Keir Starmer ducks weekly TV debates with Sunak as Tories brand Labour leader 'the Knight afraid to fight' - after he only agreed to two

Tories branded Sir Keir Starmer the 'Knight afraid to fight' after Rishi Sunak challenged him to a record six television election debates – but the Labour leader is said to be willing to do only two.

The Prime Minister wants to take on the opposition leader every week of the campaign before polling day on July 4, more than any of his predecessors have ever agreed to.

But the Labour leader is said to want to 'get out on the ground' instead and is likely only to agree to TV debates on the BBC and ITV.

Last night, Tories branded him 'Sir Fear Starmer' over his perceived reluctance.

Mr Sunak's team are said to be trying to organise the first TV debate for next week, with a source close to the PM saying: 'Rishi Sunak is up for debating Keir Starmer as many times as he likes.

Rishi Sunak wants to take on the opposition leader every week of the campaign before polling day on July 4, more than any of his predecessors have ever agreed to

Sir Keir Starmer is said to want to 'get out on the ground' instead and is likely only to agree to TV debates on the BBC and ITV

'And if Starmer doesn't want to do it, what is he hiding? If he has all these great plans, why doesn't he come out and say what he wants to do?'

The source added: 'We will do as many as we can get. We will do one every week if he wants.'

A senior Tory campaign source said: 'He is the Knight who is afraid to fight.'

Back in January, Sir Keir was asked if he would 'duck' debates, as was being speculated at the time.

The Labour leader replied: 'Well, that report is just nonsense. Look, I've been saying 'Bring it on' for a very, very long time. I'm happy to debate any time.'

The Tories questioned why he now seemed to be reluctant to take on the PM.

A Labour source said Sir Keir would do 'a couple' of television debates but said there were concerns about them taking up a disproportionate amount of time on the campaign.

'For us it's all about getting out on the ground. But you will see Keir and Rishi going head-to-head at some point,' the source said.

Richard Holden, the Conservative Party chairman, said: 'Sir Keir Starmer's latest U-turn shows he's running scared of Rishi Sunak and the British public.

'After talking tough about debates, as soon as the gauntlet's thrown down, he's off with his tail between his legs.

'Traditionally, knights are supposedly honourable and courageous.

'Sadly it appears that a new title is more appropriate for this knight of the realm — Sir Fear Starmer.'

Broadcasters and political parties have been discussing the format and timing of the debates for months, but it is understood no details have yet been finalised.

Well-placed sources believe the most likely outcome is two main head-to-heads between Mr Sunak and Sir Keir, with one on the BBC and the other on ITV.

According to an insider, Sky and Channel 4 have been asked to come up with their own ideas for other political clashes.

But the task of putting on the TV events has been made more difficult by the fact that the BBC and ITV have large pre-existing commitments to the Euro 2024 football tournament.

Televised evening matches kick off at 8pm UK time every day between Friday June 14 and Wednesday 26, making Thursday 27 the most likely date for a leadership debate on either the BBC or ITV.

Rishi Sunak yesterday joked about being soaked by rain during his election announcement, insisting that he is not 'a fair-weather politician'

Television debates have become a fixture of general election campaigns ever since 2010 (pictured), when then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's strong performance triggered 'Cleggmania'

A general election television debate in 2015 featured the leaders of seven parties

Channel 4 organised Climate Change debate in 2019, with Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage empty-chaired with ice sculptures after they refused to appear

During the 2019 election campaign, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn held two head-to-head sessions

Nick Robinson (pictured), the BBC's former political editor and host of the Today programme on Radio 4, is also due to hold interviews with all the party leaders, if they agree to do so

Television debates have become a fixture of general election campaigns ever since 2010, when then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's strong performance triggered 'Cleggmania'.

During the 2019 election campaign, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn held two head-to-head sessions, with other events involving smaller parties.

It is likely that the 2024 campaign will follow a similar pattern.

Television debates are generally only in the interests of the party behind in the polls, given the number of risks involved.

The Tories trail Labour by 21 percentage points and so Mr Sunak has little to lose by challenging Sir Keir to appear with him on screen.

Tory insiders believe the PM can wrongfoot the Labour leader on the economy, on which the Tories intend to fight their election campaign.

Nick Robinson, the BBC's former political editor and host of the Today programme on Radio 4, is also due to hold interviews with all the party leaders, if they agree to do so.