Election latest: Voters think Rishi Sunak beat Keir Starmer in first TV debate, snap poll finds (2024)

It is frantic in the spin room as journalists climb over each other, stand on chairs and clamber round the campaign teams, trying to get their questions answered.

But I managed to get a bit of time with Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to ask her what she thought of Rishi Sunak's performance.

"I think it went really well," she said. "And I say that because he had the chance to show the absolute commitment and the energy that he brings to governing our great country."

Meanwhile, she thought Sir Keir Starmer "looked like a deer in the headlights at points as he is not used to answering questions".

She refuted claims that the PM came across as tetchy, saying: "We are talking about governing our country. I want someone who is determined I want someone who will speak up.

"I want somebody who will not take nonsense, whether it is from Keir Starmer or Vladimir Putin."

And when I put to her Mr Sunak's performance had lacked somewhat on how to help young people - with his national service plan getting one of the biggest laughs of the night - she went on a bit of a tangent about the NHS app.

But I was the first to reveal to her the YouGov poll showing Sunak won the day - just - and while she denied she looked surprised (she did), she said: "That means Rishi won!

"I fully accept that we have got an enormous amount to do, as we should do in our democracy... so we will be taking that win and building on it in the weeks to come.

"I am so pleased to hear that because I was proud of the prime minister tonight. I think the policies he set out were really, really interesting and I hope the public saw some of the passion and the care that I see when I see him across the cabinet table."

Labour are "leaving Manchester stronger tonight", the shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth has told our deputy political editorSam Coates.

"That is because Keir Starmer made clear his commitment to fixing the NHS with 40,000 more appointments each week," he says.

"He talked about his commitment to bring down bills as we transition to clean energy and to transform education."

Mr Ashworth says he believes the British public "will decide it is time for change" after watching Sir Keir at the debate in Salford.

Pressed on whether Sir Keir really got to the heart of the questions he was asked, Mr Ashworth says "let me be clear about one topic - this issue Rishi Sunak raised about tax is a lie.

"Rishi Sunak out of desperation had to collapse into lying in that debate.

"We do not have a plan to tax households in the way in which Rishi Sunak described, and we are not putting up income tax, or national insurance and VAT.

"The only party that has made uncosted commitments in this campaign is Rishi Sunak's party."

The outgoing levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, is giving Sky News his reaction to tonight's TV debate.

It is put to him that Rishi Sunak did not do anything to transform the race, but Mr Gove disagrees, saying "it exploded Keir Starmer's claim to be a credible candidate for prime minister".

He "was found wanting" on everything from migration to taxes, he says.

Mr Gove claims the Labour leader showed he was not across the detail on his party's economic policy, as well as on energy.

During the debate, Mr Gove says the Labour leader said Great British Energy would produce energy, when in fact it's mainly an investment vehicle.

"Ed Miliband [Labour's shadow energy secretary] will have been watching this with his head in his hands as his own leader can't even recall what their climate policy is," he says.

The veteran cabinet minister adds: "You can tell from the downcast faces of Labour shadow cabinet figures - they recognise that their leader flopped tonight, their leader was exposed as a dud."

Liz Kendall, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary, tells our deputy political editorSam Coatesthat SirKeir "set out a positive message of change for the country" during the debate.

She says one of the main things the Labour leader did was "connect with people about their real worries".

Asked if the public learnt a great deal about the Labour leader, Ms Kendall says Sir Keir was "really clear" about his plans to tackle the cost of living, cut NHS waiting times and to help young people.

"It's right to say if you want to judge who is the best person to run the country for the next five years, look at their record over the last 14 years," she says

"Rishi Sunak doesn't want to stand on his record because it is a record of failure."

Outgoing Tory minister Michael Gove is ecstatic about the polling - perhaps a little too ecstatic, given it was only two points between his man and Sir Keir Starmer.

He tells reporters that the PM was "clearly the winner" and the Labour leader was "flat on the canvas" - to snigg*rs from the crowd around him in the spin room.

Reminded of the small margin, Mr Gove says: "I'll take that! A win is a win!"

Aiming his ire at Sir Keir, he references the so-called "Ming vase" strategy Labour is said to have been taking - basically attempting not to rock the boat to keep their lead in the polls.

"Well, that Ming vase is now shattered into pieces on the floor," says a gleeful Mr Gove.

An odd level of hype for a small victory in the polling perhaps, but, as the minister said, a win is a win…

A key moment in the debate was when the Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer clashed over the length of NHS waiting lists.

Mr Sunak was defending the fact that the waiting lists had not fallen rapidly, which he partly blamed on industrial action.

That triggered quite the groan from the audience.

Watch that moment below...

By Jennifer Scott, political reporter

As the YouGov poll dropped on the leaders' performance, I was stood in front of Labour's Jonathan Ashworth and Pat McFadden - the key figures in the party's campaign strategy.

I asked them if they were disappointed, as this was meant to be the moment for their man to shine.

An awkward pause followed before both men said: "There will be lots of polls in this campaign, lots of polls."

But I pressed again. Are they worried?

"There are lots of polls in election campaigns," said Mr Ashworth.

Make of that what you will...

Delivering his closing statement, Rishi Sunak says a vote for anyone but he or Sir Keir Starmer makes a Labour victory more likely.

"Agree or disagree with me, you know what I stand for. I'll always have your back, as I did with furlough," he says.

The prime minister says the Labour leader is asking voters to "hand him a blank cheque when he hasn't said what he'll buy with it or what it's going to cost you".

He says Sir Keir would be an "uncertain" prime minister and adds: "If you don't know what you're going to get with Labour, don't vote for it."

Mr Sunak calls for people to support "lower immigration, lower taxes and protected pensions" by voting blue on 4 July.

Sir Keir Starmer is making his final statement.

He begins by saying he will not offer "gimmicks" or "unfunded promises that Rishi Sunak does".

"I don't pretend there is a magic wand that will fix everything overnight," he says.

"Instead, I offer a practical common sense plan to change Britain."

He says "this election is about who our country works for".

"The simple patriotic belief that Britain can be better and must be better," he says.

"Imagine how you would feel waking up on 5 July to find you have five more years of the Conservatives - five more years of decline and division.

"Now, imagine turning the page with a Labour government that rolls up its sleeves and gets on with the job.

"That puts the county back in your service."

He says Labour "will rebuild Britain".