Tonight's TV debate Sunak v Starmer - any predictions?

[CallingOccupantsOfInterplanetaryCraft]

Anyone up for a watch thread? Maybe even debate bingo. I know I know, don't threaten me with a good time. (Bingo suggestions: natural party of business, Labour has no plan, end the chaos, Rayner will take over, assorted references to Starmer's time as DPP probably blaming for Jimmy Saville again, inflation is down etc etc.)

At this point I seriously doubt anything like this will remotely change the game Nick Clegg style. I read somewhere the only way Sunak could come out of this ahead in the polls is if Starmer pulled off a mask scooby-doo style to reveal he's Jeremy Corbyn, which admittedly would be great telly.

I'm so fed up with the endless rhetoric but will definitely watch later anyway.

YouGov is correct!

Overall, I thought it was a very poorly moderated debate and I didn’t like the format. Too short for decent answers and they were constantly getting cut off when they finally started getting round to their points.

I don’t think Etchingham did a great job on moderating either. As a teacher, it gave me the same vibe as observing a struggling trainee teacher teaching a difficult year 9 class.

Watching Ed Davey being interviewed now really highlights how poor the format was.

I disagree . I've always intended to vote Labour but they damn well need a new Leader . Sunak cam across so much better .

Hard to know really.

I live in an affluent part of London and the private schools are struggling - particularly at prep school level.

Increasingly people can’t afford them anyway - they are vastly more expensive than 10-20 years ago.

as has been done to death on many, many threads, it will be a large enough influx to make a difference, yes.

not everyone who sends their children to private school is “mega rich” and can absorb.

No taxation system is loophole free.

Yougov is also saying he is going to catastrophically lose the GE! So Starmer can afford this loss.

It’ll be enough to make the policy a net loser for taxpayers.

You also have to consider the loss of income tax from those who can no longer afford PS.

Nobody is going to pay up to 62% margin tax rates to earn money they no longer have a need for. At best they’ll put it in a pension but that still removes all the income tax.

Families where the 2nd parent works to fund the fees will stop doing that as no point struggling logistically with time off for school hols etc when the reason for you working no longer exists.

Labour know this but can’t admit that the policy is not really an economic one as it makes their motives look bad.

The format doesn’t lend itself well to explaining policies. 45 seconds isn’t long enough to properly explain. I personally thought Starmer did a reasonable job considering Sunak was allowed to shout over him and interrupt - the host seemed to be allowing Sunak more time to speak and interrupt (or just couldn’t shut up the shouting). I don’t think she was very good, but Sunak was arrogant and rude. I really hope people don’t vote for the same shite had to put up for the last 14 years. Starmer for me is more considered and sensible. I want sensible - look at the bloody mess Boris caused. I don’t want a big personality.

Yes, I would agree with this.
I like Etchingham but had similar issues with her last time she hosted these debates - although I think it's the format rather than her.

Those figures have a sense of deja vu. If it was that close, it’s basically a draw.

Yes, but we can't make an informed decision if he won't tell us what's on the agenda come July 5th.

Neither party has launched its manifesto yet.

I'm not convinced the hysteria is needed. My children go to private school and none of the parents I know are thinking of moving their children. A little bit of belt tightening perhaps but judging by the line of cars at the school gate (and this is a fairly ordinary private school) there is plenty of spare cash.

also the local state schools near here are actually advertising on Facebook that they have spaces (and these are Ofsted outstanding schools)

You need to wait for a little thing called a manifesto! The Tories haven't released theirs yet either.

YouGov also currently says KS is more trustworthy, more likeable AND more in touch with ordinary people!

Only being allowed 45 seconds played better for Sunak than Starmer as his message was clear the £2000 and we have a plan

I thought Starmer came out better he looks ready to be PM. Sunak was better than I expected

But I don’t think it shall make much difference I hope of anything the Tory’s have clawed back some voters from Reform

My children go to private school and many parents will move. It totally depends.

Sunak 'I offer 2 years of forced volunteering for teens, forced removal of 1000's of vulnerable people to a country still recovering from mass genocide whilst simultaneously removing every UK citizens protection under the International Court of Human Rights (both things will cost billions that I haven't accounted for). Fascist words, fascist words'.

They won’t announce it but many will have quietly got places at the local outstanding schools before others do. A bit like ‘not tutoring for the 11+’ When a school loses critical mass of pupils it can’t carry on and everyone is then forced to change. Numbers are down 8% yoy already.

Sunak was arrogant and rude, just like he was the last time he did a debate like this.

Minor damage for Starmer, nothing to meaningfully move the dial. Poor host.

Hats off to Lady Starmer tho - imaging asking Sir Keir what he’d like for tea and expecting a straight answer 😂

But at least people know what they are getting

Errr what, I mean other than remind people how they derided their position in public office to such a degree they ignored their own rules. The harshest intervention of government in people's everyday lives since ww2, and they were so arrogant, and believe themselves so above the rest of the British public, that they organised bring your own booze parties while people were dying in their thousands per day. No I suppose that has no bearing on the future and the ability of this party to govern whatsoever 🤦‍♀️