In the first televised debate of the UK general election, on Tuesday June 4th, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour opposition leader Keir Starmer went head to head, prompting little excitement.
After around 70 minutes’ airtime on national broadcaster ITV, it is unlikely many viewers changed their minds about how to vote. Instead, the low calibre of the two main party leaders was even more plain to see.
The ITV format, subsequently criticised, saw a selected audience questioning each party leader. Predictably, the cost of living, the National Health Service, immigration and especially taxes, provided the talking points.
Within the narrow confines of the debate itself, Sunak appeared to cut through on the issue of taxation: a Labour government would cost working families an additional £2,000, he claimed (actually £2,094/€2,460 for the policy wonks). “If you think Labour is going to win, start saving,” he quipped. Treasury sources have since disputed this figure.
If this sounds administrative—at least until the hypothetical tax hike hits—then it neatly encapsulates the problem with the tedious debate. The two leaders oscillated between technocratic and tetchy, with peevishness replacing passion. Any drama in the discussion came from the duo losing patience with each other. At times, ITV moderator Julie Etchingham appeared to lose control.
Starmer repeated variations of the phrase “utter chaos,” prompting some audience applause. At other times he appeared nervous, despite typically polling some 20% ahead of Sunak prior to the TV debate.
A YouGov poll suggests a narrow debate victory for Sunak over Starmer, by 51% to 49%. Among people who voted Tory in 2019, the ratio was 85% to 15%. Within the Conservative Party—spooked by the return of Nigel Farage to frontline politics—this small win will only offer temporary respite.
Parliament’s adversarial “Prime Minister’s question time” has been broadcast for years. In contrast, British television began hosting US presidential-style televised debates as recently as 2010, with diminishing interest ever since.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, true to form, shared his opinion on the debate on X:
