The first general election debate between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was a head-to-head showdown on ITV at 9pm.
Julie Etchingham moderated Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate in the build-up to the election on July 4.
Starmer brushed off Sunak's suggestion that Labour sought to raise taxes by £2,000 as "absolute garbage".Additionally, both leaders made use of the occasion to share with voters their personal tales and discuss how their early life experiences had influenced their political beliefs.
During the event, Rishi Sunak made a significant policy statement, implying that if the Rwandan approach to fixing unlawful immigration failed, the UK would be prepared to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights.
Sunak expressed his belief that the UK's intentions were "compliant with our international obligations" but he said: "If I am forced to choose between securing our borders and our country’s security or a foreign court I’m going to choose our country’s security every single time."
Rejecting this, the leader of the Labour Party declared that the UK will “never withdraw from international treaties and internationally regarded legal frameworks”.Adding that he wanted the UK to be a “respected player on the world stage, not a pariah”.
The debate continued to be heated as the pair explained their parties' policies on immigration, which has been thrown into the spotlight after the return of Nigel Farage who has become the leader of Reform UK and the candidate for Clacton-on-Sea.
Starmer said: “We need to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade, making a huge amount of money putting some of the most vulnerable people in boats across the Channel.”
When Sunak was asked how to reduce NHS waiting lists, the audience booed loudly when he suggested that some of the problems were due to health workers' strikes. However, he was applauded when he added that taxes shouldn't go up to support the NHS.
The Conservative Party is trailing Labour in the polls and the prime minister is keen to use the platform to claw back support.
So when are the general election debates and how can you watch them?
Here’s what you need to know.
When are the general election 2024 TV debates?
The BBC has released its general election debate schedule. All programmes will be broadcast on BBC1.
Seven-party debate:Friday June 7, London
Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain, which will be broadcast from 7.30pm to 9pm.
According to the Telegraph,Sunak has not yet made a decision about taking part but Labour has said Starmer will not be present for the seven-party discussion.
Question Time Leaders' Special:Thursday June 20, York
Fiona Bruce will present the show involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 8pm to 10pm.
Head-to-head debate:Wednesday June 26, Nottingham
Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Sunak and Starmer. This is set to be the last TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 9pm to 10pm.
Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho has challenged leaders to commit to weekly debates before the general election
PA Wire
Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho urged both sides to commit to weekly debates.
Labour sources indicated Sir Keir would be willing to participate in debates on the channels with the largest audiences – BBC and ITV.
But they said they would not agree to “tearing up” the format established in previous elections “just to suit this week’s whims of the Tory Party”.
“So I think debates are always a part of an election campaign and no doubt will be a big part of what’s going to happen over the next five or six weeks,” Sir Keir told Times Radio. I’ll debate with voters any day of the week.”
How have pre-general election debates worked in the past?
Television debates are a relatively new concept to the election run-up in the UK. Labour’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Tory leader David Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, participated in the first one in 2010.
Labour leader Harold Wilson and Conservative Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home were approached in 1964 but the debate didn't materialise.
Conservative Prime Minister John Major and Labour leader Neil Kinnock agreed in principle to a debate in 1992 but this was called off.
Between 1997 and 2005, Tony Blair and successive opponents (John Major, William Hague and Michael Howard) did not engage in televised debates.
The 2015 general election involved a more complex arrangement of debates.
David Cameron (Conservatives), Ed Miliband (Labour), Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats), Nigel Farage (UKIP), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), Natalie Bennett (Green Party), and Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru) took part.
ITV hosted a seven-way debate; the BBC broadcast a five-way debate featuring parties without the two main leaders (Cameron and Miliband); and a "challengers' debate" featuring opposition leaders was also held.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn participate in a head-to-head debate on ITV before the 2019 general election
ITV via Getty Images
In 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May chose not to participate directly in the main debates.
Leaders of other parties, including Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Tim Farron (Liberal Democrats) and leaders from smaller parties participated.
There was a mixture of debates and Q&A sessions with leaders appearing separately.
Mrs May’s absence was contentious, with some arguing it affected her campaign negatively.
The 2019 general election returned to more traditional head-to-head debates.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Conservatives) and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn participated in an hour-long debate on ITV.
The BBC also hosted a head-to-head debate between the pair and a separate one involving leaders from smaller parties.
Andrew Neil also interviewed Mr Corbyn on the BBC, and the Labour leader appeared on a Channel 4 panel discussion on climate change. A melting ice sculpture replaced Mr Johnson.
