The latest head-to-head TV debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer was a lively affair. In contrast to previous outings, both politicians appeared unencumbered by the strict rules of the campaign and they were keen to land a blow on their opponent. Sunak, in particular, displayed a confident and persistent scrutiny of his opponent. He presented himself as an underdog with little to lose and went through much of the debate railing against the idea of a Labour government, using the phrase “surrender” repeatedly. His opponent was not shy either and countered with frequent put-downs and jabs of scepticism.
In the live environment, politicians must rely upon well-crafted phrases and memorable soundbites that can be deployed when the opportunity arises. These phrases are not scripted ad-libs, but a vital tool in the cut-and-thrust of the debate. The debate was full of these pithy sayings, with Sunak using the word “surrender” frequently and Starmer attacking the Chancellor’s lack of empathy with working families. The format of the debate, although the most competitive of the campaign so far, is unlikely to move the dial on the polls.
Despite the considerable amount of time the politicians have spent on the campaign trail, the polls are still not budging. For the moment, Labour’s significant lead in the surveys over the Conservatives looks set to continue. However, attention is currently focused on the relatively short period before the election, where voters will need to be wooed, reassured, and convinced. The importance of the final set-piece event, the TV debate, is a reflection of this fact.
It remains to be seen whether this debate and others like it will have any impact on the final result. With postal votes already on kitchen tables, the minds of voters are firmly focused on the big issues that will affect their lives in the coming years. The pressure is on for both candidates, and they will need to keep pushing themselves hard to persuade the voters in the days leading up to election day
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