The seven-way debate on the BBC turned into a heated argument between Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner about taxation, the NHS, and defense.

Leaders of the party fought as the Tory MP reiterated a claim that Labour would increase taxes on working families by £2,000, a figure that has been questioned by Treasury specialists.

However, debate moderator Mishal Husain cut Mordaunt short, reminding her that the person had been questioned, and Carla Denyer, the leader of the Green Party, called her opponents "terribly dignified."

Migration was also a recurring topic, with leading political figures like Nigel Farage, who is well known for his controversial views, accusing both Conservative and Labour governments of not controlling migration as he pledged to “stop migrants from bringing their family members to the UK”.

At the start of the debate Ms Mordaunt admitted prime minister Rishi Sunak was “very wrong” to have deserted D-Day commemorations early.

Sunak faced intense criticism for leaving the D-Day commemorations in Normandy early on Thursday to continue his election campaign trail.

Mark Harper agrees D-day blunder was ‘wrong'
08:24 , Alexander Butler

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he agreed with Rishi Sunak that it was a mistake to leave D-Day events early.

Asked whether he agreed with fellow Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt’s assessment that it was “completely wrong”, Mr Harper told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: “I don’t know what the detail was of putting the Prime Minister’s schedule together, which, as he said, was done some time ago before the election campaign was called.

“But look, it was a mistake. People make mistakes. The Prime Minister has made a mistake. He’s apologised for it. And he’s apologised to those that would have been particularly hurt by it.”

Mr Harper also said: “I agree with the words that he set out in his remarks yesterday when he was interviewed about it.”
Name your winner as political parties clash in debate
Friday 7 June 2024 22:17 , Salma Ouaguira

Leading figures from the UK’s main political parties have clashed over the key issues in the second live TV debate of the general election – and we want to know what you make of it all.

We want to know what you made of the BBC debate. Did it help change your mind about any of the major parties?

Who came out on top for you? And who should be holding their head in their hands?