UK’s Sunak, Starmer face televised grilling by unhappy voters

LONDON – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer were grilled by voters at a televised event on June 12, with both challenged over their past decisions, pledges and how they would fund policies if they won the election on

July 4.

At their last meeting in television studios before the polls, the two men took turns to face an interviewer and then an audience, whose questions and responses underscored the everyday struggles of many in Britain and the mistrust of politicians.

With just over three weeks until the vote, opinion polls suggest Labour will win easily. Mr Sunak was booed and heckled over doctors’ strikes, migration and his Conservative Party policy to introduce national service for young people.

Mr Starmer was taken to task for what one audience member said was his avoidance of answering questions, and over his previous support of his predecessor, left-wing veteran Jeremy Corbyn.

A poll after the event on Sky News in the northern English town of Grimsby showed 64 per cent of respondents believed Mr Starmer had won.

He told the audience he would start implementing his policies from “day one” if he won the election, but shied away from answering whether he was being honest when, in 2019, he said Mr Corbyn should become prime minister.

“I want to get the place... I can roll up my sleeves and work with you... to say the government is on your side,” Mr Starmer said to applause. “That will be a massive difference to the last 14 years.”

Sunak booed

Mr Sunak was challenged over some of his policies, which audience members said had yet to solve their inability to get dental appointments, reduce waiting lists in the National Health Service or stop the arrival of migrants in small boats.

“I know we have been through a tough time, of course we have... it has been tough for all of you here tonight, all of you watching, but I do believe we have turned a corner, and we have got a clear plan for the future,” he said.

“I am going to keep fighting hard until the last day of this election.”

The event came a day after Mr Sunak unveiled £17 billion (S$29.3 billion) of tax cuts in his governing party’s manifesto, trying to convince voters that he had a plan to make them better off, while Labour’s policies are vague and ill-thought through.

He said again on June 12 that a vote for Mr Starmer was akin to writing him a blank cheque, repeating the contested accusation that a Labour government would increase taxes by more than £2,000. Mr Starmer denied that was the case.

Labour will try to set the story straight later on June 13 with its own manifesto, a document which sets out the policies the party will pursue in government. Mr Starmer said the agenda would put wealth creation and economic growth at its heart.

The party has repeatedly said it will stick to strict spending rules – a line Labour, traditionally seen as the party of tax and spend, has adopted not only to try to show it has changed since being led by Mr Corbyn, but also to challenge Conservative attacks that it will increase taxes.

But it was Mr Corbyn who came back to haunt Mr Starmer on June 12, when he was asked whether he believed what he said in 2019, that the veteran leftist would make a good prime minister, and when he made 10 left-wing pledges to become Labour leader a year later, several of which he has since dropped.

“Have I changed my position on those pledges? Yes, I have,” said Mr Starmer. “I think this party should always put the country first.”
REUTERS