Sir Keir Starmer today committed himself to facing Rishi Sunak in a live televised debate before the next election, saying: ‘bring it on.’
The Labour leader was bullish when asked about whether he would go head-to-head with the Prime Minister, during an event in Bristol.
Reports at the weekend had suggested Sir Keir’s advisers wanted him to duck out of challenging the Tory leader, telling the Sunday Times he had ‘nothing to gain’ from a televised slanging match.
But he told reporters this morning the report was ‘nonsense’, adding: ‘I’ve been saying bring it on for a very, very long time. I’m happy to debate any time.’
The Labour leader was bullish when asked about whether he would go head-to-head with the Prime Minister, during an event in Bristol.
Reports at the weekend had suggested Sir Keir’s advisers wanted him to duck out of challenging the Tory leader, telling the Sunday Times he had ‘nothing to gain’ from a televised slanging match.
Sir Keir pleaded for voters to give him a chance in his electioneering speech today – as Labour figures warn his position is ‘brittle’.
As Westminster starts ramping up towards a showdown at the ballot boxes this year, the Labour leader insisted he can bring about change.
He said he ‘hated the powerlessness of Opposition’ and wanted to ’tilt’ the country towards the interests of workers.
Distancing himself from the disastrous Jeremy Corbyn era, Sir Keir vowed that his premiership would not be ‘vanity dressed up as virtue’.
Labour has been far ahead in polls for months, with one published this week showing a 14-point lead.
However, veteran MP Jon Cruddas stepped up warnings today that nobody knows exactly what Sir Keir stands for.
He cautioned that the failure to set a clear direction or deal with internal splits means Labour is ‘brittle’ and could go into meltdown if it wins power.