Sir Keir Starmer performed best overall in Sky News leaders’ event, poll suggests
Sir Keir Starmer performed best overall in the Sky News leaders’ event, a snap YouGov poll suggests.
Almost two thirds – 64% – of those questioned said the Labour leader came out on top, compared to 36% who thought Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did better.
The question was: leaving aside your own party preference, who do you think performed best overall in tonight’s televised leaders’ event?
Latest updates from the leaders’ special event
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Starmer called ‘political robot’
During the Battle For Number 10 programme, broadcast live from Grimsby Town Hall, the leaders each faced a 20-minute interview from Sky News political editor Beth Rigby followed by 25 minutes of questions from audience members.
Afterwards, when the voters in the poll were asked who came across as more trustworthy, 58% said Sir Keir, while 28% stated Mr Sunak.
Also, 56% said Sir Keir was more likeable, compared to 29% for his rival.
According to 71%, the Labour leader came across as more in touch with ordinary people, while 13% opted for the prime minister.
And when the voters were asked who came across as more prime ministerial, 50% said it was Sir Keir, with 35% saying Mr Sunak.
Those sampled were also asked who they thought performed best during the section on the NHS.
According to the poll, 70% chose Sir Keir, compared to 20% for Mr Sunak.
Read more from Sky News:
Starmer reveals ‘worry’ for family if he enters No 10
Sunak ‘excited’ about daughters taking part in national service
Boos, groans and revelations at leaders’ event
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sunak on ‘transformative’ national service
When it came to who performed best in the section on issues facing young people, 58% opted for Sir Keir, with 27% choosing the prime minister.
On the section about the economy, it was closer – 49% for the Labour leader and 42% for the Conservative leader.
It was almost honours-even on the tax section – 42% for Sir Keir and 41% for Mr Sunak.
Also when the voters were asked which words (up to three from a list) they would use to describe the event, 52% said “interesting”, 47% went for “frustrating”, 37% chose “engaging”, 27% said “helpful” and 26% picked “vague”.
During the event, Mr Sunak was questioned by Beth Rigby about the progress he has made on the five key priorities he set out at the start of last year.
As part of his reply, he commented that junior doctors’ strikes have had an impact on NHS waiting lists – and was loudly booed by a member of the audience as a result.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Earlier, Sir Keir briefly seemed stumped after an audience member suggested he had become a “political robot” and asked how he would convince people to vote for him.
After a brief pause and a laugh from the audience, Sir Keir stressed a history of public service, particularly as director of public prosecutions, and said he was not “tribally political”.
Asked whether Sir Keir had convinced him, the audience member said: “You don’t seem to answer the question.”
The Labour leader also said his party’s manifesto, set to be published on Thursday, will contain no surprises on tax, while Mr Sunak continued to insist he will “keep fighting hard until the last day of this election”.
Some 1,864 respondents took part in the poll.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway