MailOnline poll declares Rishi Sunak winner of first general election TV debate over Keir Starmer after PM repeatedly challenged Labour rival over rising taxes - but who do YOU think came up top?

Rishi Sunak beat Keir Starmer in the first general election TV debate after he warned Brits that the Labour leader would 'raise taxes', a MailOnline poll has found. 

The two leaders went head-to-head on ITV on Tuesday night for the first time since the snap general election was called for July 4.

In an incredibly bad tempered affair, Sunak and Starmer repeatedly spoke over each other and host Julie Etchingham as they clashed on a number of key issues - including the economy, defence, NHS and migration.

Following the debate, MailOnline readers were asked to vote on who they felt won the contest and 77 per cent believed the current Prime Minister was victorious.

With Labour miles ahead in opinion polls, Mr Sunak went on the offensive last night in the biggest moment of the campaign so far.

And the Tory candidate went hard from the start, berating Sir Keir for plotting to hike the tax burden by £2,000 a year and having 'no plan' to tackle immigration. 

He later went on the attack over Net Zero saying Sir Keir would inflict big costs by forcing people to upgrade boilers and change cars. 

'Beyond raising your taxes and raiding your pensions, no one knows what he will do,' Mr Sunak said of his rival. 'I have a clear plan for a more secure future for you and your family.' 

However, 13 per cent of poll voters felt Sir Keir had won the debate, as he told viewers last night that he wanted to 'turn the page' with a 'practical plan' for the country.

He jibed that Mr Sunak calling the election early demonstrated that he did not believe the 'plan was working'. 'If he thinks that things are going to get better why has he called it now?' Sir Keir said. 

But 11 per cent believed the debate was a draw, as many felt the biggest winner was Nigel Farage, who had announced this week he would run to become a Reform MP. 

Mr Sunak was forced to stress that only he and Sir Keir can end up in No10 and a vote for 'other' parties will only guarantee Labour in power. 

A number of readers were disappointed in the leaders behaviour during the debate, as Etchingham struggled to rein the two candidates in as they repeatedly spoke over each other.

Lawyer Benedict Sharrock-Harris, 32, said: 'Sunak constantly tried to speak over Starmer and the moderator and seemed as though he felt he had the right to do that, which rubbed me up the wrong way.' 

NHS GP, Elle Cannon, 47, added: 'I thought the mud slinging was disappointing but I suppose predictable given that the Conservatives have been in power for 14 years.'

Last night, Mr Sunak stressed that only he and Sir Keir can end up in No10 and a vote for 'other' parties will only guarantee Labour in power.

The leaders crossed swords on immigration, with Mr Sunak arguing that Rwanda policy could help stop small boats. When Sir Keir branded it an 'expensive gimmick' Mr Sunak shot back: 'You might not like it but I've got a plan.'

Sir Keir also taunted the 'desperate' Tory leader that he was the 'most liberal' PM ever because legal net immigration is running at record levels - with the latest figures 685,000 a year.

Mr Sunak received a round of applause as he said he was prepared to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to ensure migrants could be deported. But Sir Keir was also clapped as he said the UK should stick to its legal obligations.

There were groans from the audience as Mr Sunak was challenged over NHS waiting lists, and claimed they were 'coming down'. 'They are coming down from when they were higher,' he said.

Sir Keir said Labour would not pay a 35 per cent rise either but insisted he could 'resolve' the long-running dispute that has hampered efforts to bring down NHS waiting lists. However he blushed as he was put on the spot by the PM saying: 'Just standing there saying, "I'll resolve it" isn't an answer. That's not a plan.'

Mr Sunak was targeted with more muttering from the crowd as he said the health service had been hit by 'industrial action'. 'So you're blaming someone else,' Sir Keir shot back.