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.

He didn't break up the gangs in Rotherham when he had the chance, he ignored it

It's always a good idea to do a teeny tiny bit of fact checking before making bold and ill informed assertions

https://fullfact.org/online/starmer-muslim-grooming-prosecution-crime/

Quite. He was abundantly clear. I want to believe posters on here just weren't following the debate but it really feels like some are actually trying to alter the reality of what happened

That was awful. Hasn't made me wanting to vote for either of them.

Rishi looked so angry. Maybe because he has more to lose. Neither came out of that well.

My vote won't be going to either of those two parties.

It’s quite terrifying isn’t it.

There’s no way am voting conservative again. They have gone barmy and need to take an extended sabbatical.

But I have an awful feeling also that Rishi is right. Labour are going to raise taxes, make everyone swap their cars and their boilers and still we will be in the shitter.

Awful all round.

Agreed. The tories have to go, but fuck me, starmer was useless for half of it. It seemed like he took 20 minutes to get warmed up and had zero strategies for how to respond to really very predictable shots from rishi.

Same. The official candidate list for my constituency will be up on 7th June, hopefully I'll feel inspired by one of them (I don't feel so at the moment!).

The shocker of the night was taxing pensioners. Thst was huge.

Also afraid of Labour tax rises, costly boiler changes and cars as well BEFORE 2030!!! We can’t afford any of that.the biggest issue is switching to air source heat pumps, they are really really expensive but also so noisy and totally inappropriate for houses and built up areas. My neighbours one makes so much racket.

Also building on the green belt wth!

No, tonight didn’t go well for Labour. I saw a different side to Sir Keir, he was quite patronising and condescending at times.

It was terrible. My stomach actually sank towards the end of it. To think that basically this is the choice we have. Even though I’m not a Labour supporter, I’ve wiped my hands of the Tories, and was half hoping Starmer would make me feel hopeful that he would be the lesser of two evils, but he actually made me feel even more despondent. He came across very weak. I think the far left zealots will be circling like a pack of hyenas - they will take over as soon as Starmer steps over the threshold of number 10 on July 4th.

I missed it. I wonder why they ask those sorts of questions - it’s irrelevant to me if Starmer’s relatives go private.

Where there is a will there is a way with the NHS.
locum covered a cardiology department and consultations increased 10 fold - they put the hours in to reduce the back log. Locum left and throughput went back down to 8 a week!
Hey in the private sector if there extra work to get done - I know it’s a miracle but you get it done!! The shock!!

Sunak: Bolshy, spoilt and out of touch
Starmer: Vague, weak and underwhelming

I can't believe these are our two big options. I know how the USA must feel now.

Neither of them are remotely fit for purpose. It would be funny if it wasn't terrifying.

I think the far left zealots will be circling like a pack of hyenas - they will take over as soon as Starmer steps over the threshold of number 10 on July 4th.

I couldn't disagree more. The Left in the Labour Party, whatever you think of them, are weaker than they've been for long time. And if you're thinking solely of gender issues, I think it's pretty obvious they don't fit into a convenient left/right template at all.

He's on record as explaining the Party's plans for that and he mentioned it tonight.

Yes it’s obvious to me too, I still have no idea what I am voting for with Labour. Starmer had the perfect opportunity to tell the whole country what he plans to do and he fudged it. Deflected the questions. Just sound bites and no actual substance at all. At one point he said we WILL have a costed plan for that. Will meaning they don’t already and the election is just 4 weeks away.

Can’t believe he said the army don’t have the ‘wherewithal’ to train young people 😱gave away his true feelings there towards the military.

Sunak was better than expected. I was expecting battle of the robots.

I don’t trust Labour not to allow the far left free rein, Starmer clearly lost the battle this week with Rayner over Abbott and I really fear a hard left government.

Just watched, and Christ would have been nice if Kier was allowed to get a word in edgeways without Rishi shouting him down every time he tried to open his gob to speak!

Keir had loads of air time but choose not to say anything and wasted it. Maybe that was the brief 🤷🏼‍♀️ just bat away the hard questions!

Practically every time he tried to speak though, Rishi butted in and over him.

Rishi is a piss-poor politician and not a particularly good speaker. If he was able to dominate Starmer (I haven't watched it, I'm only going by this thread), that's a worry for Labour.

Starmer looked like he was put on the spot too many times with his pants down. He looked incredibly uncomfortable and shifty for 95% of it. No one could watch it and feel he is especially trustworthy. Total lack of conviction or policy made him look hollow and empty handed. Not his finest moment tbh

Sunak was like a cat pouncing on all of his mistakes. It was painful to watch. I almost expected Starmer to squeak or something.

I am fed up of politicians who are good public speakers, but terrible Prime Ministers. I want a competent Prime Minister who can get britain back on track.

Just seen this comment after putting mine
Exactly, jeez he couldn't get a word in edgeways lol!
Near enough every time he tried to speak, Rishi was shouting him down by speaking over him.

And whoever is in power we need to move to electric cars and electric heat pumps.

Starmer had plenty of time but just didn’t say anything - frustrating I agree. I don’t feel reassured at all.

Umm we simply can’t afford to do that! Why do you imagine people can? Starmer is talking about before 2030!!!! So there is a fixed deadline - it’s too costly for most people to buy new cars, boilers etc. Wtaf.