Keir Starmer ducks weekly TV debates with Sunak as Tories brand Labour leader ... trends now
Tories branded Sir Keir Starmer the 'Knight afraid to fight' after Rishi Sunak challenged him to a record six television election debates – but the Labour leader is said to be willing to do only two.
The Prime Minister wants to take on the opposition leader every week of the campaign before polling day on July 4, more than any of his predecessors have ever agreed to.
But the Labour leader is said to want to 'get out on the ground' instead and is likely only to agree to TV debates on the BBC and ITV.
Last night, Tories branded him 'Sir Fear Starmer' over his perceived reluctance.
Mr Sunak's team are said to be trying to organise the first TV debate for next week, with a source close to the PM saying: 'Rishi Sunak is up for debating Keir Starmer as many times as he likes.
Rishi Sunak wants to take on the opposition leader every week of the campaign before polling day on July 4, more than any of his predecessors have ever agreed to
Sir Keir Starmer is said to want to 'get out on the ground' instead and is likely only to agree to TV debates on the BBC and ITV
'And if Starmer doesn't want to do it, what is he hiding? If he has all these great plans, why doesn't he come out and say what he wants to do?'
The source added: 'We will do as many as we can get. We will do one every week if he wants.'
A senior Tory campaign source said: 'He is the Knight who is afraid to fight.'
Back in January, Sir Keir was asked if he would 'duck' debates, as was being speculated at the time.
The Labour leader replied: 'Well, that report is just
