Sunak V Starmer

So assuming an average of two earners per household over four years it would amount to £250 a year each, and even that is a guess based on the worst case scenario the Conservatives could find.

I also got annoyed at the insistence that Labour would raise tax on pensions- it was the Tories who froze the nil-rate tax band that will suck pensions into being taxable🙄

This isn’t where I saw it (I can’t remember) but this fact-checker is also saying the figures are per household and over four years, but are estimates based on Conservative guesses, as the manifesto is not published yet.

pa.media/blogs/fact-check/fact-check-tory-claims-over-labour-tax-plans-are-based-on-policy-assumptions/

Constantly said and I don't believe it. Who? everyone the same?
If true, what is the money going on.....

MayBee70

Is there any truth in this £2,000 worse off under Labour that Sunak kept saying? If not he should have been called out for it.

I read that the figures show what a 40% rate taxpayer would pay that (extra) over a four year parliament, including VAT and so on. Starmer did try to call it, but Sunak talked over him and the moderator didn’t stop him. It was a disgrace, really.

Is there any truth in this £2,000 worse off under Labour that Sunak kept saying? If not he should have been called out for it.

Like Johnson, Sunak talks over people and hogs the time. Starmer played by the rules and didn't always challenge Sunak's 'facts'. But I doubt this programme will shift the polling.

I forgot it was tonight - but my daughter and son in law played "word bingo" with them - and both won!...

* turn off the microphones when the other person is talking.*

Good idea. Give 5 minutes or similar. But really, still not the best overall format. Too much like PM question time in the HoC and the politics of clever words but no content just sounding slicker.

It was embarrassing. Using the audience members who were asking questions to score points. Julie Etchingham was also embarrassing. She was enjoying being ringmaster. They were all patronising.

Well I had a headache just looking at that dreadful setting with all the gaudy colours, hard glass and bright lines everywhere. I couldn't watch it. I'm not surprised they were shouting because the angry background would not help with rational debate.

keepingquiet

Anyone who makes their voting choices based on a TV debate is not taking this election seriously...

If you mean me, you’re way off beam and there’s no need to be rude!

I couldn’t watch it till the end. Too much talking and shouting over each other till I turned it off. I had a headache listening to them.

Siope

I was. I thought it was dreadful. The format doesn’t work, there isn’t enough time to develop sensible and detailed answers, the moderation was weak, and the whole thing just felt like it wouldn’t help anyone undecided.

That's what I thought. It's a dreadful format, as neither of them had a chance to respond to one another fully.

Viewers are going to be partisan, obviously. As a Labour supporter I felt frustrated with Sunak for his constant interruption and talking over Starmer. I dare say Tory supporters would see it differently. I'd like to see them answer questions separately, with a silencer after their time is up. No interrupting - turn off the microphones when the other person is talking.

I agree that it should have come after the manifestos, too.

This is so true. I watched, as a Labour voter, and I didnt think either side cam over very well.

Anyone who makes their voting choices based on a TV debate is not taking this election seriously...

merlotgran

I’m one of the many Tory voters who feel we need change but Starmer’s going to have to do better than that.

We need the written manifestos. Being able to deliver soundbites in quick fire debates not the best way to make up minds.

Anniebach

Surely one hour of shouting can’t help decide

Watched a bit. Not a helpful format for me either, didnt learn anything. Sunak interrupted too much and presenter weak.

Need a format where there is longer to outline policies uninterrupted then reply.

Merlot makes a really good point.

Surely one hour of shouting can’t help decide

I’m one of the many Tory voters who feel we need change but Starmer’s going to have to do better than that.

I watched a bit but I thought it was toe curling so gave the rest a miss. Sunak had a single attack line, the fictional extra taxes figure and the 'moderator' couldn't shut him up enough...

There's a BBC 'debate' scheduled for later in June, by which time both manifestos will be out. That should give participants something more concrete to go on.

I watched Miss Marple.

Better closing speech from Starmer.
Are there any more head to heads, or are the other debates with other parties?

But Starmer needed to retaliate and, if they are not going to put up taxes, to say so! That was the one point he needed to get across.

That was such a poor format. The presenter was grim.

The trouble is that Sunak did just as he did with Truss - he simply talks over the presenter.