Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer went head-to-head in their final election debate last night before polling day.
The leaders clashed on a range of subjects including tax, immigration, Brexit and gender
Sunak accused the Labour leader of planning tax rises and having no plan on immigration.
Starmer said the prime minister had been bullied into acting on the political betting scandal and was out of touch with voters.
Both leaders are out campaigning on Thursday as the race for No 10 enters its final week ahead of the 4 July general election.
Business Minister, Kevin Hollinrake asked about Rishi Sunak’s claim during the debate that small boat crossings are going down when they are at record highs this year.
Hollinrake says Sunak was talking about the last 12 months but accepts there has been a “spike” this year.
When pressed on why numbers are going up if the Rwanda scheme acts as a deterrent, Hollinrake says: “Because clearly they see an election going on.”
It’s put to him that numbers were going up before the election was called and the minister is challenged on the notion numbers are rising because there is a prospect of a Labour government.
“I think you’re totatlly wrong,” Hollinrake says.
All the big parties are hitting the campaign trail today as the race enters the home straight.
The gambling row will still be high on the agenda when Rishi Sunak faces the media during visits to a factory in Derbyshire and an evening campaign event in Leeds.
Sir Keir Starmer is going to be on the Labour battle bus in the North West and West Midlands, to promote his party’s plans for work experience in schools.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey will be doing a phone-in Live with Nicky Campbell from 9am, before heading to the North West, West Midlands and Oxfordshire.
