Prime Minister Boris Johnson doubled down on his Brexit promises on Tuesday, saying only he could take Britain out of the European Union quickly in a testy leadership debate with opposition Labour's Jeremy Corbyn.
After the hour-long debate, polls showed the public were split over who was the victor: 51% said it was Johnson while 49% backed Corbyn - a result that analysts said reflected better on the Labour leader, who is trailing in opinion polls.
Both leaders tried to undermine the other in the first such debate before a Dec. 12 election, called by Johnson to break the Brexit deadlock that has hurt Britain's international standing and weighed on the world's fifth largest economy.
At one point, the host, ITV's Julie Etchingham, asked the two men to shake hands and promise to improve the tone of political debate in Britain, which is deeply divided since voters backed leaving the EU in a 2016 referendum.
"We certainly will come out on January the 31st, because we have a deal ... that is oven ready," Johnson said, reinforcing a message he has used throughout the election campaign that his Conservative government would end the Brexit crisis quickly.
Johnson is promising to implement the exit deal he negotiated with Brussels and lead Britain out of the EU by Jan. 31. He pledged to meet a 2020 deadline to secure a trade agreement for Britain's long-term relationship with the EU.
He took aim at Corbyn, saying his promise of a second referendum would only prolong Britain's departure from the EU, and prodded the opposition leader nine times to say whether his party would campaign to stay in the bloc or to leave at a new vote. Corbyn said he would honour the decision of the people.
"There will be a genuine choice put before the people of Britain to make their decision and we will carry it out," Corbyn said of his plan to hold a new referendum in six months.
Instead of speed, he said Johnson was promising years more of talks to secure a trade deal not only with the EU but also with the United States. Corbyn also accused the government of planning to "sell off" Britain's beloved public health service.
Johnson denied the charge.
"The idea that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's deal, can be dealt with and finished by the end of January is such nonsense," Corbyn said to applause.
TESTY EXCHANGES
More than three years after Britain voted to leave the EU, traditional political divides have become blurred, with few able or willing to predict a victor in the December election which will determine how, when and even whether Brexit happens.
Polls looking to gauge how the public intends to vote put Johnson's Conservatives as much as 18 percentage points ahead of Labour, but the numbers can vary widely.
To try to land a decisive blow in an election campaign which few voters relish, both leaders went on the attack, with Johnson trying to portray his rival as indecisive, while Corbyn questioned whether the prime minister could be trusted.
They even struggled to think of Christmas presents they would give each other. Corbyn settled on the book "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens so Johnson "could then understand how nasty Scrooge was". Johnson eventually picked damson jam.
Johnson, who has been criticised for breaking his promises including a "do or die pledge" to deliver Brexit by Oct. 31, was laughed at when, asked whether he could be trusted, said: "Look at what I have said I'm going to do as a politician and look what I've delivered."
Corbyn, who has been criticised for not tackling anti-Semitism, drew muttering from the audience when he said all such cases had been investigated and those found guilty of making anti-Semitic comments were "either suspended or expelled from the party".
Polling conducted immediately after the debate by YouGov showed the public were evenly split, but more people trusted Corbyn than Johnson.
"On balance this is probably better for the Labour leader," said YouGov's Political Research Manager Chris Curtis. "Why? Because a dead heat when you are significantly behind in the polls is probably better news for you that the person who is leading."
Reuters
Wed Nov 20 2019
Conservative leader Boris Johnson speaks during a televised debate with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ahead of general election in London, Britain, November 19, 2019. Jonathan Hordle/ITV/Handout via REUTERS
Perasuah semakin licik, perlu sokongan semua pihak terutama media - Azam Baki
Rasuah merupakan jenayah yang unik sifatnya pada masa kini dan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memerlukan sokongan daripada semua pihak khususnya media untuk membanterasnya.
KJ tak terfikir untuk kembali ke FAM
Khairy berkata terdapat calon-calon lain yang lebih layak untuk menerajui badan induk itu berbanding beliau.
Dakwa kerajaan ambil tindakan terhadap kritikan, Syed Saddiq diminta tidak hipokrit - Fahmi
Fahmi berkata kerajaan tidak menghalang rakyat untuk mengkritik, khususnya melibatkan dasar yang dilaksanakan kerajaan.
Dua anak Tun M sekali lagi diberi tempoh lanjutan 30 hari bagi isytihar harta
Maklumat harta serta aset Mirzan dan Tan Sri Mokhzani sejak empat dekad lalu perlu dikemukakan dalam tempoh 30 hari kepada SPRM.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes saman fitnah
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Ringkas: PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Thomas Cup: Zii Jia ketepikan 'kegoyahan' kem perseorangan lelaki negara
Lee Zii Jia tidak mahu terlalu memikirkan situasi kem perseorangan negara yang kurang mantap menjelang aksi pembukaan Kumpulan D saingan Piala Thomas 2024 berdepan Hong Kong, esok.
AirAsia Group bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September - Tony Fernandes
AirAsia Group Sdn Bhd (AAG) bakal disenaraikan di Bursa Malaysia pada September, mengambil alih status penyenaraian AirAsia X Bhd, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Capital A Bhd Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Sebutan rayuan pendakwaan terhadap Bung Moktar, isteri ditetapkan 29 Julai
Timbalan pendaftar Mahkamah Rayuan Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli menetapkan tarikh itu semasa pengurusan kes hari ini dan beliau turut menetapkan pengurusan kes akhir pada 15 Julai.
AWANI 7:45 [26/04/2024] - Wajar tidak dijemput | UM jemput pensyarah Pro-Israel | Rumah terbuka di Kuala Kubu Bharu | Penamaan calon pada Sabtu
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Irfan Faruqi;
1. PM sindir pensyarah Amerika jemputan UM berkualiti rendah
2. Mahasiswa boikot kuliah, jika VC UM membisu
3. Bersih dakwa Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Selangor bercanggah Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya
4. SPR selesai persiapan proses penamaan calon PRK DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu
1. PM sindir pensyarah Amerika jemputan UM berkualiti rendah
2. Mahasiswa boikot kuliah, jika VC UM membisu
3. Bersih dakwa Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Selangor bercanggah Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya
4. SPR selesai persiapan proses penamaan calon PRK DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu
Tak sedar aksi dirakam, penyampai BBC mohon maaf kepada penonton
Seorang penyampai berita saluran BBC memohon maaf atas selepas tidak sengaja menunjukkan jari tengah ketika mula bersiaran di televisyen.
Parlimen Britain sahkan laporan Boris Johnson berbohong
Ini sekaligus memberikan satu lagi tamparan kepada kerjaya politik bekas Perdana Menteri itu.
Boris Johnson didapati bersalah kerana 'penghinaan berulang' terhadap Parlimen
Siasatan mendapati bekas perdana menteri Britain Boris Johnson "berulang kali menghina" Parlimen berikutan penafiannya mengenai skandal "partygate".
Boris Johnson letak jawatan sebagai ahli parlimen
Bekas Perdana Menteri itu akui sedih apabila mengambil keputusan letak jawatan.
Kerajaan Britain diberi lebih masa serah mesej WhatsApp Boris Johnson
Hakim memberi tempoh sehingga Khamis, menyerahkan mesej dari aplikasi WhatsApp dan diari Johnson sebagai sebahagian daripada siasatannya.
Pengerusi BBC letak jawatan selepas laporan beliau terlibat dalam pinjaman untuk Boris Johnson
Pengerusi BBC Britain meletak jawatan pada Jumaat berikutan laporan yang mendapati beliau melanggar kod kerajaan.
'Tiada bukti saya mengelirukan Parlimen' - Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson menafikan beliau sengaja mengelirukan Dewan Rakyat dalam skandal parti di pejabat Downing Street.
Boris Johnson dipilih bertanding di Uxbridge, bagi pilihan raya umum akan datang
Pilihan raya umum akan datang di United Kingdom dijangka berlangsung selewat-lewatnya pada Januari 2025.
PM UK: Boris Johnson tarik diri, Rishi Sunak calon kegemaran
Percubaan kali pertama Sunak ialah pada musim panas lalu berikutan peletakan jawatan Johnson, tetapi kalah kepada Liz Truss, yang meletak jawatan Khamis lalu.
Boris Johnson tidak akan sertai perlumbaan jadi PM
Beliau memutuskan bahawa ia adalah satu keputusan yang tidak wajar untuk berbuat demikian pada masa ini.