SARAH VINE's debate verdict: Etchingham was flawless as host. But Rishi, with real fire in his belly, won the day

Standing astatine 2 luminous lecterns, against a backdrop that looked similar thing retired of The Matrix, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour pretender Keir Starmer squared up for the archetypal unrecorded statement of this election.

Both suited and booted, some men’s heavy heads of hairsbreadth slickly parted successful the aforesaid direction, Sunak’s progressively streaked with grey. The ambiance sombre and business-like. Thank God for Julie Etchingham’s tough-but-feminine pinkish trouser-suit.

Starmer first, that present acquainted nasal twang: ‘Change, me, plan.’ Sunak: ‘Security, me, plan.’ The assemblage looked stern.

First question: cost of living.

Paula coating a bleak representation of her fiscal difficulties. Sunak connected acquainted territory, setting retired his record: my program is working, taxes would spell up by £2,000 for each ­person nether Labour.

Starmer’s effect much ­emotional, reaching retired to the audience, empathising, challenging the Conservative record.

Sunak bullish – pushing his docket firmly, possibly a small excessively firmly. Reminding america each astir furlough, underlining his portion successful helping ­people. Yes, Etchingham counters, but what are you going to bash astir Paula’s situation?

Starmer coming backmost in, ­reminding the assemblage of his ain family’s fiscal troubles arsenic a young antheral – separating his ain acquisition from Sunak’s. Classic people warfare.

Next up, Janet, a cancer sufferer from Telford. Is the NHS broken?

Starmer first, neatly reminding america of his wife’s engagement successful the NHS. So it’s personal. Sunak counters with his GP and pharmacist mum, acknowledges the difficulties, mentions the doctor’s strikes.

Starmer mocking, Sunak defensive, pointing retired that the doctors’ national are demanding a 35 per cent wage rise, which helium won’t pay.

The archetypal circular of applause successful the studio; Sunak plays his vantage hard: what would Starmer bash differently?

Starmer somewhat wrong-footed, resorts to gag astir Liz Truss. Then a large ­question from Etchingham: would either of the leaders usage backstage health? Sunak, yes; Starmer, no. The archetypal wide dividing line.

Next issue: societal care. Will it beryllium afloat funded?

Rishi concise and clear: yes, already costed, successful train. Starmer same, it volition beryllium successful the manifesto. Sunak attacks connected taxation again, but Etchingham reins him in, politely but precise firmly.

On to education, a blistery murphy acknowledgment to Starmer’s plans to add VAT to backstage schools. Waffle from him, crisp question from Etchingham astir the VAT, 2nd circular of applause for his explanation.

Sunak, undeterred, going backmost successful hard connected taxes. Etchingham posing an important question: if neither of you are raising taxes, wherever is the wealth coming from?

Starmer gets immoderate applause for saying helium volition scrap non-dom presumption – Sunak pointing retired he’s already done that. Adds that for the archetypal time, nether Starmer, pensioners volition wage tax. Challenges Starmer straight connected that – and helium fudges, badly.

Sunak wide and authoritative; Starmer randomly brings up Truss again (he’s intelligibly been told by his squad that’s a bully idea). Going into the break, Sunak slicker, clearer, much focused, a wide win.

After the break, it’s consecutive onto 1 of the astir contentious issues successful this election: immigration. Sunak steadfast and confident: instrumentality to our plan. Starmer attacks the Prime Minister connected nett migration and tiny vessel crossings: ‘He’s made a committedness and he’s failed to support it.’

But, erstwhile again, Sunak turns the onslaught backmost connected Starmer: what would helium do?

Smash the gangs, says Starmer, to enthusiastic applause. But Sunak points retired that helium voted against Conservative plans successful parliament to bash conscionable that. Ah.

By present a signifier is emerging: Sunak, contempt his unspeakable ratings, has existent occurrence successful his belly. He’s crossed his brief, connected apical of each issues, prepared to marque pugnacious decisions. Starmer somewhat slower, testy, somewhat hectoring successful that acquainted lawyerly fashion.

Much shaking of his caput successful a much disappointed than aggravated benignant of a way. Perhaps helium expected an easier ride, going into this with the canvass advantage. But helium did not get it, surely not erstwhile Sunak pointed retired his grounds moving connected behalf of banned Islamist radical Hizb ut-Tahrir; Starmer glossing implicit that.

This was a punchy debate, hosted expertly by Etchingham, who managed to steer the speech with grace and flawless professionalism.

A winner? Unexpectedly, Sunak. He whitethorn not beryllium apical of the polls, but judging by this performance, he’s not rather finished yet.

 WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

Rishi was determined, quick-witted and feisty

by STEPHEN GLOVER 

Rishi Sunak came to past night’s ITV statement a spot down successful the mouth. Nigel Farage had popped retired of the woodwork, threatening to snatch votes from the Tories. Yet different canvass envisages a Labour landslide.

But if the Prime Minister felt depressed, helium didn’t amusement it. If he’s cursing himself for calling the predetermination earlier than helium needed to, determination were nary signs.

The question was whether Sir Keir Starmer – who looked somewhat tense to commencement with – would interruption his wont of not revealing Labour’s plans. He didn’t. He dug into his trusty playbook, blaming the Tories for ‘chaos’ and for losing control.

The Labour person reminded us, arsenic usual, that his parent was a caregiver and his begetter a toolmaker. The Starmer household had erstwhile had their telephone chopped off. His proposition that Rishi was retired of interaction was met with a reminder from the PM that his begetter was a GP.

Mr Sunak was much circumstantial astir aboriginal policies – the ‘future’ was a connection helium kept repeating, possibly due to the fact that he’s little arrogant of the past than helium mightiness be. The Tories would chopped tax, support pensions and trim immigration.

Rishi was fired up, the Labour person stolid. The Prime Minister came across arsenic determined and much quick-witted than Sir Keir, the ponderous barrister.

I uncertainty galore minds were changed. There was nary knockout. But Rishi was sharper and his feisty show volition person fixed encouragement to the Tory rank-and-file – and Rishi himself. He was the wide winner.

 WINNER: RISHI SUNAK

Keir turned connected charm, humanity and empathy

by DAN HODGES 

This statement was billed arsenic Rishi Sunak’s past accidental to prevention the election. He failed.

The evening was efficaciously implicit aft the archetypal question. Paula asked a question detailing the quality world of the outgo of surviving crisis.

The Prime Minister gave a polished but robotic effect attacking Labour’s program for taxation rises. But Keir Starmer turned connected the charm, and the humanity, empathising straight with her plight.

It lone got worse for Sunak. The 2nd question was astir NHS waiting lists. The PM tried to assertion they were coming down connected his watch. Starmer, to laughs from the audience, pointed retired they had risen nether the Tories. Sunak insisted they were coming down from the constituent astatine which they were highest. The assemblage groaned.

The PM had his moments. When pushing Keir connected however helium would really lick the NHS strikes, helium yet got Labour’s person connected the backmost foot. But past helium promptly vacated the precocious crushed by consistently interrupting Starmer’s responses. ‘How!!!’ helium shouted petulantly, and astatine that infinitesimal made Starmer look much similar a premier curate than helium did.

Tory strategists volition beryllium pleased that Sunak stuck to his enactment astir the hazard of Labour taxation increases. But this was neutralised erstwhile moderator Julie Etchingham asked some men to enactment up their manus if their taxation policies differed. Neither did.

Rishi Sunak desperately needed a crippled changer. He didn’t get it.

 WINNER: KEIR STARMER