TV legend Alastair Stewart reveals two political head-to-heads he would LOVE to chair: ‘We would REALLY see the differences!’

TV legend Alastair Stewart reveals two political head-to-heads he would LOVE to chair: ‘We would REALLY see the differences!’

TV legend Alastair Stewart reveals two political head-to-heads he would LOVE to see the differences

GB News
Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 04/06/2024

- 18:38

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer will be going head-to-head in a political debate this evening

  • Who would you want to see going head-to-head?
  • Join in the debate in the comments section

Broadcasting legend Alastair Stewart has revealed the two political head-to-heads that he would love to be a part of.

This comes ahead of the long-awaited debate that will take place this evening where Labour leader Keir Starmer and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are expected to lock horns.


Back in 2010, Stewart moderated the first-ever United Kingdom political leaders' debates between the prime minister candidates in the general election.

Speaking to GB News the broadcaster said: "It could be a turning point for the Conservative Party. And I find that fascinating.

Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak

Keir Starmer, and Rishi Sunak are going head-to-head this eveing

GB News

"I wrote down knowing that I was going to be talking to you, the two debates I'd really love to witness and even chair, if it was possible.

"That would be Nigel Farage versus Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer versus Diane Abbott. Then we'd really see what the differences were."

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Earlier the former ITV journalist revealed that the debate that he chaired in 2010 had a "real significance" because it was the first of its kind in the UK.

He explained: "The real significance of that first one was the word first. You had Gordon Brown, Dave Cameron, Nick Clegg, who virtually nobody knew about.

"By the end of the evening, everybody was agreeing with Clegg. And the fact that it went ahead at all was significant."

Although televised debates have been a feature of US politics since Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy went head-to-head in the 1960 presidential campaign, it took a further 50 years to arrive in Britain.

Alastair Stewart

Alastair Stewart chaired the first ever political TV debate

GB News

Lord Jonny Oates, who helped Clegg prepare for the 2010 debate, reportedly said that although the Lib Dem bubble burst later in the campaign, without that initial debate “we would have been squeezed out of the picture”.

Favourites during the campaign tend to shun debates wherever possible and this time around Keir Starmer has only agreed to take part in two debates, one this evening on ITV and one on the BBC in Nottingham on June 26.

Speaking about who he feels will do well this evening Stewart said: "I think Sunak will breathe the first sigh of relief that he's been able to breathe for quite some time.

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak could "breathe a sigh of relief" after the debate

PA

"I'm not quite sure what Starmer can do because they [the debates] are a real test of charisma and character.

"Although I'm entirely impartial in these matters, I don't think that Sir Keir Starmer scores very high on either of those.

"I'm not quite sure what he can do to make him suddenly seem lively, and deft fast on his feet or a man of the people."

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