Arguments, but also sophistry, were exchanged between Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer in the first debate ahead of the election. opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer appeared on private television network ITV and “crossed swords”. This is not a journalistic cliché.

The duel was interesting, the debate was flowing, there were no parallel monologues, Sunak and Starmer had just 45 seconds to answer each of the tough questions, often interrupting each other to make counter-arguments. “A clear plan for a secure future” was Prime Minister Sunak’s slogan, while the leader of the opposition stuck to his own slogan for “Change” in Great Britain.

Two parties with different DNA

Starting strongly, Rishi Sunak made little opposition to the …opposition and accused Keir Starmer of preparing major tax increases. “This election is in the future and for me it is clear that I will continue to cut taxes,” Sunak said addressing his opponent. “Instead, you want to burden us with new taxes of £2,000 every year. Independent experts assess Labour’s policies and estimate the burden to be £2,000 per household. Remember my words. Labor taxing you is in their DNA. They will tax your job, your car, your pension…”.

For his part, Keir Starmer invoked another part of Labour’s DNA: the belief that the state should provide for social uplift through education, work, effort. “My father was a factory worker, my mother was a nurse,” the Labor leader told the audience. “We didn’t have a lot of money and I know what it’s like to not be able to pay your bills because that happened to us at one point. I don’t think the prime minister understands the situation you and other people are in…”

As for the substance of the case, namely the impending tax burdens, Starmer clarified: “We will increase certain taxes. And we have clearly said who they are. referred to VAT for private schools. We want to completely abolish the non-dom tax regime, as we believe that the very rich should also pay taxes…”.

Are fewer or more waiting?

The British “black comedy” recalled the business partnership over the huge waiting lists in the National Health System (NHS), with Prime Minister Sunak prompting laughter from the audience by claiming that today there are “less people waiting” for a doctor’s appointment. “Wait a minute,” interrupted the Labor leader, “we had 7.2 people on the waiting lists and now we have 7.5 million people, I’d like to explain to us where and how less people are waiting.”

Rishi Sunak lost his cool and replied, in all seriousness: “They are waiting less compared to when they were waiting more…”.

National and international law

On the issue of immigration, Prime Minister Sunak insisted that the plan to send migrants to Rouda should be registered until their asylum permit is examined. For his part, Keir Starmer spoke of an “expensive spectacle”, which he does not support. However, responding to a clarifying question, he stated that he would consider the possibility of involving a “third country” in the asylum procedures, as long as this is done in accordance with international law.

The opportunity for Rishi Sunak to answer the question of whether Great Britain should withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (so – of course – also from the jurisdiction of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg). The position of the British Prime Minister: “I am clear. Every time I choose the security of our country, not our participation in a foreign court…”.

Clear, however, is the corresponding response of the leader of the Labor Party: “As prime minister, he is not going to withdraw from international conventions and from international law that is respected all over the world…”.

In the opinion polls ahead of the July 4 election, Labor is leading by a wide margin. However, according to a Yougov poll taken late last night, the public has won the televised debate “on the spot” for Sunak with 51% to Starmer’s 49%. There will be at least one televised duel between the prime minister and the Labor leader. In all likelihood the next debate will be on the BBC, about a week before the polls.

(Reuters, APTN, AFP)