12 June 2024 , 03:30
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Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will face off again in a live General Election TV showdown on Sky News.
The two leaders won't be debating against each other face-to-face this time, however, and will instead face a grilling both from an experienced TV host and members of the public. In the new one-off show, named The Battle for Number 10, the two leaders will be interviewed separately before taking questions from the audience.
It'll be broadcast live on Sky News from the studio in Grimsby at 7.30pm on Wednesday. The broadcaster said the Lincolnshire town had been chosen as it's expected to play a "key role in the election".
Sky political editor Beth Rigby will put both leaders on the spot in two 20-minute in-depth interviews, aiming to reveal more about what their parties can offer voters. Lead UK presenter Sarah-Jane Mee will be among a representative audience drawn from the local area and nationally, who will be able to put their questions to Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer in 25-minute slots. A coin toss will be held to decide who goes first.
The 'red wall' town of Grimsby has been represented by a Tory MP since 2019, having backed Labour for decades beforehand. The new constituency of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes formed under boundary changes is expected to be a key 'bellweather' seat this time around, meaning good results are likely for Keir Starmer across the UK if Labour win it on July 4.
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Last week, the two leaders clashed in a heated ITV debate which multiple pollsters said Keir Starmer won. Since then things have only got worse for the Prime Minister, who was fact-checked over his £2,000 tax bombshell claim and was then forced to apologise after skipping a landmark D-Day event on Thursday.
Sunak sparked fury from veterans, the public and members of his own party when he left the events in Normandy early on Thursday to take part in the pre-recorded ITV Tonight interview with Paul Brand. Mr Brand said the slot had been offered to the broadcaster directly by Number 10. The interview which he dodged the commemorations for, The Leader Interviews - Rishi Sunak, will be aired on ITV1 at 7pm on Wednesday.
The next head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 8.15pm to 9.30pm on Wednesday 26 June. Nick Robinson’s BBC Panorama interview with Keir Starmer will be broadcast this Friday at 7.30pm.