TV viewers all say same thing about BBC debate as Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak struggle

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer both struggled in the live debate

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak both struggled in tonight's final leadership debate of the general election campaign as BBC viewers all said the same thing.

The two leaders went head-to-head in the BBC Prime Ministerial Debate, hosted by Mishal Husain in front of a live studio audience - who were picked by an independent pollster - inside Nottingham Trent University.

But as the first question was asked by Sue, a member of the audience, the answers from both PM hopefuls were almost drowned out by the sound of protestors outside the front of the building.

Mishal was forced to explain the noise issues, telling the audience behind her: "If you can hear any noises off, ladies and gentlemen, or anyone at home, there is a protest taking place outside, which is also an aspect of our democracy and people exercising their freedom of speech."

And viewers at home struggled not to be distracted by the noise from pro-Palestinian protestors outside, with one quipping: "Is somebody conducting a seance in the background there?"

Another tweeted: "Can't concentrate with the noise in background", while a third joked: "Is that Rishi's wife shouting it's his turn to do the dishes?"

Yet another sighed: "Are we going to have the protesters the entire broadcast?" And another wrote: "I'm afraid I do not believe that protestors should be allowed to scream so loudly in the margins of a prime ministerial debate that it detracts from hearing the two speakers."

The Nottingham Solidarity Group claimed responsibility for the ruckus on X, tweeting: "General Election Debate Protest in Nottingham started. We will not allow Genocide enablers to go undisturbed in our city. Free Palestine!"

Mr Sunak was put on the spot by the first question, asked by Sue, about how both candidates would restore integrity to politics. Predictably, Mr Starmer seized on the opportunity to grill the incumbent PM about the snowballing Tory election gambling scandal, which has seen a number of Conservative candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission for placing bets on the exact date of the general election before it was officially announced.

It comes as a new bombshell poll puts the Tories on near-total wipeout, with Mr Sunak set to lose his safe seat in North Yorkshire. He and 20 of his top Cabinet members are predicted to hand over representation of their constituencies to Labour MPs.