UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor Party leader Keir Starmer have set different goals for the latest face-to-face between the two leaders hoping to be prime minister after the September 4 general election. Polls indicate a wide lead for Labor, which is within a very comfortable distance of the Conservative Party. In this debate, the Chief Executive tried to show voters that the Conservatives are a safe option, but the opposition leader offered something that Rishi Sunak could never offer: political alternation.

In a debate of one hour and fifteen minutes broadcast by the BBC, Rishi Sunak acknowledged that there is a certain “frustration” among the British with their Government and even “with themselves.” “Let me finish what I started.”, the conservative asked, promising “a future with lower taxes, safer borders and protected pensions.” Throughout the face-to-face, the prime minister reiterated several times that the economy is improving – “inflation has slowed, wages have increased” –, accusing his Labor rival of being capable of creating a disaster in public accounts. .

For his part, Keir Starmer set out to remember the last 14 years of the Conservative Party government and even took the opportunity to rescue ghosts from the past, such as the party (and the parties in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic) and until the Former Prime Minister’s 45-day term, Liz Truss. These elections are, therefore, an opportunity to “turn the page” and undertake changes. “We’ve had the Conservatives for 14 years. “They are not working well.”

If Labor listed the failures of Rishi Sunak’s mandate, the Conservatives preferred to warn of an uncertain future that could begin on July 5. At the end of the head-to-head, a YovGov poll pointed to a tie between the two candidates. Given the most likely outcome of this election, the prime minister may have missed an opportunity to prevail in the campaign.

Migrations. Despite the controversy, Sunak was better and Starmer felt uncomfortable

Polls indicate that the conservatives will occupy second place with around 20% of voting intentions. In third place, very close, should be Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which adopts an anti-immigration discourse. In this sense, Rishi Sunak tried, in this face-to-face, to captivate part of this electorate, promising tougher measures against illegal immigration.

As the banner of the electoral plan, Rishi Sunak defended the plan to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda, something that, according to the conservative, other European countries “think is the best solution to solve the problem.” In this sense, the prime minister took the opportunity to harshly criticize his rival, defending that, if Labor wins, “illegal immigrants will be on the streets.” “Don’t hand over the borders to the Labor Party”, He insisted more than once.

Keir Starmer took the opportunity to harshly criticize the Prime Minister’s plan, highlighting the economic costs and the long duration of the process of deportation of illegal immigrants to Rwanda. “The government has lost control of our borders,” the union leader accused, adding that it is a problem that poses risks to national security.

Still, under pressure several times from Rishi Sunak, the Labor Party has never given a concrete answer about what it will do about illegal immigration. He pointed out an important “threat”: the “gangs” that organize trips in “small boats” to cross the “English Channel.” Keir Starmer believes that these illegal immigration networks must be fought, but when the Prime Minister asked how, he could not give a concrete answer.

In this context, Rishi Sunak stated that the majority of migrants come from countries such as “Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.” Keir Starmer stated that there must be agreements with these countries and the British Prime Minister took the opportunity to attack his rival: “Shall we negotiate with the Ayatollah?” There was loud applause in the hall at Nottingham Trent University and the opposition leader looked clearly embarrassed.

Economy: Sunak insisted on increasing labor taxes, Starmer recalled Liz Truss’ plan

During the debate, the two ideas that Rishi Sunak insisted on most were the promise that he will lower taxes and the guarantee that the Labor Party, if it wins the election, will increase them. “Remember my words: taxes will increase with Labor,” reiterated the chief executive, who assured that he will keep pensions unchanged, help the youngest to buy a house and support small and medium-sized businesses.

Without ever implementing the ideas of the economic plan, Rishi Sunak preferred to agitate the “bogeyman” in a scenario of a Labor victory. Asked what the two leaders would do about local political funding, the British Prime Minister took the opportunity to point out that places like Nottingham and Birmingham, controlled by Labour, are “bankrupt”. “This is the harbinger of what will happen if Labour comes to power,” he warned.

In response, Keir Starmer preferred to focus on the past, recalling what happened with Liz Truss’ economic plan, which planned to reduce taxes on the highest income strata. “We know your destiny.” shot at the union leader, alluding to the dismissal of the former prime minister. He also recalled that, for some time, Rishi Sunak supported the former Conservative leader, including her financial plan.

Several times throughout the debate, Labor gave the Prime Minister the image of being “out of touch with reality”. This is, in fact, the fame that the Prime Minister has among many Britons, due to the fact that he is a millionaire. “Rishi Sunak will not change. Let’s rebuild the country and public services”asked Keir Starmer, adding that there were promises that “were not kept”.

Europe: Sunak accuses Starmer of reintroducing “freedom of movement” with the EU, the Labor Party clarifies that it does not want to rejoin the community bloc

In a debate focused on the economy and migration, there was still time to discuss how the two leaders see the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), inevitably still marked by Brexit. Rishi Sunak was clear and assured that he does not want to change anything, while Keir Starmer wants a stronger trade agreement with the community bloc.

In the Prime Minister’s view, the 2016 referendum decision on the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union must be respected and it is now up to the British government to do so. “It couldn’t be better”. Rishi Sunak assured that there is a “good relationship” with Europe, recalling the signing of the agreement between Brussels and Northern Ireland on the border.

Now, Keir Starmer disagrees. Acknowledging that it voted in favor of remaining in the European Union, the Labor Party believes that there must be a “better trade agreement” with Brussels, since the current one harms the British. However, Rishi Sunak stressed that an agreement with Brussels would lead to the reintroduction of “freedom of movement” and that would increase the number of immigrants from the 27 Member States, who would try to wink – here too – to some of Nigel Farage’s voters.

“That makes no sense,” responded Keir Starmer, assuring: “We were clear [os trabalhistas] about it. “We are not going to join the European Union, we are not going to join the single market and we are not going to restore freedom of movement.” Still, Labor wants to review the agreement and assumes it is not “defeatist.” “I want a better deal and I want to fight for it.”

Only Social Security linked Starmer to Sunak, but tenuously

Over the course of this hour and fifteen minutes, the leaders rarely agreed. One of those rare moments involved Social Security: both admit the problem of the high number of people on sick leave in the UK today. However, they disagree on how to combat the phenomenon.

Keir Starmer believes it is necessary “Dignity and respect” so that people have a “secure job”, although he continues to admit failures in the system, relating them to the state of the national health service (NHS). Rishi Sunak was tougher. “There are too many people being discharged. We have to do something,” he stated, adding that a “Social Security reform plan” had been presented. “Keir Starmer opposed everything I proposed.”

Another issue that equally bothered the two party leaders was the bets placed by party members for these elections, who were betting in favor of themselves (or even against them). Rishi Sunak was the first to comment on the matter and said that he “understands the fury” of citizens: “I was furious when I heard about the accusations.” The prime minister recalled that the conservatives opened an investigation and investigation, but did not give further details. “We suspended two candidates,” he is stressed.

For his part, Keir Starmer also condemned the betting movements, ensuring that he has done and will do “everything possible” to suspend the candidates involved in this scandal. Labor took the opportunity to recall another controversy, insisting that Rishi Sunak was “convicted” for breaking the rules during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this episode demonstrates the prime minister’s lack of “integrity”.

After the Conservatives, the Labor Party suspends the candidate who bet against himself

At the end of the debate, Rishi Sunak asked voters for another chance, warning of the “profound consequences” of a Labor victory, particularly higher taxes. At that moment, Keir Starmer became emotional and told a “lie.” Then, he presented his best electoral asset: “We have been in chaos for 14 years. Let’s rebuild the country. On July 4, vote for change, vote for Labor.”