Next PM: Live debate

[PearlClutch]

Anyone watching?

They've all sounded surprisingly reasonable so far.

So channel 4 bottled the Trans issue!! Shocker

KGM said they were 'floating voters'

Ok fair enough

Actually I think that was quite effective from KG. I was cross when he initially referred to opponents having done ‘a hit job’ on PM. However he then picked the issue up directly. Asking Kemi and then passing to Liz, who essentially confirmed the policy under PM had been self-id, showed PM as a teller of big fat porkies.

Like what Liz Truss is saying about keeping tax low and paying back over long term. I watched a really good documentary about the need for governments to put money in to build economic growth, and the tories lied back when the economy crashed.

I'll see if I can find the link.

I do think this is a solid debate. I think PM is flimsy and unconvincing, and Kemi was really good on using the argument between Truss and Sunak to illustrate the issues facing the govt.

PM says she won't cut tax, RS points out her VAT on petrol is costed at many billions ... I am a bit confused. She's a bullshitter, I don't trust what she's saying at all, it's just waffle.

Rishi and Kemi so far seem most capable and honest.

I agree PM is a total bullshitter, albeit eloquent. I like Truss' tax approach but she seems out of her comfort zone talking about it. Sunak coming across most confident in the subject.

I think Rishi Sunak is peddling the same myth peddled re austerity. Government debt is NOT the same as personal debt and in times of economic crisis you need to spend to create growth.

www.theguardian.com/business/ng-interactive/2015/apr/29/the-austerity-delusion

"Conservatives like to use the alleged dangers of debt and deficits as clubs with which to beat the welfare state and justify cuts in benefits
Part of the answer is that politicians were catering to a public that doesn’t understand the rationale for deficit spending, that tends to think of the government budget via analogies with family finances."

So far most impressed by Tom Tugendhat. Seems the most statesmanlike and distancing himself the most from Boris.

But not sure where he is on gender issues.

But who would have thought that some of these questions would have been asked a few months ago? Is this because of important judgements like Mayas or have they actually been listening? I can only hope that any of the idiots in the Labour are watching and learning..

Sorry Labour Party

@PotteringPondering agreed. Tugenhat wasn't on my radar before, but he's really impressed me tonight.

Tugendhat sounds like he’s accepting an Oscar all the time. Far too mushy.

Lindsay Muir… really

Truss and Mordaunt were terrible. Tugendhat and Kemi good. Rishi a bit meh.

Well there is Lindsay Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac. And Stevie Nicks. You could get very confused about who's who.

Tugendhat just sounds too smug and sure he is Mr Perfect

I like many of Liz Truss's policies but her blinking is annoying

I agree - bit mushy - sounds like he is auditioning to be Hugh Grant's understudy. Kemi stuttered a bit but came across as straight talking and honest. I think Liz does too -their awkwardness is a contrast to Rishi's slickness. I thought Penny came across as a bit of sulky princess who didn't like all the nasty things people have been saying. She's needs to toughen up or she'll be dropping out like Andrea Leadsom.

I would still very much like Kemi for PM - if there was a Liz / Kemi ticket I'd be pleased too. I'd be ok with with Rishi. I think Penny is lazy and with a lazy relationship to the truth too it would seem. I'd like to see Tom knuckle down and do some of the hard work of collective responsibility as a minister before I could make my mind up about him.

Tom reminds me of the reading scheme with the red hats, yellow hats etc...

I was gearing up to hear Kemi speak and the the kids came back and I had to put them to bed 🙄

I agreed with Kemi about Tugendhat just complaining about everything. You could actually see the divide between him and the others, and not in a good way IMO. It’s true that government is about difficult choices, not soundbites.

If Mordaunt told me the sky was blue I would go outside to check.

Agree.

He comes across as a nice enough guy but everything he said sounded a bit staged and over-prepared.

Snap poll - Tugendhat on top

mobile.twitter.com/opiniumresearch/status/1548037032248717318?s=21&t=3nwGaHV_54CNHu93lqAAgw