During the ITV leaders debate, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced laughter from the audience after claiming that NHS waiting lists are 'coming down from when they were higher.' Opposition leader Keir Starmer challenged Sunak's assertion, pointing out that waiting lists have increased from 7.2 million to 7.5 million since Sunak's pledge to reduce them. In a separate discussion moderated by Julie Etchingham, both leaders were asked whether they would use private healthcare if a loved one was on a waiting list. Sunak said he would, while Starmer stated he would not, emphasizing his wife's work in the NHS. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting was also mentioned for his stance on using private healthcare to clear the backlog.
Wasn't Rishi Sunak meant to be good at maths? 🤔 NHS waiting lists are now higher than when he became Prime Minister. Fact. #ITVDebate https://t.co/BEDZYvDNXn
Keir Starmer the multi-millionaire wants us to seriously believe that he wouldn’t use private healthcare if it helped save a loved one’s life. He’s flapping all over the place in this debate. The public are now seeing how utterly useless and dishonest Keir Starmer is.
'If you had loved ones on a waiting list for surgery, would you use private healthcare?' @julie_etch asks. 'Yes', says @RishiSunak; 'No', says Sir @Keir_Starmer #ITVDebate https://t.co/1jKrS2Dy5n https://t.co/ca2HfJv5lt
LIVE: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash on tax and the NHS in ITV leaders debate https://t.co/lVh2pmgXpg
Keir: 'I'd like you to explain how they are coming down' Rishi: 'They're coming down from where they were when they were higher' Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer clash over whether NHS waiting lists are coming down https://t.co/Saqy90rg8S
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wouldn't even use private healthcare even if a relative was on a waiting list for surgery. Rishi Sunak says he would. Who do you agree with? Let us know 👇
Interesting about private health care. Rishi Sunak would use it; Sir Keir Starmer would not. But shadow Health secreatary Wes Streeting wants to use private health care to start to clear the backlog. #ITVDebate
Julie Etchingham asked a brilliant question: would either leader use private health care if a dear relation could not receive critical treatment on NHS? Sunak said he would, Starmer said he would not #ITVdebate
'And this is the guy who says he's good at maths.' Sir @Keir_Starmer responds to @RishiSunak explanation on NHS waiting lists. #ITVDebate https://t.co/1jKrS2Dy5n https://t.co/Y4ewGIoiic
Rishi Sunak: The NHS waiting lists are coming down Keir Starmer: I'd like you to explain how they're coming down? Rishi Sunak: "Because they are coming down from where they were when they were higher" #ITVDebate https://t.co/fZYvLTWDZj
If a loved one was on a NHS waiting list would you use private health ? Sunak - yes ; Starmer - no #itvdebate
Did I hear that right? Keir Starmer would rather a relative die on an NHS waiting list than pay for their private care? #itvdebate
🚨 NEW: Keir Starmer says he would never use private healthcare if a loved one was on a waiting list Rishi Sunak says he would #ITVDebate
Absolute bollocks for Keir Starmer to say that he wouldn't pay for private healthcare to save the life of a family member. Everyone would do that. It's terrible that anyone has to do it, but who wouldn't pay whatever it took to save a loved one? #ITVdebate
Would you use private healthcare if a loved one was on a waiting list? Sunak: Doesn't equivocate, a straight yes Starmer: No, my wife works in the NHS
Keir Starmer says he wouldn't use private healthcare if a loved one was on a waiting list. The PM says he would
Keir Starmer asks Rishi Sunak why he's claiming he's brought down NHS waiting lists when they were 7.2 million when he made his pledge and they're 7.5 million now. Sunak: "Because they are coming down from when they were higher". Audience laughs. https://t.co/n4LTAkKJIo
The audience laugh at Sunak’s accidental admission at how big NHS waiting lists are & then groan when he blames industrial action #ITVDebate https://t.co/3jaJeAssvD
"NHS waiting lists are coming down", says Rishi Sunak. This is what's happened since 2010 #ITVdebate https://t.co/c1DOk3YeSQ
🚨 NEW: The audience laughs at Rishi Sunak when he says NHS waiting times are "coming down from when they were higher" #ITVDebate https://t.co/w2p8B0Cf45
Rishi Sunak laughed at by ITV audience over NHS waiting lists as he tells them: "They are coming down from when they were higher."
Keir Starmer gets the first laugh of the night.. He has a go at the PM for saying “nhs waiting lists are coming down” when they are higher than they were when he became PM
The first laugh of the night from the audience - but it's at Sunak, not with him, as he says NHS waiting times are "coming down from when they were higher".
Audience literally laughing at Sunak on the NHS - pretty dire for the PM. #ITVDebate
Audience laughing at Sunak for insiting NHS waiting lists are coming down after Starmer said they're 7.5m which is higher than the 7.2m when he vowed to cut them
First laughter of the night as Rishi Sunak claims NHS waiting lists are falling. "They were 7.2m now they're 7.5m - how is that coming down?" asks Starmer. "They're coming down because they were higher" says Sunak. #ITVDebate