TAX ROW
Moment Rishi rips into Keir over ‘retirement tax’ before disgruntled Labour leader snaps at ‘desperate gimmicks’
The debate saw the pair clash angrily over taxes
RISHI Sunak tonight accused Sir Keir Starmer of plotting a tax grab on pensioners during heated debate clashes.
The PM took a swing at his No10 rival for failing to match his pledge to remove the levy on state pensions - branding it a "retirement tax".
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The Tories have vowed to implement a "triple lock plus" whereby pensioners would avoid paying income tax.
Facing off with his Labour rival, Mr Sunak said: "Under you, there’s a retirement tax coming for Britain’s pensioners. I think that’s appalling."
In a dramatic first TV debate:
- Rishi ripped into Keir over Labour's Tax Plans
- The PM accused the Labour leader of having 'no new ideas'
- He blasted Starmer for what the PM called a 'retirement tax'
- But Sir Keir hit back, calling the PM 'desperate'
- A snap YouGov poll showed 51% of people thought Rishi won
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Biting back, Sir Keir branded Mr Sunak "Britain's expert of raising taxes" and called his attacks a "desperate gimmick".
Mr Sunak is desperate to claw back ground in the polls which currently have Sir Keir on course to storm into Downing Street on July 5.
Tonight’s ITV head-to-head comes after both main parties were blindsided by Nigel Farage’s shock political comeback as leader of Reform UK.
YouGov polling shows 51% of people thought Sunak performed best overall in the debate, with 49% voting for Sir Keir.
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Sir Keir said: "What the Prime Minister's done so far in the first two weeks of this campaign is to make desperate gimmicks on the table.
Eight key flashpoints from the first major debate
Here's eight key flashpoints from the first major debate of the General Election 2024 between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
1) Sir Keir said he would never use private healthcare in any circumstances. Mr Sunak said he would.
2) Keir Starmer gets the first laugh of the night when he tears into PM's claim that “nhs waiting lists are coming down” .
3) The PM cheered by the audience as he berated Sir Keir over how he would resolve NHS strikes.
4) The Prime Minister hints at leaving the European Convention on Human Rights: "If I'm forced to choose between securing our borders and our country's security or a foreign court, I'm going to choose our country's security every single time."
5) Sir Keir's eye roll when Mr Sunak kept interrupting him.
6) Presenter Julie Etchingham forced to intervene when the two men kept shouting over each other: “Please, an appeal from me not to speak over one another.
7) Keir Starmer called Rishi Sunak “the British expert on tax rises”.
8) The PM attacks Starmer for helping hate preacher Abu Qatada fight his deportation in court in 2008.
"He's told us it's their policy to get rid of National Insurance altogether. That's £46 billion. He said it's their policy to get rid of inheritance tax. That's £10 billion. He says he's going to get rid of tax on pensioners..."
Mr Sunak cut in: "That's nonsense."
In their first bruising head-to-head the PM said the Labour leader is coming for “your work, your car, your pension – you name it, Labour will tax it. It's in their DNA.”
Sir Keir refused ten times to deny taxes would be hiked under Labour - as the pair clashed on the NHS, borders and their own trustworthiness.
The Prime Minister claimed Labour would raise taxes and “raid” people’s pension pots, while Starmer branded “Britain’s experts in tax rises.”
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