In a gripping episode of BBC’s Question Time, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were both roasted by an audience eager for answers and accountability. Sunak faced fierce criticism over a scandal involving his aide, Craig Williams, who admitted to placing a bet on the election date before its announcement. Williams, acknowledging his “huge error of judgment,” apologized but the damage was done. Sunak promised stringent consequences for any lawbreakers, declaring, “It’s a really serious matter. If anyone broke the rules, they should face the full force of the law.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer wasn’t let off the hook either. The audience grilled him about his previous support for Jeremy Corbyn and his wavering stances on transgender issues. Starmer, defending his record, quipped that Corbyn would have been a better PM than Johnson, which drew mixed reactions. The audience remained skeptical, especially when Starmer evaded giving a clear answer on how much Labour would cut net migration, criticizing the Tories instead for their handling of the issue.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru’s leader, added a dash of humor by betting that Starmer would be the next PM, noting that Wales needed a voice to counter Labour’s potential dominance. Sunak, meanwhile, tried to shift focus to his efforts in restoring economic stability, subtly critiquing former PM Liz Truss’s policies. He urged voters to scrutinize Labour’s policies, mirroring John Major’s 1992 campaign strategy against Labour.
Both leaders also fielded questions about NHS backlog, defense spending, and tax policies. Starmer pledged to clear the NHS waiting list backlog within a parliamentary term and proposed removing tax breaks for private schools to fund state education. Sunak hinted at introducing sanctions for those not participating in his National Service plan, mentioning potential penalties like restrictions on driving licenses and access to finance.
The polls, however, paint a bleak picture for the Tories, with Labour holding a significant lead. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt admitted the uphill battle his party faces, while Michael Gove, invoking Trump’s unexpected 2016 win, remained cautiously optimistic. With Labour potentially securing a massive majority, the stakes couldn’t be higher as both parties gear up for the final stretch of the election campaign (ITVX).