Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer locked horns in the first televised debate of the General Election, sparring over everything from Israel-Gaza to taxes.
The two political leaders got a fair few laughs – or were laughed at – from the live studio audience as they were grilled by Britons and presenter Julie Etchingham.
YouGov has since released a snap poll on who ‘won’ the debate; Sunak did but by a very, very slim margin.
But amid the mudslinging and shouting, a mum reminded the two politicians about the real issues facing Britons.
Audience member Paula from Huddersfield told Sunak how she’s struggled to make ends meet amid the gruelling, years-long cost of living crisis.
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‘I don’t think you actually understand how this is for people like me,’ she told the prime minister, adding she can’t afford to keep her oven on.
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The heated debate roiled after Faiza Shaheen resigned from the Labour Party after being blocked from standing as a candidate by the leader’s office, citing a ‘hierarchy of racism’.
The left-winger had been due to contest the Chingfood and Woodward seat held by Iain Duncan Smith after being previously selected as the candidate in the 2019 election.
But she was instead told on Wednesday that the party was suspending her after she liked a social media post from US comedian Jon Stewart which was critical of Israel.
