BBC general election debate live: Sunak and Starmer face each other for final time

A bore draw was enough to ensure England topped their Euro 24 group last night and head off to the easier side of the draw. But this will not do for Rishi Sunak, our Political Editor David Maddox reports.

As he preps for tonight’s last head-to-head debate with Sir Keir Starmer he knows he needs to score multiple goals in a rout to even hope to turn things around.

The polls keep telling us that the Tory blue team is miles behind the Labour reds with many of their supporters off at a different stadium watching Nigel Farage’s light blue Reform instead.

This is definitely not the night for Sunak to play safe while the Labour can park the proverbial bus in front of his goal and see the 90 minutes out.

Even if Sunak wins tonight though it feels like it is far too late to turn his fortunes around. He has suffered too much from gambling and D-Day own goals and terrible discipline within his own team.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said all taxes would be put at risk under a Labour government as he warned of a “tax bombshell”.

Mr Cleverly told reporters on the campaign trail in Nottinghamshire: “Rachel Reeves is now refusing to rule out other tax rises, we know that they are going to have to make up that shortfall in their finances, and so everything is at risk.

“Taxation on pensions is at risk, taxation on businesses like this one is at risk, likely to go up, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, council tax bands, all these things are going to go up under Labour because they have a gaping hole in their finances.”

The televised event will be the last chance the two party leaders have to put their policies before a live audience chosen by pollster Savanta.

It comes as ITV and Sky News hosted their own debates throughout the month of June.

From a debate stage at Nottingham Trent University, the contenders to be prime minister will face moments of jeopardy and opportunity during 75 minutes.

Tonight’s debate will be hosted by Mishal Husain, a senior radio presenter and TV host who has been at the BBC since 1998.

Here’s everything you should know about the veteran BBC host.

In the blue corner, telling assembled journalists Rishi Sunak was the man on top, are senior Tory David Davis, home secretary James Cleverly, chief secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott and health secretary Victoria Atkins, Archie Mitchell reports.

In the red corner, lining up to convince viewers Sir Keir Starmer won the day, are shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, general attack dog Jonathan Ashworth, shadow chief Treasury secretary Darren Jones, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson and national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden.

As a bonus for attendees, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper is circling the spin room in an electric blue two-piece, no doubt gearing up to tell the assembled press that both were as bad as each other.

Our Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell is reporting from the spin room ahead of the BBC leaders debate at Nottingham Trent University.

A slew of journalists, MPs, pollsters and spin doctors have descended on Nottingham Trent University for the final head to head clash of the general election, he writes.

Sparks are set to fly on stage between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, but things are heating up behind the scenes.

The so-called spin room, in the university’s Newton & Arkwright building, is like a greenhouse, with the sun beating down on a ceiling coated with windows.

Most of those present have moaned about the unbearable heat.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, one of Labour’s spinners for the night, was overheard telling an interviewer he is “broadcasting live from an incinerator”.

Jonathan Ashworth has been speaking to the BBC ahead of tonight’s leaders debate.

The Labour candidate for Leicester South has admitted he would be watching the Georgia vs Portugal game tonight instead of the debate.

Speaking to Ross Atkins, he said: “I have to be honest with you, if I wasn’t here I’d be watching the football at the Euros tonight.”

The BBC presenter then asks the Labour member: “You mean you wouldn’t be turning on to watch the leader of your party making his case to be prime minister?”

The shadow Paymaster general responds: “I’m afraid I probably let the cow out of the barn there.”

The Home Secretary has refused to rule out running for the future Conservative leadership contest if the party loses the general election.

Mr Cleverly said: “Leader of the opposition, by definition, means you’re planning for a defeat. And that’s not what I do.

“That’s not what any Conservative candidate should do at this general election.

“We should work for a victory. We should work to take our message to the voters. We should work for every vote.”

Pressed on whether he would consider replacing Rishi Sunak if he loses on July 4, Mr Cleverly dodged the question.

Instead, he said: “My focus is on making sure that I’m returned as the Conservative MP for Braintree.

“Our focus should be winning the election. And that and that is where my focus is.”

A poll has revealed Reform UK could win as many as 18 seats in the upcoming general election.

The MRP survey predicted the Tories would emerge in third place and the Lib Dems just behind Labour, which would win 450 seats.