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BBC debate: 'Are you two really the best we've got?'

The two men battling to be PM after the general election faced a tough question from an audience member during the BBC head-to-head debate in Nottingham.

Robert Blackstock asked Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer if they were the best choice of leader for the UK.

26 June 2024

General election 2024

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Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs in the Commons.

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Chris Mason standing outside Downing Street

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Rishi Sunak wearing a blue suit and a grey tie, standing in the Commons

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Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs

Starmer thanks Sunak for hard work, commitment and decency

PM Sir Keir Starmer wearing a suit, making a speech at a lectern, standing in front of a backdrop with 'fixing the foundations' written on it

Sir Keir Starmer: Working people know who they are

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, wears a blue suit and glasses, as he stands in the House of Commons. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves sit either side of him on the benches.

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Sir Keir Starmer

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

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Keir Starmer on stage at his party conference

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UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer walking with Laura Kuenssberg

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer 'truly shocked' by state of the prison system

Keir Starmer in Commons

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Keir Starmer an PMQs

PMQs heats up as leaders clash over winter fuel payments

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

PM: State of flats owned by Labour MP 'unacceptable'

Keir Starmer addressing journalist during news conference

Starmer condemns 'far-right thuggery' as unrest continues

South Yorkshire

Sir Keir Starmer

'These thugs are mobile' - Starmer denounces violence on streets

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer's first PMQs as prime minister... in 90 seconds

Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer's first PMQs question from Sunak as prime minister

Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer calls Sunak 'prime minister' in Commons slip-up

Sir Keir Starmer

Not an easy decision - Starmer on Biden standing down

John Prescott downing a pint in 1994

Watch: John Prescott downs a pint in five seconds

While on the campaign trail in 1994, the Labour stalwart lived up to his man of the people reputation.

John Prescott is pushed back against a wall by a protester; there is egg on Prescott's shoulder

Moment Prescott punched protester who threw egg at him

The then deputy prime minister was in Rhyl, north Wales, to speak at a Labour rally, in 2001.

John Prescott wearing a black suit and hanging out of a bus window

John Prescott: The political heavyweight who stewarded New Labour

The former deputy leader of the Labour Party, who later sat in the Lords, leaves a wife and two sons.

Woman in hooded coat at farmer protest in Westminster

Watch: Young farmers on why they're protesting

Farmers on why they're protesting about inheritance tax

Darren Jones in BBC Political Thinking radio studio

My parents went without to feed me, says Treasury minister

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones talks to the BBC about his childhood.

Leading Tory party 'is the most enormous honour'

Kemi Badenoch has won the Conservative leadership race, replacing Rishi Sunak.

Henry Zeffman outside parliament wearing a suit and poppy pin

Henry Zeffman: How this Budget could change your life

Henry Zeffman: How this Budget could change your life

Treasury minister James Murray in the BBC Radio 4 Today programme studio

Minister asked five times if landlords count as 'working people'

Treasury minister James Murray was pressed on what makes someone a "working" person ahead of next week's Budget.

Head and shoulders picture of Rachel Reeves

'We must change the way we measure debt' - Reeves

The Chancellor has indicated that she will change the debt rules in the Budget to help fund new projects.

Angela Rayner

Rayner 'will miss' Dowden 'battle of the gingers' exchanges

The deputy PM highlights the "battle of the gingers" with her shadow in a light-hearted reference to their similar hair colours.

Baron Mackinlay of Richborough in formal robes shaking hands in the House of Lords.

'Bionic lord' takes up seat in Parliament

Former MP Craig Mackinlay becomes the first quadruple amputee to sit in the Lords.

Boris Johnson wearing a suit and headphones speaking into a mic in a BBC radio studio

Watch: Fiery exchange as Boris Johnson asked if he is a 'liar'

Boris Johnson rejects the notion that he is a 'liar'.

Protester at Labour conference

Protester dragged out after interrupting Reeves speech

The protester accused the government of continuing to sell arms to Israel, briefly halting the chancellor's speech.

Nigel Farage

Farage: Some candidates did 'enormous harm' to Reform

Nigel Farage says his party's general election performance was marred by at best "loopy" and at worst "extremely racist candidates".

Ed Davey om a jet ski on still green water

Lib Dem leader arrives at conference by jet ski

Ed Davey arrives at Brighton conference by jet ski.

Hand choosing a ball as part of the private member's bill ballot 2024

Watch: The lottery-style ballot that can change the law

The lottery-style backbench MP ballot that can change the law

Liz Kendall MP

Liz Kendall: Being a mum helps me switch off

Work and pensions secretary says "being a mum" helps her "switch off" from politics.

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat vows to 'rebuild' the Conservative Party

Tom Tugendhat vows to "rebuild" Conservative Party after election defeat

Robert Jenrick

Tory MP Jenrick says it 'could get worse' for his party

Conservative MP Robert Jenrick says things "could get worse" for his party

King Chalres

Labour's first King's Speech: What happened in 60 seconds

The new Labour government's plans were read by King Charles in a speech to Parliament.