General election 2024 live: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash in TV debate with PM called 'out of touch'

The Lib Dems have piped up about the debate. Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader, said: "Tonight the audience spoke for the nation when they asked: is this really the best we've got? Our country deserves so much better than what we watched this evening.

“Liberal Democrats are listening to you and fighting hard for the issues that matter to people. From the NHS to tackling the cost of living, we want a fair deal for our country.”

Two very different tales being spun in media room after the debate. Labour’s Pat McFadden and Jon Ashworth have just been talking to hacks. Their message is very clear, Rishi Sunak is promising more unfunded tax cuts, which Ashworth described as “Liz Truss 2.0”. While Home Secretary James Cleverly is talking about the economic stability that the Tories have brought, arguing that wages are rising and trade is increasing. The truth, as ever, is somewhere in the middle.

Earlier in the day, the Conservatives put out a tweet which just tax thousands of times. In tonight’s BBC debate, Rishi Sunak may have said the word even more often.

Every question was rerouted to that, he even responded to a question on Brexit by saying he would lower taxes for self-employed people. He repeated his claim that Labour would put up taxes by thousands of pounds, something Keir Starmer said was a “lie”, and brought in some new language by talking about surrender.

Sunak urged people not to “surrender” their family finances, their borders and even their council to Labour. The problem is for Sunak, are people listening? He’s spent the whole campaign talking about taxes and the polls have hardly budged. In his two fiscal events before the election, the Prime Minister cut national insurance and yet again the polls did not move.

With prisoners being released early, schools crumbling and sewage flooding our waterways, its not surprise than in focus groups more people say they want investment in public services.

Starmer again was quite scholarly in his answers, often taking a while to get to the point. At one point, he almost ran through his whole CV when he was asked why he and Sunak were so “mediocre”. The Labour leader was best when he was talking about hope and aspiration. He got applause for calling the PM out of touch, and appeared to have more confidence compared with the first debate.

Overall, it was probably a score draw, however the different messages were clear. Starmer spoke more of hope, while Sunak focused on fear.

We’re on closing statements. Rishi Sunak says he understands people are frustrated with him, but he says this is not a by-election. He says under Labour taxes will go up and people shouldn’t “surrender” to them.

There’s a slight interruption as Starmer says he shouldn’t “lie”. Then the Labour leader says if you want your NHS back you have to “vote for it”.

The pair are asked how they will protect women. Keir Starmer says he’s got lots of great women in his Shadow Cabinet. Rishi Sunak says he’s a dad. Not great answers from either of them.

An audience member has just called Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer “mediocre” and asks is this the best we’ve got? Sunak says he’s stabilised the economy and now he can start (guess what) cutting taxes.

Starmer runs through his CV in a long and meandering way, and then says he wants to bring about change to the UK. Sunak says he’s got a plan and that’s to cut taxes.

The Labour leader says he understands why people are disaffected with politics, he talks about partygate, gamble-gate and broken promises. This is probably Starmer’s best answer of the evening.

Keir Starmer is attacking Rishi Sunak over Liz Truss. The Labour leader says that after criticising his predecessor Sunak said the Tory Party should “unite”. Mishal Husain says that Starmer should know something about falling behind a party leader, referring to Jeremy Corbyn, and gets a round of applause.

Rishi Sunak is constantly talking about tax again, but we’re getting some new language from the Prime Minister. He keeps saying that you should not “surrender” your borders and taxes to Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. He’s been repeating this over and over again during during questions about migration and the Rwanda plan. It must be something that the Tories have focus grouped, and it could be effective - but is it too late?

We have two questions about work. One woman says more people should be off benefits and in work. Another woman says she’s disabled and cannot work, and asks what will happen to her?

Rishi Sunak is talking about taxes again, he says: “Lower taxes and lower welfare that’s what I will deliver. If you want higher taxer and higher welfare that’s what Keir Starmer will deliver.”

Starmer hits back: “If you listen to people in the audience and across the country you might be so out of touch.” He gets a big round of applause - ouch.

There appear to be some protesters outside the debate. You can hear them in the spin room, which is near to the studio. Mishal Husain has just addressed it, saying it is an important part of democracy.