Unexpectedly, the disrupter in the room, who kept talking over both his opponent and the chair was the usually well-mannered prime minister, proving that nobody tears up the Queensberry rules quicker than a posh boy with his back to the wall.
Edifying it was not. But the first leader’s debate of the 2024 election was undeniably livelier than the dreary arguments between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.
It started with all the worn-out clichés of the genre: drumming war music; two suited gladiators in front of moving screens that gave a queasy seasick feeling; a spotlight on super-calm Ms Etchingham, quite the ice queen.
After the 30-second opening speeches – nothing new in either of them – it went over to the first questioner. Paula from Huddersfield spoke movingly of her struggle to make ends meet. “All I do is work to live,” she said. “My savings are gone and I genuinely worry about the future.”
Denne historien er fra June 05, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra June 05, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Fernandes saves ponderous United with extra-time goal
A stray punch got the battle of Britain going, but it took the right boot of Bruno Fernandes to decide it.
Keys overcomes Swiatek power in semi-final thriller
Tennis has seen its fair share of mesmerising performances.
RFU chief executive vows to stay despite bonus row
A defiant Bill Sweeney has vowed to continue as chief executive of England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, even as he faces a revolt within the game over his tenure.
Canelo vs Crawford is the super fight with a twist
Mexican idol and US star set for September meet as fight fixer Turki Alalshikh strikes again,
Consumer confidence in economy falls to new low’
Consumer expectations for the economy have plunged as the government faces continued pressure over public finances.
SLAVE TO THE BEAT
On 'Eusexua', her defiantly weird paean to the Prague rave scene, FKA twigs bends vital new electronic shapes, writes Helen Brown, while rapper Central Cee's debut delivers
Think kink: the distinctions between BDSM and abuse
Olivia Petter talks to sex educators about what differentiates a consensual sexual practice from abusive behaviour, and why it's so crucial for partners to understand these polarities
Air pollution crisis in focus ahead of Delhi's election
Toxic air in India’s capital, population more than 33 million, has become a key political issue,
Lost Tina Turner track casts light on her return to fame
A surprise treasure has been unearthed from Tina Turner's vaults: the previously unheard track \"Hot for You, Baby\", which was intended for use on her fifth solo album, Private Dancer.
Could Britain really join a European customs union?
Europe's new trade official responsible for post-Brexit negotiations has said a \"pan-European [customs] area\" is something the EU could consider as part of \"resetting\" relations between the UK post-Brexit and the EU.
