Cumbrians have been reacted after Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer went head-to-head in a live televised debate on ITV.

In a wide-ranging debate which lasted just over an hour, the pair argued over the NHS, the cost-of-living crisis, taxation, immigration and climate change.

A snap YouGov taken shortly after the debate finished revealed that the public thought Sunak just edged the contest with 51 per cent saying he won whilst 49 per cent saying that Starmer won.

Labour have held a large lead in the polls for more than two years now and were projected to win in the Carlisle, Whitehaven and Workington and Penrith and the Solway seats by a major YouGov MRP poll released on Monday.

Cumbrians who watched the debate have been sharing their opinions on who performed best.

Geoff Whitfield was most impressed with Rishi Sunak, but he said it wasn’t enough for him to vote Conservative.

“For the first time Sunak looked like a leader,” said Geoff.

“He usually looks like the small boy trying to impress the big lads. He was the more impressive, but he still hasn't got my vote back.”

Daniel Sencier highlighted a key line from Starmer when asked about who won.

“Key to me was when Starmer said, “When you wake up on Friday 5th July, do you want to find you have 5 more years of this government?” I sure as hell don’t,” said Daniel.

Steve Emery said that he was willing to give Labour a chance after the debate.

“Sunak and Tories had enough of a chance to make things better and it’s (the country) worse so I think may as well get labour a chance to see if things can change,” said Steve.

One of the major talking points in the debate was Rishi Sunak’s claim that families would be £2,000 worse off under a Labour government.

The Prime Minister repeatedly highlighted the allegation during his head-to-head debate with Sir Keir Starmer, claiming “independent Treasury officials” have costed Labour’s policies “and they amount to a £2,000 tax rise for everyone”.

But the Treasury’s permanent secretary James Bowler said ministers had been told not to suggest civil servants produced the figure at the heart of the Tory attack.

Labour have dismissed the figures as ‘lies’.

Elaine Mills didn’t believe the Prime Minister’s figures.

“All the Prime Minister kept saying is that the Labour government if elected will put up taxes for each person by £2,000 per year. A figure plucked out of ridiculous and inaccurate calculations by the Tories in order to slander their campaign.”

The next TV debate on Friday will include figures from seven parties including the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Reform UK.

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The full list of candidates so far standing for the Carlisle constituency are:

Green Party: Gavin Hawkton;

Social Democratic Party: Rachel Hayton;

Labour Party: Julie Minns;

Workers Party of Britain: Andrew Paul Nanson;

Conservative and Unionist Party: John Stevenson;

Reform UK: Stephen Ward;

Lib Dems: Brian Wernham.