Leaders Clash On Migration, Tax And NHS In Ill-Tempered Debate

Starmer and Sunak also trade blows on cost of living and UK security

- Eleni Courea

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer tore into each other's election promises on tax and immigration in a fiery first TV debate of the campaign.

The party leaders exchanged barbs in an ill-tempered session before an ITV studio audience in Salford, where Starmer accused Sunak of being "the most liberal prime minister we've ever had on immigration" and pledged to keep the UK in the European convention of human rights.

The Labour leader hammered the Conservative record after 14 years in government and accused Sunak of failing to take personal responsibility for his failures, including the cost of living and NHS waiting times.

Sunak sought to present Starmer as an unreliable politician who was pursuing power for power's sake. He claimed repeatedly that Labour's policies would lead to a £2,000 tax rise for families, an attack the Conservatives are planning to deploy repeatedly over this campaign.

"Labour will raise your taxes. It's in their DNA. Your work, your car, your pension Labour will tax it," the prime minister said. In response Starmer said the Tories had "put pretend Labour policies to the Treasury" to produce a fantasy figure.

Starmer said the prime minister's decision to call an election now demonstrated that he didn't think his plans for the economy or illegal immigration would have any effect.

"If he thinks things are going to get better towards the second half of this year, why has he called it now? He's called it now because he knows, and I'll ask him this, he knows inflation is going to go back up, he knows energy prices are going to go back up in the autumn," Starmer said. "That's what he's not telling you."

Both leaders committed not to introduce income tax, national insurance or VAT.