rajini vaidyanathan is in salford for us. it s happening. yes, the sun is setting in salford just as that debate is getting underway. this is the first set piece moment of this general election campaign as we see rishi sunak and keir starmer go head to head in that televised debate. we re used to seeing them go head to head every wednesday and prime minister s questions in parliament. this is quite something else. it s playing out to a primetime audience, it s going to reach new audiences who perhaps haven t necessarily engaged in recent election campaigns. it s a chance for both leaders to put forward their policy agendas but also show us a bit of their personalities. as that debate gets under way i am joined by our political reporter vicki young. what are you looking out for in this next hour or so? are you looking out for in this next hour or so? they both know they ve not a ob hour or so? they both know they ve got a job to hour or so? they both know they ve got a job
keir starmer and rishi sunakfor the keir starmer and rishi sunak for the perverse keir starmer and rishi sunakfor the perverse audience members ask a question about the cost of living crisis. 0ne question about the cost of living crisis. one thing that could be a massive election issue and it will be in the coming weeks. we will have continuing coverage and bring you more updates on what is happening at that debate, not too far from where i m standing. we will have the postdebate analysis as well with politicians bringing us their take and spin live from the spin room. that is it for the moment. we want you to help shape how we cover this general election campaign, so if you have a question for a politician or perhaps an issue that you re concerned about, you can get in touch as part of your voice, your vote by going to bbc.co.uk/news on your phone, tablet or laptop. we ll continue to bring you the latest on the debate but in other news several major hospitals in london have decl
you, what are they been saying toda ? , ., ., today? very vocal today and as you can see thousands today? very vocal today and as you can see thousands of today? very vocal today and as you can see thousands of teachers - today? very vocal today and as you can see thousands of teachers are l can see thousands of teachers are not in the schools of england, they are marching through central london and just coming past the department for education and for the education department they have a message. they want an above inflation pay rise with inflation currently sitting at 10.1% and the government have offered them a deal after the last strikes in february teachers say it s not good enough on the government are offering a 1000 powered payment for this school year and then they say a 4.3 on average payment for the next school year starting in september and the government say it is reasonable and fair, but as you can hear it from here, teachers are not happy and that they have a banner s
coming up to 60, i would love him to have a go for london mayor again, i think that would be interesting because i think he would win in london because we need to get rid of sadiq khan, he has not been good for the city. but sadiq khan, he has not been good for the ci . , i, the city. but there is nothing in his behaviour, the city. but there is nothing in his behaviour, because - the city. but there is nothing in his behaviour, because you - the city. but there is nothing in l his behaviour, because you were critical of him at times, which means, look, he should not be prime minister again, means, look, he should not be prime ministeragain, on means, look, he should not be prime minister again, on ethical grounds? i think everybody has got a right to chuck their hat in the ring at some stage, i don t think you will do, i think his day is gone. but he is still a big force in politics, boris, he is a big character, people want to meet him, regardless of what you think about him, as
the man who knows a thing or two about that is david lammy who d be foreign secretary if the party wins the election. welcome. do you want to praise rishi sunakfor sorting this welcome. do you want to praise rishi sunak for sorting this out? we said we felt that this could be sorted out with negotiation, that we had to roll up our sleeves and just as we got the good friday agreement, we could get a deal here. so i am pleased of course that finally it looks like we might get that deal in the coming days. worried a bit that the coming days. worried a bit that the unionists have not been kept in the unionists have not been kept in the mix but if he is able to pull off a deal, we will support it because we think it would be an improvement on what we have got at the moment. let us look at the detail in the coming days but all credit to rishi sunak. would you support a deal even if the dup and northern irish unionists are not happy? look, the dup have set out seven