Keir Starmer remains mute on key tax issues as Rishi Sunak receives a bruising during Sky News’ Battle For No 10
Whether it was the audience reaction, the overwhelming verdict in a snap poll or simply the crestfallen look of the PM as he battled to defend his record, it was clear which of the two leaders had the more challenging time on Wednesday night.
The Battle for Number 10 rigorously ran the rule over Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, with questions from a 100-strong Grimsby audience and a meticulous interview with political editor Beth Rigby.
It is the mid-point of the general election campaign, so the Sky News special programme came at a pivotal moment.
We saw a Labour leader trained to give as little away as possible – sticking to a script on tax which will allow for unadvertised post-election tax rises that the safety-first campaign will not take the risk of spelling out now.
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Whether it was fuel duty, council tax and capital gains tax, each the Labour leader said he has no plans to raise.
We also saw a Labour leader being forced to concede he has abandoned pledges and change position when he believes the moment demands, meaning real questions remain about exactly what will happen if – as seems likely – Keir Starmer enters Number 10 with a bombproof majority.
Starmer was questioned by the audience over likeability and whether he was too much of a robot – only to deliver a robotic answer.
If he makes it to power, there are signs from today’s encounter his honeymoon may be brief.
Sir Keir Starmer on stage being questioned by Sky News’ Beth Rigby and a 100-strong Grimsby audience
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak battled to turn around his campaign at the event in Grimsby
But the night mattered much more for Rishi Sunak, after a rocky campaign which caught his party and the country by surprise, he needed a transformative win.
It didn’t appear to come.
The area that Sunak came unstuck on was his own record. His struggles to explain his own record when challenged by the facts was picked up by the audience.
He appeared to redefine his pledge to bring down debt, saying it was always intended to come down in five years.
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His attempt to put the blame on rising waiting lists on the junior doctors was booed, while the claim they were going down, when overall in his premiership they are rising, was challenged robustly.
The audience was aghast at the scale of immigration rises, while clapped at the idea Sunak had called the election before allowing the Rwanda policy to be tested.
Sunak looked in turn wounded and bristled at the lines of questioning. But the audience knew what they were looking for – disinterested in a PM sidestepping the questions they wanted answered.
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Inside Sky’s special leaders’ event
The polling verdict was brutal – 64 to 36 thought Starmer won over Sunak, while one in three 2019 Tory voters, who backed Boris Johnson, thought the Labour leader was better.
This was a big moment for Sunak, but he didn’t seize it. Are there many more opportunities?
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
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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.
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