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BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Rishi Sunak and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer clashed last night over the Westminster betting row in their final televised head-to-head debate.
The Labour leader accused the British prime minister of being “bullied” into taking action in the scandal, while Sunak repeatedly warned voters not to “surrender” to Labour’s tax and migration plans in the heated exchange.
With the polls showing the Tories heading for an electoral drubbing with just a week to go until the 4 July general election, Sunak used the BBC debate to hammer home his claim that Starmer “is not being honest with everyone about his plans to raise their taxes”.
He reiterated the much-disputed claim that taxes would rise by £2,000 (€2,360) under a Labour government, which Starmer dismissed as a “lie”.
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak: "Do not surrender your family finances to Labour's tax rises"
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 26, 2024
Starmer says Sunak warned the country about the damage Truss would do, but later backed her
Hussain: "Hang on, you know what it's like to fall in behind a leader of your party" #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/URO8AavlHX
The leaders are likely to face further questions on the deepening gambling saga, as it emerged the Metropolitan Police will lead on investigating a “small number of cases” related to betting to look into potential “misconduct in public office”.
And Philip Davies became the latest Tory candidate to be accused of gambling on the election.
He reportedly bet £8,000 (€9,456) against himself holding his marginal Shipley constituency, according to The Sun.
At least five Conservatives are being investigated by the Gambling Commission as part of its inquiry into wagers on the timing of the 4 July poll.
On Tuesday, Sunak caved to mounting calls to withdraw support for two parliamentary candidates facing an investigation by the regulator: his parliamentary aide Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.
Saunders’ husband, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning Tony Lee, has taken a leave of absence, as has Tory chief data officer Nick Mason, while Welsh Tory member Russell George is also facing a probe by the gambling watchdog.
Labour has also been dragged into the row, suspending candidate Kevin Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting on himself to lose his contest in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
Starmer said “you have to lead from the front on issues like this”, noting that he had suspended Craig “within minutes”.
“The Prime Minister delayed and delayed and delayed until eventually he was bullied into taking action,” he said.
The Met said it would lead on investigating “a small number of cases to assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office” and provide more information on Thursday.
A Met spokesperson said: “The Gambling Commission will continue to lead the investigation into cases where the alleged offending is limited to breaches of the Gambling Act only.
“Met detectives will lead on investigating a small number of cases to assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office.”
In the last major set piece event before polling day, the Tory and Labour leaders also traded barbs over immigration, women’s rights and benefits bills.
Sunak told the debate that “sex means biological sex” and that he would “protect” women-only spaces.
🚨 NEW: Sunak: "Sex means biological sex: that's only how you can protect female-only spaces"
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 26, 2024
Starmer: "It's very important to protect women's spaces," adding that he still treats trans people "with dignity and respect"
Receives a very loud cheer from audience #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/225uYpEE3G
Starmer also said it was important to “protect” women-only spaces but added that all people need to be treated “with dignity and respect”
Starmer drew applause from the studio audience when he accused his Conservative rival of being “out of touch” when it came to welfare benefits.
Sunak fired a barrage of criticism at the Opposition leader over migration, claiming “people smugglers are going to need a bigger boat” because of his plans to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme.
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak to Keir Starmer on migration
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 26, 2024
"Are you going to sit down with the Iranian Ayatollahs? … To try and do a deal with the Taliban? It's completely nonsensical what you're saying. You're taking people for fools."
Audience give an applause #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/wZhiMCSkm3
On Labour proposals to strike returns deals with other countries, Sunak asked: “Will you sit down with the Ayatollahs? Are you going to try to do a deal with the Taliban? It’s completely nonsensical – you are taking people for fools.”
Loud pro-Palestine protests were heard from outside the Nottingham debate venue as the duo faced off against each other.
🚨 NEW: The BBC debate host acknowledges the pro-Palestine protest happening outside the venue
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 26, 2024
"There is a protest taking place outside, which is an aspect of democracy, and people exercising their freedom of speech" #BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/LTKVHdMmG6
The Liberal Democrats said “the audience spoke for the nation” when one man asked the two leaders: “Are you two really the best we’ve got to be the next prime minister of our great country?”
Starmer emerged as the winner of the TV clash according to a More in Common snap poll, with 56% of viewers preferring him and 44% choosing Sunak.
But a YouGov snap poll suggested viewers were split 50-50 over the victor.
🚨 NEW: Voter Robert to Rishi Sunak: “You’re a pretty mediocre prime minister”
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 26, 2024
To Keir Starmer: “Your strings are being pulled by very senior members of the Labour Party.”
“Are you two really the best we’ve got to be prime minister of our great country?”#BBCDebate pic.twitter.com/RISQuSI5Sk
Sunak is campaigning in the East Midlands and Yorkshire today, after a two-day hiatus for the Emperor and Empress of Japan’s state visit and preparations for the debate.
Starmer is joining the Labour battle bus in the North West and West Midlands to promote Labour’s plans to “turbocharge” careers advice and work experience in schools.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey’s action-packed campaign tour continues as he calls for an emergency health budget after the election, while junior doctors in England start their five-day walkout in their long-running pay dispute.
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move the dogs, blame is with the ‘owner’
@Cornelius Murphy: Here’s a report from a few months ago:
The neighbour who was attacked luckily was not injured:
“He said it lasted 20 – 30 seconds but he did not suffer physical injuries. However, he described it as a very traumatic event, adding that it was lucky no children were in the vicinity.”
Mr Hamdi wasn’t at home when his dogs escape his house:
“The court also heard, that went Mr Hamdi was away, they attended the scene and found the front door to his house open.”
Gardai arrived after the attack:
“The court heard that after complaints, Gardai found the door to Hamdy’s home was open, and no one came out for 20 minutes.”
Somehow the door to his house was left opened, or was opened, while Mr Hamdi was away.
“However, he did not see what happened and told Gardai that the dogs must have opened the front door to get out. Later, he claimed there had been a break-in at his home, which caused the German Shepherds to escape.”
“Hamdy said he reported it to Gardai when he noticed damage to his door and objects missing from his house”
1. He left his door open when he left and his dogs escaped
2. Somehow his dog opened the door and his dogs escaped
2. His house was burgled and his dogs escaped.
There is a long running neighbour dispute over the dogs, they previously escaped after a storm blow down a fence.
@Cornelius Murphy: It’s the only sure deterrent to other dogs. Capital punishment works.
Strange choice of terminology: dogs aren’t executed, and they certainly aren’t put on death row. If this is meant to be humorous, it’s not in the best taste.
@Brendan O’Brien: I… agree… with… Brendan. See? We can all get along – we don’t have to agree on EVERYTHING. The terminology used in this article is indeed very strange, and immature, that’s at best – it’s deliberately provocative at worst. I’m almost surprised they didn’t call the Judge the ‘Governor’, or mention the Electric Chair. WEIRD.
Dogs are amazing creatures who thrive on human interaction. As usual people are blaming the wrong end of the lead.
Most amazing breed in the right hands, like all dogs. Had to put my beloved GSD down after 10 years last month. Adopted a 7 month old GSD last week. Very loyal and protective breeds. I blame their owner here! Probably never did any proper obedience training and probably couldn’t handle two large dogs either..
Just shoot them. It could be a child next time.
@John Mulligan: We don’t shoot dogs in this country. They are euthanised in a humane manner.
@Michael Burke: A bullet can be humane. It is quick and painless.
@Honey Badger: Fake account.
They were caught easily as Gardai had several leads to follow
Hardly suitable living surroundings for two large German Shepherds.Other residents with children will certainly be anxious. If they attack children an apology won’t cut it.
Why postpone the correct decisions once a dog attacks they will do so again
German Shepherds are not aggressive by nature. They are made that way by the owners. I write this as mine is laid next to me with his head in my lap. The judge is wrong. These dogs could be retrained and rehomed.
@Andrew Harrington: A dog is like children # there only as good as the People around them. End
Put them down ffs end of
‘sentenced to death’, ‘execution’, ‘death row’. A bit dramatic?
just deport them to South Korea they’ll find a nice home there
Comments open on a court case?!
A chilli pepper lorean sauce called gochujang goes well with their meat.
@Coc Caled: Sick
Is this for real ? Put these beasts down…imagine the victim was a little child….
Hate those dogs. Oh but they are clever.
Yeh clever that they need muzzles
@louise ryan: why do you hate them????
Its time for a one way trip to the glue factory.
@Paul: Your barking up the wrong tree
Dogs are being treated quite ruff-ly
So we’re even bestowing the partner partner onto dogs now. When will this i dio cy every end?
There’s no such thing as an alsation.
have your say