Truss v Sunak: Shocking moment presenter collapses as debate called off
The Sun and TalkTV Conservative leadership TV debate, hosted by journalist Kate McCann, ended halfway through when the presenter fainted on air.
The camera was trained on Liz Truss, who was delivering her answer when the incident unfolded. The public saw the shock horror on Liz Truss’s face as a loud bang was heard as the presenter fell to the floor.
TalkTV has said Kate McCann was “fine” but the channel had been told not to let her continue with the debate. “We apologise to our viewers and listeners,” the channel said.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss tweeted their relief that McCann was fine and indicated they would be happy to return for another tv debate session.
The TalkTV presenter had been due to co-host the debate alongside the Sun’s Harry Cole, but he had pulled out after he tested positive for Covid.
Conservative leadership race – the latest TV debate
The debate had been going well, covering tax, the state of the NHS and rising living costs. The candidates were about to begin discussing the UK’s support for Ukraine when the debate went off air.
The debate was notably less fiery than previous ones, where Tories had criticised the candidates for the ‘blue-in-blue’ attacks.
Liz Truss repeated her claims that Rishi Sunak had been “morally wrong” to put up National Insurance.
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She added that economic growth was “anaemic” and his plan to raise corporation tax next year would tip the UK economy into recession.
But Rishi Sunak reposed that the NI hike had been a “brave decision” to raise money for the NHS, and it was reasonable to ask bigger companies to pay more to repair public finances in the wake of the pandemic.
He said what was “morally wrong is asking our children and grandchildren to pick up the tab for the bills.”