General Election TV Debates

All the dates for the face-to-face General Election TV debates between the political parties and their leaders on UK television.

National

  • Head-to-Head: Tuesday 4 June, ITV ‘s Julie Etchingham will host the first major election debate from 21:00, between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir.
  • Seven-party debate: Friday 7 June, London – Mishal Husain will moderate a debate between leading figures from the seven biggest political parties, the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru, Green Party and Reform UK, in Great Britain. It will be broadcast from 19:30-21:00 on the BBC. Labour has said Sir Keir will not be attending the seven-party debate, while Mr Sunak has not yet decided.
  • The ITV Election Debate 2024: Thursday 13 June, moderated by Julie Etchingham. To be broadcast on ITV. Leaders or senior representatives from the following parties will participate; Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform UK, Green Party and Plaid Cymru. Broadcasting on 13 June at 20:30 on ITV.
  • Question Time Leaders’ Special: Thursday 20 June, York – Fiona Bruce will present the show with questions from a studio audience, involving leaders of the four biggest political parties in Great Britain, broadcast from 20:00-22:00 on the BBC.
  • Head-to-head debate: Wednesday 26 June, Nottingham – Sophie Raworth will host the event involving Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer. This is set to be the final TV debate of the election campaign and will be broadcast from 21:00-22:00 on the BBC.

Scotland, Wales and NI

Debates have also been scheduled in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:

  • Scotland Election 2024 Leaders’ Special: Tuesday 11 June – Stephen Jardine will chair a debate featuring the leaders of the five Scottish parties. They will appear in front of a live audience on BBC One Scotland from 20:00-21:00
  • Wales Leaders’ Debate live: Friday 21 June – Bethan Rhys Roberts will host a debate programme in Cardiff from 19:00 on BBC One Wales with the leaders of the main parties in Wales
  • Northern Ireland Leaders’ Debate: Thursday 27 June – Tara Mills will preside over a debate featuring the main party leaders in Northern Ireland, broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland

First TV Debate Announced

The first TV debate for the upcoming UK general election has been announced. It will feature a head-to-head discussion between Rishi Sunak, leader of the Conservative Party, and Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party. The debate is scheduled to be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, and STV, and will take place on June 4 at 9pm local time.

This event, titled “Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate,” will be moderated by Julie Etchingham, who has previously moderated the 2015, 2017, and 2019 ITV debates. It promises to be an engaging hour-long session, held live in front of a studio audience.

The debate is part of ITV’s broader election coverage, which will also include an interview program with other party leaders and a multi-party debate. The BBC and Channel 4 are also planning extensive coverage with their own debates and special programming. This marks a significant moment in the election campaign, providing voters with the opportunity to hear directly from the two main party leaders.

Rishi Sunak told ITV News he was looking forward to the debate.

“The choice at this election is increasingly clear,” he said. “Bold action with a clear plan for a more secure future with the Conservatives or back to square one with no plan or no certainty with Labour.”

Sir Keir also said that he was looking forward to the debate.

“I get the chance to talk directly to your viewers and to make our argument. To say to them the choice is really clear. You’ve had 14 years of chaos, division and failure – we can turn a page on that and usher in rebuilding with Labour.”

Stage Set for Sunak and Starmer’s Live Debates

UK General Election 2024: A Stage Set for Sunak and Starmer’s Live Debates

In a remarkable turn of events, the UK’s political landscape is set to be electrified with the announcement that Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have agreed to participate in live TV election debates. This decision marks a significant moment in the run-up to the 2024 UK general election, promising an engaging and dynamic discourse for the electorate.

The Debate Agreement

The Conservative Party, led by Rishi Sunak, has been advocating for a series of six TV debates, one for each week of the campaign. However, Labour officials have committed to two major debates to be broadcasted by the BBC and ITV. This compromise breaks the ice on what has been a contentious issue, with the Tories previously dubbing Starmer as ‘the Knight afraid to fight’.

The Importance of Live Debates

Live debates are not a new phenomenon in UK politics, but they hold a special significance in the digital age. They offer a platform for leaders to outline their visions directly to the voters, unfiltered by the press or social media. The debates are expected to cover a wide range of pressing issues, from economic policies to social welfare, healthcare, and Britain’s role on the global stage.

Public Reaction

The public’s anticipation for these debates is palpable. The last general election debates in 2019 attracted an audience of 6.7 million viewers, highlighting the importance of these events in shaping public opinion. With the commitment from both party leaders, the 2024 debates are poised to be a pivotal moment in the election cycle.

Conclusion

As the UK gears up for the 2024 general election, the agreement between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to engage in live TV debates is a win for democracy. It ensures that the electorate will have the opportunity to witness a direct exchange of ideas and policies, enabling them to make an informed decision at the polls. The stage is set, and the nation eagerly awaits what promises to be a series of compelling political showdowns.

This blog post reflects the latest developments as of May 24, 2024.

Who should be the next PM?

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Who Should be the Next Prime Minister?

General Election Polling – First Look

At the start of the General Election campaign 2024, we look at the initial polling statistics. In the 6 weeks running up to July 4th, the date of the election, it’s likely the predictions will change significantly as voters often don’t make up their minds until there’s actually a vote to be made.

BBC poll summary

general election voting intention: 22 May 2024 - BBC
General election voting intention: 22 May 2024 – Image: BBC

The BBC has summarised the latest public-domain polling information to give an initial view of how the major political parties start out in the 2024 General Election campaign.

General Election July 4, 2024

Rishi Sunak has fired the starting pistol on the general election – announcing it will take place on 4 July 2024.

The prime minister announced the date outside Number 10 on May 22nd, with the rain pouring down and music and protestors almost drowning him out from just outside the Downing Street gates.

Embed from Getty Images

Rishi Sunak is new PM

Rishi Sunak will be the UK’s next prime minister after winning the Conservative Party leadership contest.

Rishi Sunak MP
Rishi Sunak MP

The news was announced at 2pm today. He won the Tory leadership contest after rival Penny Mordaunt failed to secure enough backing from MPs.

In a TV address that lasted less than two minutes, Mr Sunak promised to serve with “integrity” and thanked outgoing Prime Minister Liz Truss for leading the country during “exceptionally difficult circumstances”.

“The United Kingdom is a great country but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge,” he said. “We now need stability and unity and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together.”

The King will appoint Mr Sunak, who will take over from Ms Truss following her resignation just 45 days into her tumultuous premiership last week.

Rishi Sunak In Front

Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak is the favourite to become Britain’s next PM, with over 100 votes from fellow Conservative MPs, the only leadership contender to have confirmed having reached this milestone.

Former PM Boris Johnson pulled out over the weekend, leaving just Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt in the race.

Rishi Sunak MP
Rishi Sunak MP
Penny Mordaunt MP
Penny Mordaunt MP

Give us Your View

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Who Should be the Next PM

How will next PM be chosen?

Candidates are looking for backers now to join the streamlined process.

Step 1

Hopefuls need 100 backers to enter the race.

If only one candidate gets 100 backers then there is no vote, and they automatically become the next leader.

Step 2

If more than 2 candidates, Conservative MPs vote repeatedly until only 2 candidates remain.

Step 3

From 2 candidates, Conservative MPs vote a final time and indicate their preferred candidate.

Step 4

Conservative members across the country vote online to pick a winner, unless one of the candidates drops out.

Step 5

The winner becomes leader of the Conservative party and next PM.