Former Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has hit out at Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer's performance in the first key leadership debate, as he took on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the first time in the election campaign.
Hosted by Julie Etchingham on ITV, the Tory and Labour leaders came to blows on the main issues set to drive voters to the polls this July.
Rishi Sunak was audibly booed by the audience as he claimed the failures of the NHS can be blamed on "industrial action", and Keir Starmer was accused by the Prime Minister of having "no big ideas".
Speaking to GB News, Gove claimed Sunak "won the debate six nil" against the Starmer. A YouGov poll carried out following the debate revealed that voters also believed Sunak was the better performer on the stage, taking 51 per cent of the votes.
Michael Gove says Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is a 'dud'
GB News
In discussion with Political Editor Christopher Hope in Salford following the televised debate, Gove criticised Starmer's performance and said the party have "no plan other than to raid your wallet".
Gove told GB News: "Nothing adds up under Labour other than tax increases, because the real message was that when pressed on the £2,000 tax increase that Labour would bring forward, Starmer didn't have any answers. He couldn't deny it."
In a further scathing attack on Labour, Gove claimed ministers within the party believe their leader "is a dud".
Gove swiped: "Tonight was the moment when Keir Starmer fell over and smashed the Ming vase he's been carrying so delicately.
Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak went head to head in a televised debate on ITV on Tuesday night
ITV
"It's in shards on the polished floor, and you can tell from the despondent expressions of Labour politicians like Wes Streeting and Jon Ashworth that they they know their leader is a dud."
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When questioned on one of the more heated topics of the night, immigration, Gove was pressed on Starmer's claim that the Conservatives have a "record of failure" on the issue over the last 14 years.
Gove hit back and defended Sunak, responding: "Keir Starmer has been a consistent advocate of an open borders policy. And and again, if you want that, if you want migration to be higher, then then of course vote Labour.
"He was asked about processing migrants in a third country, he indicated that he might be open to that. Then he realised he was endorsing our policy and he retreated again. What a shambles."
When pressed on whether he regrets Sunak calling the election given the current polling, Gove claimed that the polling figures are "just for commentators" and the "debates are where the leaders can clash".
Michael Gove claimed Rishi Sunak is 'on top of his game'
GB News
Gove explained: "In this debate tonight, we saw that Rishi Sunak is a prime minister with a clear plan and bold ideas, and that Keir Starmer has no plan at all other than to increase your taxes.
"When I can see a great performer like Rishi Sunak, who is a great Prime Minister on top of his game, I'm a Conservative.
"And when you have a great Conservative leader like Rishi, well, it does good."