UK Leaders Clash Over Immigration and Taxes In Debate

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was deemed to have narrowly edged a fractious live television debate with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, dominated by the issues of tax and immigration.

On climate change, Sunak said he had taken “bold” decisions that would mean Britain meets its obligations while protecting the budgets of hard-pressed families. Starmer vowed that Britain would “win the race” to develop renewable energy under a Labour government.

Starmer said he would end “the chaos and division we’ve seen over the last 14 years”, trying to present his Tory opponent as out of touch with the country he governs: “He lives in a different world.”

Sunak promised he would “cut your taxes, protect your pension and reduce immigration”, repeatedly hammering a heavily disputed claim that Labour would put up taxes by £2,000 for every working household. “With Keir Starmer, apart from higher taxes, you don’t know what you’ll get and neither does he,” Sunak claimed.

His punchy performance raised Tory spirits but it remains to be seen if it can transform the campaign. Starmer said he would end “the chaos and division we’ve seen over the last 14 years”, trying to present his Tory opponent as out of touch with the country he governs: “He lives in a different world.”