A gramps who 'summed up the temper of the nation' during past night's governmental TV statement erstwhile helium confronted Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer says helium inactive doesn't cognize who helium volition ballot for.
Lifelong Conservative protagonist Robert Blackstock confronted the men during the BBC's last showdown – by asking them 'Are you 2 truly the champion we've got?'
Reliving the infinitesimal contiguous Mr Blackstock, 73, said: 'I had my question written retired but I was precise tense due to the fact that I person ne'er done thing similar this before.
'I was addressing the 2 astir elder constabulary successful the country. I was hoping I was going to get it close and not fluff my lines!
'But I deliberation I did alright. I had been successful a spot is simply a authorities but I got the question asked to the champion of my ability.'
Speaking from his detached location successful Arnold, Nottinghamshire, Mr Blackstock, a retired diesel technologist said helium was 'so caught up successful the moment' and applause from chap assemblage members that helium hardly recalled their answers.
Lifelong Conservative protagonist Robert Blackstock (pictured) confronted the men during the BBC 's last showdown
The unedifying squabbling did not look to impressment the audience, with Robert Blackstock asking: 'Are you 2 earnestly the champion we person got to beryllium the adjacent PM of our large country?'
Starmer and Sunak (both pictured) duked it retired successful beforehand of a unrecorded assemblage past night
He said helium had to ticker it again connected TV this morning.
'The replies came backmost reasonably rapidly but I missed immoderate of them, but I had the amusement pre-recorded truthful watched it earlier,' helium said.
Mr Blackstock - fondly known arsenic Bob - said the attraction helium has received since from friends, household and media has been 'absolutely amazing.'
As helium near the make-shift workplace astatine Nottingham Trent University assemblage members applauded him and patted him connected the shoulder.
He smiled: 'People leant forward, saying 'spot on', 'well done' and 'good question.'
'It made maine consciousness a batch amended due to the fact that I knew I had got it right.
'I past went to the rotation country wherever I was interviewed astir my question by apical governmental journalists, and I thought to myself 'What the Hell person you done?'
'It was an amazingly and unforgettable experience.'
Edinburgh-born Mr Blackstock, who has 2 grown up sons and 2 grandchildren, told however helium has been bombarded with texts and messages from impressed pals and relatives.
The PM accused Keir Starmer of trying to instrumentality Brits arsenic they went head-to-head connected BBC One hardly a week earlier the state casts their ballots
The PM (left) arrived for the captious last BBC TV statement against Keir Starmer (right) yesterday
He said: 'I work each my quality connected MailOnline and that's wherever I get each the governmental commentary and erstwhile I work the header contiguous astir an "audience subordinate stealing the show" I was amazed!
'It was conscionable an mean question from an mean feline and present it!s gone viral. I don't bash societal media but I've heard it's gone wild!
'Folks I've not spoken to successful ages person abruptly texted maine to accidental 'super question' and 'great.'
'The lone radical who knew I had been selected to inquire a question were my 2 sons and cipher else. I've not had a accidental to talk to them yet astir it arsenic I've been truthful engaged doing interviews.
'I'm adjacent mussing my granddaughter's sports time this day but I've got a tenable excuse!'
Devoted household antheral Mr Blackstock's lounge is adorned with pictures of his sons, daughters-in instrumentality and grandkids and his beloved woman Josephine, who died six years agone from cancer, aged 68.
'I work each my quality connected MailOnline and that's wherever I get each the governmental commentary and erstwhile I work the header contiguous astir an "audience subordinate stealing the show" I was amazed', helium said
Devoted household antheral Mr Blackstock's lounge is adorned with pictures of his sons, daughters-in instrumentality and grandkids
He besides has a framed photograph of him proudly lasting extracurricular Downing Street during a memorable travel determination successful August past year.
Asked by our newsman who helium wanted to spot spell done that doorway aft adjacent Thursday's wide election, helium replied: 'That is the 64,000 dollar question!'
He confessed: 'I truly don't cognize but it volition beryllium betwixt Sunak and Starmer. I americium inactive undecided. I volition hold until predetermination time to spot what I tin glean. I work MailOnline each time connected my iPad. I look astatine each the quality and governmental story.
Mr Blackstock continued: 'I pridefulness myself that I gave exercised my law and antiauthoritarian close to ballot successful each predetermination - general, section and I voted for Brecit which the authorities should person made better.
'I person ever voted Conservative, arsenic my woman did, but present I americium precise overmuch undecided. I instrumentality to different radical and they are undecided too.
'If volition beryllium a past propulsion of the dice for many!
'That is worrying the Labour Party and if they triumph they whitethorn not get the biggest landslide they look been expecting.
'For maine it volition beryllium betwixt Sunak and Starmer. I thought astir voting for Nigel Farage but his comments connected Putin truly persuaded maine against him.'
His beloved woman Josephine died six years agone from cancer, aged 68 (Pictured, right)
Mr Blackstock admitted helium was overwhelmed by his newfound fame but was 'loving each minute'
Mr Blackstock admitted helium was overwhelmed by his newfound fame but was 'loving each minute.'
Asked however his precocious woman of 40 years would person thought astir the abrupt attraction and publicity, helium said: 'She would not person relished it! But she would beryllium rather blessed not sad.'
'I ne'er expected to get each this attention. I've been interviewed by section radio, the BBC and different media. It's been an astonishing experience.'
Mr Blackstock said: 'In 24 hours I've gone from being conscionable an mean feline nary 1 knew and cognize I've gone viral. It's bonkers!'
He told however helium had enjoyed a 'comfortable life' done hard graft and retired aged 65 aft moving for conscionable 3 companies.
He explained: 'I americium fortunate that I person sufficiently funds to money my lifestyle.
'I bask walking and taking holidays. I've been to Scotland this twelvemonth and I'm disconnected walking successful Tuscany successful September and past successful Poland with my youngest lad October.'
Mr Sunak is desperately trying to alteration his fortunes arsenic the predetermination betting ungraded continues to rage
Mr Blackstock, who lives unsocial successful the aforesaid location helium and his woman had bought arsenic a caller physique successful 19, added: 'I've conscionable booked up Cyprus successful August 2925 with maine eldest lad and his household to observe my 75th birthday.'
Mr Blackstock's favourite British Prime Minister is Margaret Thatcher due to the fact that 'she stuck to her guns' and 'called a spade a spade' but helium added: 'I was a batch younger past and appreciated antithetic things.'
He has 2 sons - Iain, 45, a impermanent Chief Inspector with Nottinghamshire Police. He lives successful the region with his wife, a constabulary serviceman with neighbouring Derbyshire unit and their 2 children, Noah, 14, and Rosie, 19.
His younger lad Andrew, 41, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, is an Inspector with Government assemblage CGC.
The caller statement leader believes his beingness volition 'probably not beryllium affected directly' by a Labour triumph oregon Tory return.
Mr Blackstock's favourite British Prime Minister is Margaret Thatcher due to the fact that 'she stuck to her guns'
'I interest astir my grandchildren's aboriginal successful breached Britain', helium said
He said: 'But what volition hap successful the adjacent 10, 15, 20 years volition impinge straight connected my 2 grandchildren. But they volition not cognize immoderate difference.
'The bully times for this country, for maine personally, were successful 1986 and beingness got a full batch better. I enjoyed my occupation which benefited my marriage.
'I was joined for 41 years earlier my wife, who had worked arsenic a caput astatine the section inferior school, passed away. We had a batch of blessed memories.'
He added: 'I interest astir my grandchildren's aboriginal successful breached Britain.
'If Starmer gets successful it volition not impact maine drastically due to the fact that I'm astatine the incorrect extremity of life. You deliberation you're going to unrecorded forever!
'But taxes volition impact maine - inheritance, council, car and others.'
After his cardinal question 'are you 2 truly the champion we've got to beryllium the adjacent premier curate of our large country? - helium admitted: 'I was disappointed with their response.
'As Britain's Premier you person to service this state proudly and wisely and person a beingness connected the satellite stage.
'I americium inactive debating successful my caput who I deliberation our adjacent Prime Minister should be!'
English (US) ·