Starmer Triumphs as Sunak Stumbles: Shifts in Momentum at Sky News Leaders’ Event

Keir Starmer elevated his performance while Rishi Sunak struggled during the Sky News leadership event. After a lackluster showing in the previous week’s debate, Starmer showed renewed vigor. In contrast, Sunak made a significant misstep and ended up apologizing once more for his previous errors concerning D-Day.

Senior political reporter @joncraig

Thursday, June 13, 2024, 6:

It's clear why Rishi Sunak was eager for a one-on-one debate with Sir Keir Starmer. Although he was seen as having a slight edge in the previous week's ITV debate, this time he appeared to be outperformed.

The prime minister struggled during intense questioning by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby. He also encountered an audience that was critical of his handling of the NHS, the economy, and immigration policies.

Thus, it was expected when a YouGov instant poll released shortly after the broadcast concluded showed Sir Keir leading with 64% compared to Mr. Sunak's 36%.

An incredible reversal in just a little over seven days.

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Right from the start, Sir Keir understood that he had to step up his performance following the previous week, where he was too slow to respond to Mr Sunak’s claim that Labour was planning a £2,000 tax hike.

As the 90-minute show approached its conclusion, Mr. Sunak appeared visibly disheartened by the feedback from the audience, seemingly eager for the ordeal to be over.

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Mr. Sunak inadvertently made a gaffe that will likely bolster his detractors' argument that this wealthy Prime Minister is disconnected from the everyday struggles with the cost of living that regular folks endure.

After a father raised concerns about his daughter's difficulties in purchasing a home, Mr. Sunak referenced a house priced at £425,000. In Grimsby? That's quite surprising, indeed. Is that truly the case, Prime Minister?

A search on Rightmove shows that among the 914 properties listed for sale in Grimsby, just 13 are priced at £425,000 or higher. This is something his political adversaries will likely capitalize on.

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Following his recent criticism over tax issues, Sir Keir quickly responded, asserting he would not accept criticism from the Conservatives regarding the subject. Subsequently, when confronted by an audience member, he defended Labour’s contentious plan to impose VAT on private schools.

"He emphasized that it's the elimination of a tax break, not the introduction of a new tax," he explained. His proposal to enhance state school standards using the funds recovered received significant applause.

Sir Keir delivered a significantly improved performance compared to last week. He stepped up his efforts: on this occasion, the KC and former Director of Public Prosecutions resembled Rumpole Of The Bailey more than Mark Darcy from the Bridget Jones movies.

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For example, he continued speaking even when Beth Rigby attempted to interrupt him. Mischievous, yet resolute. In this instance, he displayed greater assertiveness than the previous week.

In contrast, Mr. Sunak's demeanor was subdued during the debate, a stark difference from his assertive appearance on ITV. He found himself apologizing not just once, but twice for his oversight regarding D-Day, earnestly seeking pardon once more.

The debacle surrounding D-Day seems to have undermined the prime minister's self-assurance, a situation not improved by multiple jeers from an unfriendly crowd. Even on the topic of immigration, which is typically considered a strength for the Conservatives, he seemed to falter.

A question from Rigby caught him off guard about his decision to call an election before the initial flights to Rwanda were scheduled. Unexpectedly, for a prime minister known for his prowess with data, he was unable to provide figures when questioned about net migration.

As the intense interrogation by the audience was drawing to a close, an ex-Conservative supporter criticized Mr. Sunak for his D-Day error and also brought up the incident of the Queen sitting solo at Prince Philip’s funeral amidst the scandal involving parties during Boris Johnson’s tenure.

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The response from the audience to Mr. Sunak clearly indicated that numerous voters are inclined to hold the Conservatives accountable for the shortcomings of former prime ministers Mr. Johnson and Liz Truss, extending beyond just the recent two years.

Sir Keir departs from Grimsby, heading into Labour's manifesto unveiling tomorrow morning with high spirits. For Mr. Sunak, the evening was disappointing, and without a swift Conservative turnaround, the atmosphere among the party's candidates and supporters could turn sour and rebellious.

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With three weeks left until the election, time is already becoming scarce for Mr. Sunak and the Conservative Party, given the persistently unfavorable opinion polls.

Sir Keir mentioned, "The first day we get into government." Beth Rigby quickly caught his brief slip-up. He simply smiled in response.

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