Why Keir Starmer Has Everything To Lose From TV Debates

TV debates can change the game in a general election. With Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer up 20 points in the opinion polls, he has everything to lose.

Seeking to ramp up pressure on day one of the campaign, the Prime Minister challenged Starmer to a record six, weekly head-to-head election debates, accusing Labour of running scared. A spokesperson from CCHQ tells PoliticsHome: “The Prime Minister is willing to debate the Labour leader every week of the campaign.”

But six head-to-heads are highly unlikely. Not only are the TV schedules already packed with summer sporting events and festival broadcasts, but it works in Starmer’s favour to do as few as possible.

“If you're Rishi Sunak, you're out there, going  ‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’ and if you're Keir Starmer you put a bit of dampener on it”, says Craig Oliver, former No 10 director of communications to David Cameron.

“From Labour's point of view, given that they're ahead, leadership debates will feel like a distraction and the chance for surprises or unexpected things – for drama. I suspect that's why the Tories want them: they're hoping that something goes wrong”, explains Theo Bertram, director of the Social Market Foundation and former No 10 special advisor to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Craig Oliver adds: “It's just up to how much the Labour Party feels they can get away with not doing stuff”.

Labour officials have confirmed they will only commit to two televised TV debates with the BBC and with ITV. A source from ITV reveals No 10 are pushing for the debate to take place as soon as next week, indicating Sunak is keen to kick off the head-to-heads as quickly as possible.

Starmer has agreed to take part in a Sky News leaders special in Grimsby, with Beth Rigby set to