see how starmer can be a PM and effective leader. If he does get in I give him a year.

I thought it was poor quality, from both. With Keir's background, I would have put money on him winning this one. Rishi interrupted so much that Keir never really got a chance to say anything, and the 45 seconds format didn't help. Keir should have addressed that £2000 tax accusation immediately. People don't want to hear how poor the Tories have been, they know that. They want to hear how Labour will change things for the better. It's tricky, because the opposition party is always on the back foot when a country is left in such a dire state. They don't know how much money is (or more likely isn't) available in the UK's coffers, and are faced with high expectations but no means of delivering it, so they end up being accused of having no ideas. But the electorate don't always understand that. Keir is actually being very honest, and cautious, but people want big ideas and change.

The thing I thought Keir won hands down was authenticity, and connecting with the people who asked the questions. He came across as genuine. Rishi has absolutely no clue what it's like to have services cut off due to not being able to pay bills, and it showed. He's never faced not being able to afford to get on the housing ladder, because he's a very rich man.

But overll, if I was a floating voter, I'd have probably written both of them off. Starmer needs to up his game considerably. The problem is, he's a nice man, not a dyed in the wool politician. Or maybe that's what people will like after 14 years of tumultuous 'characters' in charge.

Is anyone else reminded of Kenny Everett’s character Reg Prescott when Starmer speaks?

I agree but I think most of the people who are more capable leaders, recognise the absolute shit role that it is to be PM at the moment, and don't want to do it!

Yes I agree with this, sums up it up well.

Sunak was breathtakingly rude and the audience were laughing at him.
I think Starmer was trying to follow the rules but Sunak wasn't and Etchingham did a bad job of keeping him on task. She'd have been better going back to Starmer after Sunak interrupted so he could finish his point. Otherwise its just rewarding bad behaviour.

I think I'd rather read the manifestos than watch another tbh

I don’t like Labour either but they’re the lesser of two evils, so if tories get back in I’ve decided I’m relocating.

I was too tired to watch it. DS1 (politics A level exam tomorrow!) watched it and DD(14) joined him, she said they kept talking over eachother and would have better off wrestling, so I don't think she was impressed!

💯

It’s probably the same hair gel Rishi was using for the election announcement.

Sunaks got nothing to lose has he, he made Starmer look weak.

Starmer said nothing, we're not interested in his upbringing or that his telephone got cut off we simply want him to say what Labour will do/ hope to do. When you know you've got 45 seconds you make the most of that time, he just seemed to want to fill it so he didn't have to say anything of substance.

Sunak won that debate and he shouldn't have stood a chance,

Sunak is lying.

To be fair to Starmer, I think he made the point well about the NHS waiting lists.
But the format and the presenter didn't really do him any favours overall.

Slimy little liar of a man. I swear if Sunak gets back in, I will be amazed devastated. The Tories have brought this country to it's knees, Labour has a lot of rubbish to unpick if they are elected but we cannot let the Tories back in.

I only caught the first half.

Starmer wanted to talk about the government’s failings over the past 14 years, but was afraid to make promises for the future, knowing he’ll be held to them and will have to deliver them with very little money.

Sunak didn’t want to talk about the government’s record bar the last few months. But he could make bold promises for the future, presumably knowing it was highly unlikely he’d ever have to fulfil them.

It wasn’t really comparing like with like, but I don’t think either covered themselves with glory. Starmer looked more nervous, probably because he’s the frontrunner and had more to lose from a debate.

I’ve actually seen him in Court and he was a brilliant advocate. This sort of format doesn’t work well for barristers - they carefully craft and build arguments when speaking and persuade in that way. That takes time that the ITV format didn’t allow for.

You’d never guess Starmer is a barrister from that.

Agreed 😞

That was really poorly managed/moderated. Sunak was constantly talking over everyone - just rude - and Starmer seemed to keep looking at the moderator to actually start moderating!
Also, if Sunak talks about 'the plan working' anymore, I'm going to kick the telly in.
They both have good hair but Sunak needs to sort out his parting. #ImShallow

Actually he started trying to explain why it wasn’t true but the presenter shut him down and wouldn’t let him finish. It was infuriating.