Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced intense scrutiny and a hostile audience during his worst night yet on the BBC Question Time special, as he struggled to connect with a public growing increasingly weary of the Conservatives. Here’s the full story.
Challenging Campaign Night
Rishi Sunak faced one of his most challenging nights in a campaign full of challenging nights during the BBC Question Time special.
Political Leaders on Stage
The event, which included the political leaders of the main parties, Keir Starmer (Labour), Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats) and John Swinney (Scottish National Party), showcased Sunak struggling with an unforgiving audience who asked pointed questions and were brutally unforgiving when his answers came.
Embarrassed to Lead?
Sunak’s very first question asked if he felt embarrassed to lead the Conservative Party, which led to prolonged applause from the audience. Sunak attempted to differentiate himself from his predecessors, acknowledging their mistakes but pleading with the audience to judge him on his time as Prime Minister rather than Liz Truss or Boris Johnson’s stints in Number 10.
Tory Betting Scandal
Sunak then addressed the Tory betting scandal, which has dominated the headlines and left voters with the impression that the Conservatives have consigned themselves to losing and are now treating politics as nothing more than a game.
Angry and Promising Action
Sunak stated he was “incredibly angry” about the allegations and promised that any party members found guilty would be “booted out.”
Audience Remains Skeptical
This early attempt to take control of the narrative did not impress the audience, who remained profoundly sceptical of his promises and assurances.
Tough Questions on Policies
As the session progressed, Sunak faced tough questions on his policy regarding national service for 18-year-olds and the ongoing topic of Brexit.
Tetchy Responses
His defence of these policies was met with stiff resistance from the audience, with one member questioning the practicality and morality of the national service proposal, to which Sunak’s responses appeared tetchy and dismissive.
Punishments for Non-compliance
Sunak suggested punishments for those who refused to participate in his national service scheme: “Whether that is looking at driving licences or their access to finance or all sorts of other things, that’s the right thing to do.”
Brexit and ECHR
In response to questions over Brexit, Sunak faced more hostility when he broached the subject of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). His rhetoric, which included attacking the ECHR as a “foreign court,” was met with cries of “shame” from the audience.
Backfired Strategy
This approach, intended to resonate with his right-wing MPs and win over Reform UK supporters, instead backfired, alienating the audience of voters and drawing widespread criticism.
Opposition’s Quick Criticism
Following the broadcast, opposition parties quickly criticised Sunak’s performance, with Pat McFadden, Labour’s campaign coordinator, telling the Telegraph that Sunak had been an “abject failure.”
Social Media Backlash
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s sole MP, also took to social media to lambast Sunak’s performance, writing on X, formerly Twitter, “Whoever trained Sunak for this #bbcqt session should be sacked – he’s totally lost it. So aggressive. So rude. This audience shouting ‘shame’ gives me hope.”
Negative Audience Reaction
The audience’s reaction to Sunak was overwhelmingly negative. From the outset, their reluctance to applaud him set the tone for the evening.
Growing Discontent
The audience’s lack of enthusiasm and visible disdain was palpable, with the cold reception drawing even more attention to the growing discontent with Sunak’s leadership and the Conservative Party.
Rivals Handle Better
In contrast to Sunak’s tumultuous appearance, his political rivals managed to navigate the evening with fewer missteps. Labour Leader Keir Starmer faced tough questions about his past support for Jeremy Corbyn and his stance on transgender issues. Still, his measured responses were received without the overt hostility that Sunak encountered.
Rivals’ Calm Performance
Similarly, SNP leader John Swinney and Lib Dem leader Ed Davey handled their sessions calmly and collectedly, performing as seasoned political operators would be expected to do.
Media’s Harsh Critique
Possibly the worst insult for Sunak came the day after the Question Time event, with media coverage, even from right-wing papers traditionally supportive of the Conservatives, painting a grim picture for the Prime Minister.
Described as “Broken Man”
POLITICO described him as a “broken man,” noting that Sunak looked “red-eyed and dejected,” and many media outlets criticised his inability, or unwillingness, to connect with the audience.
Low Point in Career
Rishi Sunak’s appearance on the BBC Question Time special will likely be remembered as a low point in his political career, as his attempts to address critical issues were overshadowed by his confrontational approach and the hostile reception from the audience.
Uphill Struggle Ahead
As the election approaches, it remains to be seen if Sunak is capable of the uphill struggle he faces for public trust following one of the most bruising election campaigns in living memory.
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