Sunak and Starmer clash over betting row in final debate

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour party leader Keir Starmer faced off in the last head-to-head debate of the UK general election last night, ahead of polling next week.

Mr Sunak accused his opponent of lying to voters over his party’s tax plans.

Mr Starmer challenged Conservative party leader on an investigation into party members for placing bets on the date of the election.

This was one of the last major set-piece moments before polling 4 July.

The biggest campaign issue is the UK Gambling Commission investigating allegations of election date bets being placed by mostly Conservative members just before the election was called in May.

Mr Sunak on Tuesday caved to mounting calls to withdraw support for two parliamentary candidates facing an investigation by the regulator: his parliamentary aide Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.

Ms Saunders’ husband, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning Tony Lee, has taken a leave of absence, as has Tory chief data officer Nick Mason, while Welsh Tory Senedd member Russell George is also facing a probe by the gambling watchdog.

Labour has also been dragged into the row, suspending candidate Kevin Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting on himself to lose his contest in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

It was the first topic raised in the 75-minute BBC debate. Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of being “bullied” into taking action over the controversy.

The Conservative Prime Minister, though down 20 points in the polls, went on the offensive, repeating his claim that Labour would raise taxes if in power.

He reiterated the much-disputed claim that taxes would rise by £2,000 under a Labour government, which Mr Starmer dismissed as a “lie”.

Immigration also featured with the two clashing over plans for controlling borders.

Mr Sunak claimed “people smugglers are going to need a bigger boat” because of Labour’s plans to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme.

A snap poll by YouGov after the debate indicated the British public was split 50-50 on who won.

Additional reporting: PA