General election TV debate LIVE: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to go head-to-head in ITV clash for the keys to Downing Street - latest updates and build-up

4 months ago 21

By Jamie Bullen

Published: 18:01 BST, 4 June 2024 | Updated: 19:57 BST, 4 June 2024

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will go head-to-head tonight in the first televised leaders debate of the 2024 general election campaign.

ITV presenter Julie Etchingham is moderating the hour-long showdown between the men vying to be the Prime Minister in front of a live studio audience in Salford, Greater Manchester at 9pm.

The debate is the first in a series taking place on ITV and the BBC in the coming weeks before the country goes to the polls on July 4.

Follow MailOnline's live coverage below and join in the conversation in our comments section

New poll shows Tory wipeout on the cards...

I may have spoken too soon...Survation has released its first MRP poll (Multi-level Regression and Poststratification in case you didn't know) and it is horrific news for Rishi Sunak.

New polls will spring up throughout the campaign but it's forecast like these that are likely to keep Conservatives awake at night.

Poll shows Labour lead down to 14 points

Despite 30 days to go until the general election, Rishi Sunak must be sick at the sight of the polls.

From forecasts of electoral oblivion and huge Labour landslides, the Prime Minister has had little to no joy from public opinion so far but the latest survey could give him cause for optimism.

A Savanta poll for The Telegraph shows Labour's has decreased by three points to give them a lead of 14 - the party's lowest lead since February.

The survey, which was conducted over the weekend, puts Labour on 42% of the vote share, with the Conservatives on 28%.

Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta said:

This poll is a rare bit of positive news for Rishi Sunak ahead of his television debate with Keir Starmer. Labour's lead is at its lowest and the Conservative vote share at its highest in a Savanta poll since February 2024, although all changes are within the margin of error.

That's where the good news ends for the Prime Minister - even with these slightly more favourable numbers, Labour would still be on track for a three-figure majority. These figures won't include Farage's return to frontline UK politics, which may well cut the legs of any potential Conservative recovery.

Who will be celebrating on the famous Corrie cobbles?

MailOnline's deputy political editor David Wilcock is reporting from Salford where Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will face off in the ITV televised debate

Here's his first impressions from tonight's 'spin room':

Tight security is in place at Media City UK in Salford with less than two hours to go before Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer go head-to-head in the first leadership debate of the election campaign.

But a short distance away across the Manchester Ship Canal, reporters covering the event are having a night on the tiles, Coronation Street style. They are being housed in a dimly lit space at ITV Studios, which houses the famous Weatherfield cobbles.

This is the ‘spin room’, where politicians and party officials will try to convince us their man has won the night and their opponent has performed dismally.

Tonight the Tories have sent ministers Michael Gove, Victoria Atkins, Claire Coutinho and Johnny Mercer in to bat for team Tory. Fielding for Labour are Wes Streeting, Jonathan Ashworth and Liz Kendall.

The set of the venerated soap is open to the public when it is not being filmed, will the side that comes off worst be tempted to drown their sorrows with a pint of Newton & Ridley’s finest in the Rovers Return?

Ex-spin doctor - 'Train hard, fight easy' - how to come out on top in a TV debate

Photo by Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock (14514160bc) Lee Cain 'Peston' TV Show, Episode 18, London, UK - 29 May 2024

Lee Cain, the former Downing Street director of communications under Boris Johnson, has given some insight ahead of tonight's TV debate telling his social media followers the most important thing is to remember it's not actually a debate.

Mr Cain (pictured) posted a lengthy thread on X earlier in which he told how Mr Johnson was prepared ahead of his leaders debate with then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.

He tweeted:

The most important thing to remember is the debate is *not* a debate. It is an opportunity to drive a message and frame the choice to millions of voters. In 2019, that frame was ‘back Boris to get Brexit done’ (change) or ‘dither and delay with Jeremy Corbyn’ (more of the same)

Boris was put through relentless drilling exercises designed to keep message discipline in the face of extreme provocation. Like a boxer in fight camp - train hard, fight easy was our motto

Fresh sparring partners, Michael Gove and Oliver Dowden, took on the role of Jeremy Corbyn. They were armed with a forensic 100-page war book and required to give the exhausted candidate a ‘going over’. Boris too was told not to take a step back and be aggressive with ‘Corbyn’

Getting the candidate ready is only half the battle - campaign teams also have to undergo gruelling negotiations with the broadcasters and opposing parties. In every election debate I have organised, it is negotiations and the fallout that cause the controversy.

Our big win in '19 was convincing the broadcasters to host the first televised head-to-head between the PM & Leader of the Opposition. Boris v Corbyn was our ideal framing for the election.

John Swinney - I should be there

Photo by Duncan Bryceland/Shutterstock (14520182p) SNP Leader John Swinney speaking at the SNP Westminster Election Campaign Launch, Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow SNP Westminster Election Campaign Launch, Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland, UK - 02 Jun 2024

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has today reiterated he should be joining Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer in the ITV debate tonight.

The SNP leader told Sky News that as leader of the 'third largest party in the United Kingdom' he should be entitled to take part in the programme.

He said viewers needed more voices as the Labour and the Conservatives 'agree on an awful lot of things' including migration and fiscal restraint.

Mr Swinney added there needed to be a different voice against austerity.

Sir Ed Davey - People will switch off their TVs during debate

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

The Lib Dem leader has predicted tonight's debate will be a snoozefest with viewers 'switching off' their TVs if they tune in to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.

Speaking to the BBC, Sir Ed Davey said he has a feeling 'people are fed up of hearing from the Conservatives'.

He said:

Rishi Sunak, I have to tell you, he’s had his chance and he’s messed it up. He has to go. These ideas he’s coming out with are all wrong, just very poorly thought through, so the Conservatives need to be kicked out of office.

Davey will be interviewed by ITV in a separate programme after the debate finishes.

Watch: Sunak leaves ITV studio after 'scoping out' set

This is the moment Rishi Sunak left the ITV studio earlier today after visiting the set ahead of tonight's election debate.

The Prime Minister has been busily campaigning across the country since he called the snap election but has kept a low profile ahead of his clash with Keir Starmer.

Watch the video below:

Keir Starmer - I'm looking forward to debate

Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is 'looking forward' to Tuesday night’s TV debate.

The Labour leader spent the morning campaigning in the north west before preparing for the debate in the afternoon.

Asked how was feeling ahead of the head-to-head with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Labour leader said:

Very good, looking forward to the opportunity to speak directly to voters through the debate to put our case, because at the end of the day it is that clear choice, and I think voters will see that tonight.

More of the same, we’ve had 14 years of this and after 14 years nothing is better than when the Tories started, we can end that, turn the page and start to rebuild our country with the Labour Party.

I’m looking forward to be able to make that argument in the debate this evening.

Asked if he had been preparing for the debate, Sir Keir added:

Well, look, I’ve got a team preparing with me, it’s much the same team as for PMQs, and I suppose the best bit for the staff is that they get the opportunity in the debate to put the difficult questions to them, so they’re relishing that.

TV debates in the general election campaign - when are they taking place?

Tonight's debate is the first of the general election campaign with plenty more to follow before the country votes on July 4.

Here is your guide to what's coming up:

ITV leaders debate - 9pm tonight
Friday, June 7 - Mishal Husain will host a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties in Great Britain. This will be broadcast from 7.30pm-9pm
Tuesday, June 11- Stephen Jardine will chair Scotland Election 2024 Leaders' Special featuring the leaders of the five Scottish parties. They will appear in front of a live audience on BBC One Scotland from 8pm to 9pm
Thursday, June 13 - Julie Etchingham will host a debate featuring leaders or representatives from seven political parties. 8.30pm to 10pm
Thursday, June 20 – Fiona Bruce will host a Question Time Leaders’ Special with the leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 8pm-10pm
Friday, June 21 - Bethan Rhys Roberts hosts Wales Leaders' Debate live with the main parties in Wales from 7pm
Wednesday, June 26, – Sophie Raworth will host a head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. It will be broadcast from 9pm-10pm
Thursday, June 27 - Tara Mills will preside over the Northern Ireland Leaders' Debate featuring the main party leaders

Tonight's ITV debate - who will stand between Sunak and Starmer?

Julie Etchingham will moderate the first televised head-to-head debate between the leaders of Conservative and Labour.

The 54-year-old newsreader joined ITV in 2008 after previously working at the BBC and Sky News.

She brings plenty of experience to the format having chaired debates between David Cameron and Nigel Farage in 2016, and ITV debates in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Away from politics, Etchingham has also co-presented ITV's coverage of major royal events such as Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle and the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021.

What has happened today on the campaign trail?

Before we turn our attention to tonight's debate, let's just recap on the biggest stories of the day as Nigel Farage endured a (milk) shaky start in his run to the be the next MP for Clacton.

Here are some of the biggest stories of the day:

For all the latest news on the campaign trail visit MailOnline's website

Good evening

Hello and welcome to MailOnline's live coverage of the TV leaders debate as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer go head-to-head on ITV.

The stakes are high for both men wanting to become the Prime Minister next month.

Mr Sunak will be hoping a strong performance can help turn the tide in his favour following some concerning polls, while Keir Starmer will look to cement his position as the change candidate.

We will be providing live updates from the debate as well as analysis and reaction.

Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate will take place live in front of a studio audience and will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX and STV and STV Player at 9pm.

Key Updates

New poll shows Tory wipeout on the cards...
Ex-spin doctor - 'Train hard, fight easy' - how to come out on top in a TV debate
Tonight's ITV debate - who will stand between Sunak and Starmer?
What has happened today on the campaign trail?

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