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Angela Rayner and Penny Mordaunt have exchanged fiery words as they go head-to-head on taxes, the NHS and defence in a seven-way TV debate.
The leading party figures clashed after the Tory politician repeated a claim that Labour would make working families pay £2,000 more in tax - a figure which has been criticised by Treasury experts.
Debate moderator Mishal Husain interrupted Mordaunt to remind her the figure had been questioned and Green Party leader Carla Denyer described her opponents “terribly dignified”.
Leading political figures also clashed on the issue of migration as Nigel Farage - who is well known for his views on migration - accused both Conservative and Labour governments of not controlling migration as he pledged to “stop migrants from bringing their family members to the UK”.
The issue came to light after Penny Mordaunt admitted prime minister Rishi Sunak was “very wrong” to have deserted D-Day commemorations early.
Sunakfaced intense criticismfor leaving theD-Day commemorationsin Normandy early on Thursday to continue his election campaign trail.
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Farage says ‘not much difference' between Labour and the Tories
Nigel Farage says there is not much difference between Labour and the Conservatives, accused the main parties of engaging in “pathetic arguments”.
The Reform UK leader is convinced that Labour are set to win the general election, and that the real discussion should be around who will become the opposition.
He says that should be Reform UK and warns the audience that the party will make history becoming a “political phenomenon”.
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 21:08
Name your winner as political parties clash in debate
Leading figures from the UK’s main political parties have clashed over the key issues in the second live TV debate of the general election – and we want to know what you make of it all.
We want to know what you made of the BBC debate. Did it help change your mind about any of the major parties?
Who came out on top for you? And who should be holding their head in their hands?
Submit your opinion here.
Athena Stavrou7 June 2024 21:07
Analysis: Winners and losers
The big loser on the night was Penny Mordaunt because she had lost before the debate started by having to address the prime minister’s D-Day gaffe.
She will be pleased though that so much of the debate was between her and Angela Rayner, David Maddox writes.
Angela Rayner was very wooden but because of Labour’s huge poll lead all she had to do was not make a mistake. So she was in that sense a winner.
These scenarios always help Farage because he can stand out as the real rightwinger. With his party trying to grab disillusioned Tories he had a clear opportunity to get heard. However, he was drowned out by the Mordaunt Rayner ding dong and looked a bit part figure.
The Lib Dems’ Daisy Cooper looked like a future party leader and had the best moment when she talked about her grandfather at D-Day.
For the SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru they were winners because for small parties not necessarily representing the all the country they all got a national platform.
The real issue though is who was listening? On a Friday evening in an election that feels like a forgone conclusion it is possible not many tuned in.
Athena Stavrou7 June 2024 21:04
Flynn says the Tories are ‘finished’
The SNP leader in Westminster says voters should in Scotland should consider who will put the country’s interests first.
He adds that the SNP would prioritise the NHS, re-joining the single market and delivering on net zero.
Flynn ends: “We would never get comfortable with the Westminster status quo.”
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 21:03
Carla Denyer: The Tories are toast, thanks goodness
In her final thoughts, the Green Party co-leader has injected some humour into a fiery debate.
She says: “The Tories are toast, thanks goodness. But Labour offering the same.”
In her final words of the BBC debate, she said: “We can all see the Tories are toast – thank goodness.
Ms Denyer adds: “But we deserve better than a Labour Party that is offering more of the same.
“Angela (Rayner) says that Keir (Starmer) has changed the Labour Party, and she’s right.
“He’s changed them into the Conservatives.”
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 21:00
Angela Rayner starts sharing final thoughts
The Labour deputy leader repeats Sir Keir Starmer’s favourite line, saying: “After 14 years of chaos it’s time for change.”
She promises that Keir Starmer will fix what the Tories have broken adding: “If you want change vote Labour.”
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 20:56
Nigel Farage vows to stop and search despite racial profiling criticism
The Reform UK leader vows to protect future generations from knife crime by using ‘stop and search’.
The policing measures have been heavily criticised for allowing police forces to racially profile communities.
Dismissing the criticism, Mr Farage claims the party will completely disregard race and colour.
“We do know the areas where knife crime is high,” he adds.
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 20:49
Question 7: Knife crime
A father has asked the seven politicians about how they would reduce rates of knife crime.
Nick O’Donnel said he was nervous about his son, who is about to start secondary school, going out due to the rise in knife crime.
Debate moderator Mishal Husain added that knife crime has risen by 8 per cent since 2019.
Athena Stavrou7 June 2024 20:46
Mordaunt accuses Labour of undermining oil and gas workers
Penny Mordaunt is attacking Labour over their energy pledges and claims it will undermine people in the oil and gas industry
But Angela Rayner says: “Great Energy will bring energy to the country and will bring down bills and give people good skilled jobs.”
It comes as Unite union refused to endorse the Labour manifesto today saying it does not protect worker’s rights and jobs in the oil gas industry.
Unite is the largest union supporting the party at the general election. IN 2019, Unite handed Labour’s campaign £3m.
Salma Ouaguira7 June 2024 20:44
Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner clash during live BBC election debate: ‘I won’t take lectures from you’
Penny Mordaunt andAngela Raynerbecame embroiled in a heated clash over defence as theLabourdeputy leader claimed: “I won’t take lectures from you”.
The candidates were taking part in aBBClive election debate on Friday, when the subject of the UK’s defence came up.
Conservativecandidate Ms Mordaunt accused Rayer of voting to end the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
She said: “If you are doubting that they would use that force, imagine what Putin is thinking. Without credibility, we become a target. If we become a target we are less safe.”
Ms Rayner hit back and told Ms Mordaunt: “You can tell as many lies as you want.”
“My brother served in Iraq and I won’t be lectured by you.”
Watch here:
Athena Stavrou7 June 2024 20:41
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