Whether it was the audience reaction, the overwhelming verdict in a snap poll or simply the crestfallen look of the PM as he battled to defend his record, it was clear which of the two leaders had the more challenging time on Wednesday night.
The Battle for Number 10 rigorously ran the rule over Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, with questions from a 100-strong Grimsby audience and a meticulous interview with political editor Beth Rigby.
It is the mid-point of the general election campaign, so the Sky News special programme came at a pivotal moment.
We saw a Labour leader trained to give as little away as possible – sticking to a script on tax which will allow for unadvertised post-election tax rises that the safety-first campaign will not take the risk of spelling out now.
Sir Keir Starmer performed best overall in Sky News leaders’ event, poll suggests
How do Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer’s numbers and pledges measure up?
Whether it was fuel duty, council tax and capital gains tax, each the Labour leader said he has no plans to raise.
We also saw a Labour leader being forced to concede he has abandoned pledges and change position when he believes the moment demands, meaning real questions remain about exactly what will happen if – as seems likely – Keir Starmer enters Number 10 with a bombproof majority.
Starmer was questioned by the audience over likeability and whether he was too much of a robot – only to deliver a robotic answer.
If he makes it to power, there are signs from today’s encounter his honeymoon may be brief.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak battled to turn around his campaign at the event in Grimsby
But…
