labour does not seem to have answers to some of those questions on migration, particularly on illegal migration. —— deal with the taliban. and the conservatives are ultimately on a back foot on the economy and on the nhs and rishi sunak might try to move the topic on to something like migration, a traditionally strong topic for the conservatives, but ultimately we have just seen the highest number of small boat crossings and so they don't have much of a recall to talk about there either. �* , , ,.,, ~ much of a recall to talk about there either. �* , , ~ ., either. and i suppose unlike a traditional _ either. and i suppose unlike a traditional interview _ either. and i suppose unlike a traditional interview where . either. and i suppose unlike a traditional interview where a i traditional interview where a politician can try to shift the topic of discussion on to one from another, that is a valid technique with an interview, but when answering questions from members of the public, shifting the subject won't necessarily go down well even with the person asking the question or the viewers.— with the person asking the question or the viewers. yes, and that is one ofthe or the viewers. yes, and that is one of the game — or the viewers. yes, and that is one of the game changing _ or the viewers. yes, and that is one of the game changing things - or the viewers. yes, and that is one | of the game changing things coming into a debate like this, they have to take them directly from members of the public and you see politicians doing that on the campaign trail, going to work places and taking questions from staff but i think even those kinder environments are stage—managed because people are at work and would want to see something too difficult in front of the bass but here they have the opposite incentive and audience members here want to to land a tricky question on the politician so i think that makes it an unknown quality.— politician so i think that makes it an unknown quality. thank you for that. in an unknown quality. thank you for that in case _ an unknown quality. thank you for that. in case you're _ an unknown quality. thank you for that. in case you're wondering, i an unknown quality. thank you for. that. in case you're wondering, both men do not know the questions they will receive during this prime ministerial debate. also here at nottingham trent university is my colleague, nicky schiller, and he is elsewhere because he is looking out for the arrival of both sir keir starmer and rishi sunak. tell us more about where you nikki. yes. starmer and rishi sunak. tell us more about where you nikki. yes, i am outside — more about where you nikki. yes, i am outside of _ more about where you nikki. yes, i am outside of the _ more about where you nikki. yes, i am outside of the university - more about where you nikki. yes, i am outside of the university and i more about where you nikki. yes, i l am outside of the university and you are inside. i will give you an idea of what we will expect in the next hour or so when the next leaders arrived, and if simon, my cameraman, pans around, you will see the gates here at nottingham trent university and just a few minutes ago i saw david davis, the former conservative minister, walking by and i think you will probably be with you if you're not already in the spin room shortly and the two leaders will come through those gates and will be greeted here and then walk up the steps of the university here and then there is a very short walk across the courtyard into the area where the debate will take place. now, the two leaders were here a bit earlier on and we were moved out of that area while they had a look and of course the area was knocked down for security reasons so they have seen the stage and they know what to expect when they get inside that room. —— looked down. as you know, mishal husain mentioning with rita struck a party but bit early on, there are two podiums there and it is quite an intimate venue, so we have the audience quite close and there are about 100 people in the audience and the bbc hope we can get about ten questions answered in that time and mishal husain has also written an interesting article on the bbc website and add about what she has open to get from them. —— reeta chakrabarti. she is saying she is hoping to make sure they answer the questions that are asked because this is often the problem with these types of debates, the two party leaders will want to get their own messages across and that is what they will be doing in their final preparations and their team will know what message they have to try to get across to the audience at home but that often means they might not necessarily answer the question a member of the public has asked, so mishal husain is hoping to keep them on track with their answers are not let them divert off into another area and of course we have heard a lot from rishi sunak and sir keir starmer over the course of the election but you have to remember there has only been, up until this point, one other head to head debate and that was the itv debate that was at the beginning of this month that julie etchingham posted and you may remember, if you watched that, at times it got quite tetchy and they covered a range of issues and a cost of living question came up and the health service but they got quite tetchy during the one on immigration and it is quite heated and at one point, julie etchingham i to tell them to keep their voices down because they were getting quite heated so it will be interesting to see the dynamics of that tonight, if they do get into that heated debate between the two of them. in terms of the questions, they all come from the questions, they all come from the audience. the bbc, looking at those, trying to look at the questions that look at policy issues that both leaders can answer questions on, so not something just focused on one party or the other. in terms of the audience, we here at the bbc are often asked, how do you choose the audiences that come to these events? it is actually the independent polling company savanta that have chosen the audience that will be inside nottingham trent university tonight and in terms of the make up of the audience, there is about an equal number of people who say they will vote conservative to an equal number of people who say they will vote labour and there will also be undecided voters in there as well, so a mix of people in that audience, as i say, chosen by the polling company. there will be no opening statement, so it would be straight into the debates, but the politicians, rishi sunak and sir keir starmer, will get a chance at the end to give a 32nd pitch as to why we should vote for them next week, and the weight that has been chosen as to who goes to post or who goes second is at the toss of a coin. i will keep an eye on these gates are for you and if i see any cars arriving, i will give you a shout. it is a bit easier for me this time, there were seven on the seven way debates but at least i only have to look out for two cars. just two key arrivals to watch out for, thank you very much indeed, nikki, just outside where i am here in the spin room at nottingham trent university and looking at the bc news website we now have the live page “p news website we now have the live page up and running with the two leaders gearing up for a final head—to—head tv debates before the election, saying the headlines, and there will be updates on what has been said and any further context or clarification required from my bbc news colleagues. it with me is the bbc news chief political correspondent henry seth man, good to see you. i'm curious, and this kind of events, how much is it about the broad policy areas and how much is it about the day—to—day development such as the betting stories that have been developing over the past few days? i stories that have been developing over the past few days?— over the past few days? i think it is a bit of both _ over the past few days? i think it is a bit of both because - over the past few days? i think it is a bit of both because the - over the past few days? i think it i is a bit of both because the leaders need to deal adequately with the day—to—day stuff in order to almost earn the right to talk about the broader messages they want to land and if you are rishi sunak and sir keir starmer you know you can't avoid what has been happening over the past few days and that someone in the audience or mishal husain will almost certainly ask about it so they will have lines prepared and able challenge on each other and i'm sure rishi sunak will point out that a labour politician has now been disowned by their party over alleged gambling but i'm sure keir starmer will say, i booted my candidate out within hours and it took you 13 days to do so. so i think you will see that type of dynamic layouts but both leaders will be trying to use that to get you broader arguments that to get you broader arguments that they have been trying to land that they have been trying to [and throughout this election campaign. i was listening to you on the today programme and i urge you make a clarification that i think is useful to hear again that actually the person from labour that has been suspended is claimed to have done something quite different to what the conservatives are claims to have done. ., ., ,. ., , done. one of the fascinating things about the sprawling _ done. one of the fascinating things about the sprawling saga _ done. one of the fascinating things about the sprawling saga is - done. one of the fascinating things about the sprawling saga is you - done. one of the fascinating things | about the sprawling saga is you now have quite a few different types of gambling allegations it mixed into the pot, so the claims being made about a few different conservatives but principally two conservative candidates is they gambled on the date of the general election and a bet that the general election would bet that the general election would be in july, bet that the general election would be injuly, so they were correct, and what the gambling commission is thought to be looking at although they have not confirmed anything publicly, is whether they knew when they knew when the gambling commission is thought to be looking at although they have not confirmed anything publicly, is whether they knew when they place those bets that the general election sunak had made that decision and would announce it within days, and if criminal offence. that is one set of allegations and they both have said they will cooperate with the gambling commission inquiries and we shouldn't prejudge it. and what the former labour candidate as of yesterday evening is alleged to have done is place a bet in different markets, what would happen in the precise constituency in which he is standing and he actually bet he were to lose and that is clearly something the gambling commission have also decided they want to look at but it is a different thing because obviously what happens in that constituency is notjust up to the candidates or even mostly up to the candidates or even mostly up to the candidates, it is up to the voters of that constituency. those are the specifics _ voters of that constituency. those are the specifics of _ voters of that constituency. those are the specifics of that _ voters of that constituency. those are the specifics of that story - voters of that constituency. those are the specifics of that story and | are the specifics of that story and that's come back to this debate and you have great contacts within both parties, how are they viewing tonight and how important is it to both sides?— tonight and how important is it to both sides? , , ~ ., both sides? both sides know it is a hue both sides? both sides know it is a huge moment. _ both sides? both sides know it is a huge moment, especially- both sides? both sides know it is a huge moment, especially because| both sides? both sides know it is a l huge moment, especially because it is the last set piece argument of this campaign and who knows what will happen over the subsequent week because it is a week tomorrow until polling day and i can't believe that as it has gone very quickly for me, i don't know about the viewers. i don't think everyone feels that way. this is my euros but i am weird. i think they both know this is the last big set piece moment of the election so they need to accomplish that specific tasks but those tasks are very different and no matter what they might say publicly, people i speak to on the conservative campaign and conservative candidates believe that as it stands they are losing this general election so they need rishi sunak to find a way to shake up the narrative of this campaign and turn it on its head and make next week look a lot different to how it might otherwise play out and for sir keir starmer and the labour party, the goal is the inverse, not drop the ball and there is plenty to speak to that sort of thing, but from sir keir starmer�*s point of view it a safety first and put rishi sunak it is anything but. bought keir starmer, is it reassurance? because if you look over the last few decades, labour don't win anywhere near as many elections as the conservatives. absolutely, and when i say safety first, what i mean is he wants to ensure that people who are as it stands intending to vote labour and pats telling pollsters that, don't have second thoughts over the next week and it is of course worth bearing in mind that election day is notjust bearing in mind that election day is not just election bearing in mind that election day is notjust election day any more and a lot of people in the country might have already voted by post so there is that extra dimension to it that people might be pulling out that postal form tomorrow morning straight after watching this debate and every moment matters now for these two leaders. to and every moment matters now for these two leaders.— these two leaders. to mention the olls and these two leaders. to mention the polls and let _ these two leaders. to mention the polls and let me _ these two leaders. to mention the polls and let me ask _ these two leaders. to mention the polls and let me ask you _ these two leaders. to mention the polls and let me ask you about - these two leaders. to mention the i polls and let me ask you about that, an extraordinary and out of them and some people would say that is fine and filling us in on how the campaign is going and others may be concerned it is too influential in the nature of the campaign. what is your analysis is somewhat right in the middle of the media coverage? there is certainly an awful lot and i think there are two kinds of poles now, notjust those that i think there are two kinds of poles now, not just those that say 30% for this party and 40% for that party, there are also polls, or models, really, which aim to take a larger than usual pole and project from that. than usual pole and pro'ect from that. ~ , than usual pole and project from that._ exactly, - than usual pole and project from that._ exactly, | - than usual pole and project from that._ exactly, i havel than usual pole and project from i that._ exactly, i have had that. the mrps. exactly, i have had to sa that that. the mrps. exactly, i have had to say that many — that. the mrps. exactly, i have had to say that many times _ that. the mrps. exactly, i have had to say that many times over - that. the mrps. exactly, i have had to say that many times over the i that. the mrps. exactly, i have had| to say that many times over the past few weeks. but what it means is that people can now look at all sorts of different models of what may happen in their particular constituency and if they turn out to be accurate, that may help them decide how to vote, especially if they want to vote, especially if they want to vote tactically. if they turn out to be wrong, there is the risk everything has been happening in a sort of weird, not quite misinformation, but a slightly strange information space and of course, one of the things we can't know is even at the general election result does turn out to be quite different to what these polls and bottles are suggesting, it doesn't mean they were wrong at the time, people may have looked at them and shaped how they decided to put on a certain assumption of what the inevitable result might be so the dynamics are quite complex. we talked to a _ dynamics are quite complex. we talked to a pollster yesterday who said, we are asking people how they would vote tomorrow when we conduct these polls, so they are snapshot of that moment but not necessarily where the electorate will end up. absolutely, and when people go into the ballot box or fill out the ballot at home, that is when they decide and that is the moment that matters and the moment keir starmer and rishi sunak are trying to influence. and rishi sunak are trying to influence-— and rishi sunak are trying to influence. . ~' , ., , . influence. thank you very much indeed, archie _ influence. thank you very much indeed, archie tickell _ influence. thank you very much i indeed, archie tickell correspondent and a reminder that we have our live page and a reminder that we have our live page running on the bbc news website. —— our chief political correspondent. and there are journalists and some senior politicians behind us and i think most of them will arrive in the coming hours and everyone covering around us for this head—to—head debate with mishal husain hosting —— gathering around us. there will be the labour leader sir keir starmer and the prime minister and leader of the conservatives, rishi sunak. earlier, i spoke to the leader of the 0nward think tank and eleanor laing third from the independent and i asked sebastian payne from the think tank about his ports on the format and impact of the set piece moments. —— his thoughts. i think they can be super interesting because they are a bit like prime minister's questions, a barometer of the campaign and how they are doing and how they are under pressure and in the first head—to—head debate it was widely seen that rishi sunak got his message across well and keir starmer was a bit leaden but then i think sir keir starmer did a bit better in the grimsby one hosted by sky news but this one is the last electoral big event and people are going to the polls injust over a week now and i think this is a moment for rishi sunak to get his message across on warning of tax and the dangers of a labour government and for sir keir starmer, bringing that ming vase across the slippery dance floor, and he has that big lead and would be heading to downing street so at this stage she wants to make sure he doesn't trip up and drop that ming vase so the stakes are different for both candidates and it is interesting, that point that not long ago we didn't have any tv debates and in this campaign, we have had seven—way debates and head—to—head debates and a cornucopia of politicians and i think that is a good thing for our political process. thank you, sebastian. what about you, eleanor? i agree with sebastian and i think these debates have been a really good chance for the public to get an insight notjust into the policies but the character of the person who might be our next prime minister or the one who currently is and is continuing thatjob. i agree that we have seen an improvement from keir starmer who struggled in those early debates but we have seen a slightly better tone from him and a bit more confidence but the fact is it is difficult to move the dial significantly at this stage, as sebastian said, this is the last chance for them to put their message across to the public but ultimately, the polls are where they are and it is all about shifting it slightly within that range but i can't see tonight's debate totally turning it around for either party unless something absolutely atomic happens which i don't think it will. you talk about key messages and sebastien, it feels like in the last couple of weeks, both sir keir starmer and rishi sunak have become very grooved in terms of the messages they are seeking to put out in a range of different situations. do you think that is the right strategy for rishi sunak, given, for example, what the bbc�*s poll tracker is saying which is giving labour a significant lead? i think groove is a polite way of putting it and others may say relentless in terms of the messaging and you have to remember it is only in the last two weeks of the campaign that big parts of the country will really engage with politics and lots of people have been thinking about the euros for one thing and many will be thinking about glastonbury at the moment so this might not be quite top of the news agenda for a lot of the country and for both contenders to be prime minister, they have to keep putting that message across endlessly in every forum to try to make it connect there and for keir starmer, he has been saying the same thing which is the changed labour party is going to change britain and trying to avoid those difficult questions particularly on tax and brexit and those other areas and i can imagine he will want to very much keep to that line tonight. and i think for rishi sunak, where he has done best in this campaign is to raise the probing questions about labour and you have heard from many of the ministers over the past couple of weeks the idea that it would be a bad thing to have a so—called supermajority and you have heard grant shapps, the defence secretary, talking about that and saying the polls may say that labour are on course to win but do you really want them to have that massive majority? i think it will be interesting to see whether rishi sunak leans into that narrative tonight or does he stick to the lines from before because as eleanor said, this is the last big moment where they can capture the attendance of a big bbc audience, so whatever message they want to put in voters' mind, this is their opportunity. james cleverly has just walked into the building and as part of the agreements for me being here, i am not allowed to shout questions at them, because normally i would have asked what he was hoping for the debates but in the system of transparency we have, i have been asked not to shout questions at them, so when the leaders arrived i won't be able to do that but as i said, james cleverly the most senior tory we have seen come in, the home secretary here to see how his boss, rishi sunak, it does with keir starmer a little later and we are probably about an hour and 25 minutes away from it and we are still of course waiting for the two key arrivals, the he people we will see debating head to head, rishi sunak and keir starmer but back to you in the spin room. —— the two people we will see it. thank you for that debate, nicky schiller who was also here at nottingham trent university and looking behind me, this bedroom is getting busier and busier as all the broadcasters and the prince journalists, busier as all the broadcasters and the princejournalists, lots of journalists covering ahead of the beginning of this debate. —— the spin room is getting busier as all the broadcasters and the print journalist. laura kuenssberg and clive my route will be live from the spin room at 930 immediately after the debate would reaction to what we have heard in the debate and clive and aubert will be hosting the bbc�*s election night coverage as well and over there are a whole range of broadcasters and all of the main broadcasters and all of the main broadcasters are here, as you would expect. —— live and laura. the way it works here in the spin room is that we are all here now and the debates will start at 815 and then it tends to go a bit quiet while everyone listens to what rishi sunak and keir starmer is saying and then at 930 was the debate finishes, the body will go up in this room and a number of politicians from the labour party and conservative party will come in and give their responses to what we have heard and be spending on behalf of their respective leaders and journalists won't listen to them and test out some of the ferries that are being shared. —— beat spinning on behalf. let speak now to the chancellor of nottingham trent university. thank you forjoining us and hosting. it is a fantastic privilege to have you here. i is a fantastic privilege to have you here. , , , ., , , is a fantastic privilege to have you here. , ,, is a fantastic privilege to have you here. , , ,., here. i suppose this is an unusual da for here. i suppose this is an unusual day for the _ here. i suppose this is an unusual day for the university. _ here. i suppose this is an unusual day for the university. this i here. i suppose this is an unusual day for the university. this is i here. i suppose this is an unusual day for the university. this is the | day for the university. this is the bi est day for the university. this is the biggest event — day for the university. this is the biggest event we _ day for the university. this is the biggest event we have _ day for the university. this is the biggest event we have posted i day for the university. this is the | biggest event we have posted and day for the university. this is the i biggest event we have posted and the bbc has been fantastic and i'm amazed at the scale and how many people are here and how complicated the logistics are so it has been an interesting couple of days.- interesting couple of days. there are a number— interesting couple of days. there are a number of— interesting couple of days. there are a number of different - are a number of different broadcasters here and we have the debate itself and laura kuenssberg and clive my re—here. when did you get the call from the bbc saying, do you mind if we sign up en masse and set up? fell shortly after the election was announced and we have been talking for a while about where we had a venue that was big enough to meet the requirements and decided we could and to meet the requirements and decided we coula . , , to meet the requirements and decided we coulu ., , , ., , . we could and this is a perfect time ofthe we could and this is a perfect time of the year — we could and this is a perfect time of the year for _ we could and this is a perfect time of the year for us. _ we could and this is a perfect time of the year for us. we _ we could and this is a perfect time of the year for us. we are - we could and this is a perfect time of the year for us. we are not i of the year for us. we are not disrupting _ of the year for us. we are not disrupting the _ of the year for us. we are not disrupting the students? i of the year for us. we are not disrupting the students? not| of the year for us. we are not l disrupting the students? not at of the year for us. we are not i disrupting the students? not at all, lots of students _ disrupting the students? not at all, lots of students are _ disrupting the students? not at all, lots of students are hill _ disrupting the students? not at all, lots of students are hill helping i lots of students are hill helping and they are running their own journalism activities and learning from the experience which is great. what with this grand room normally be? , ., ., what with this grand room normally be? , ., , what with this grand room normally be? , .,,, what with this grand room normally be? , , 3:13: be? this room was built back in 8080 and we normally _ be? this room was built back in 8080 and we normally hold _ be? this room was built back in 8080 and we normally hold conference i and we normally hold conference events here and it is a conference centre but nothing as lively as this has been. 50 centre but nothing as lively as this has been. , , ., has been. so the debate is 'ust down some stairs — has been. so the debate is 'ust down some stairs bear, i has been. so the debate is 'ust down some stairs bear, round i has been. so the debate isjust down some stairs bear, round and - has been. so the debate isjust down some stairs bear, round and about, i some stairs bear, round and about, and in an atrium?— some stairs bear, round and about, and in an atrium? yes. it was quite hot earlier— and in an atrium? yes. it was quite hot earlier but _ and in an atrium? yes. it was quite hot earlier but it _ and in an atrium? yes. it was quite hot earlier but it will _ and in an atrium? jazz it was quite hot earlier but it will be cooling down by the time they debate. we have down by the time they debate. - have this wonderful glass roof which you will see and it is a fantastic flexible space, an hundred and 20 seater theatre for your guests this evening and the stage at the front so i think it works well for you. do ou see so i think it works well for you. do you see evidence of students engaging with the election campaign? i think they will vote, not really in terms of politics, we have a moderate, violent student body who are here to study and get their degrees and move on to their careers but it is lively but lively in making sure they have the best experience they can. —— moderate, balanced student body. this is great because it makes them think about the election and will hopefully get them to vote. into the election and will hopefully get them to vote-— the election and will hopefully get them to vote. into the bbc arrived to stop setting _ them to vote. into the bbc arrived to stop setting it _ them to vote. into the bbc arrived to stop setting it up? _ them to vote. into the bbc arrived to stop setting it up? you - them to vote. into the bbc arrived to stop setting it up? you took i them to vote. into the bbc arrived l to stop setting it up? you took over the building — to stop setting it up? you took over the building last _ to stop setting it up? you took over the building last friday _ to stop setting it up? you took over the building last friday evening i the building last friday evening have been here forfour days. —— to start setting it up. we had to move start setting it up. we had to move start out without telling them why they were being moved because these broadcasters haven't said anything so all these rumours started about whether there was asbestos or dodgy concrete, and we had to say, while... ., �* concrete, and we had to say, while- - -— concrete, and we had to say, while... ., �* . while... you couldn't fact check any of that? we — while... you couldn't fact check any of that? we had _ while... you couldn't fact check any of that? we had to _ while. .. you couldn't fact check any of that? we had to tell— while... you couldn't fact check any of that? we had to tell them i while... you couldn't fact check any of that? we had to tell them this i of that? we had to tell them this mornin: , of that? we had to tell them this morning. no. _ of that? we had to tell them this morning, no, no, _ of that? we had to tell them this morning, no, no, it— of that? we had to tell them this morning, no, no, it is— of that? we had to tell them this morning, no, no, it is all- of that? we had to tell them this morning, no, no, it is all fine, i morning, no, no, it is all fine, there isjust as big debate but i'm sure they will get over it now. what i can how quickly have we told you that we are going to pack up? you promised you would be back tomorrow morning. i think it is a big ask, but... i morning. i think it is a big ask, but... �* ,, ., , but... i can't speak for the site which is perhaps _ but... i can't speak for the site which is perhaps a _ but... i can't speak for the site which is perhaps a bit - but... i can't speak for the site which is perhaps a bit more i which is perhaps a bit more complicated, but 0k, which is perhaps a bit more complicated, but ok, that will be moving at speed. i complicated, but ok, that will be moving at speed.— complicated, but ok, that will be moving at speed. i suppose breaking it down would _ moving at speed. i suppose breaking it down would be _ moving at speed. i suppose breaking it down would be as _ moving at speed. i suppose breaking it down would be as complicated i moving at speed. i suppose breaking it down would be as complicated as i it down would be as complicated as setting it up but we have been told tomorrow morning.— tomorrow morning. thank you for s-ueakin tomorrow morning. thank you for speaking to _ tomorrow morning. thank you for speaking to us- — tomorrow morning. thank you for speaking to us. where _ tomorrow morning. thank you for speaking to us. where will i tomorrow morning. thank you for speaking to us. where will you i tomorrow morning. thank you for i speaking to us. where will you watch from? i speaking to us. where will you watch from? . speaking to us. where will you watch from? , , ., ., , from? i will be up on the gallery that overlooks _ from? i will be up on the gallery that overlooks the _ from? i will be up on the gallery that overlooks the stage, i i from? i will be up on the gallery that overlooks the stage, i will i from? i will be up on the gallery i that overlooks the stage, i will be watching from there and they will be lots of debate about higher education but i somehow doubt it. what might you never know, we don't know what the questions be and i don't and the— know what the questions be and i don't and the politicians don't but let's see. thank _ don't and the politicians don't but let's see. thank you _ don't and the politicians don't but let's see. thank you very - don't and the politicians don't but let's see. thank you very much i don't and the politicians don't but| let's see. thank you very much for speaking to us. edward peck there from nottingham trent university who was talking about that mezzanine and i was earlier on looking at the set there and there is where reeta chakrabarti is who presented the news at six earlier and i think the news at six earlier and i think the news at six earlier and i think the news at ten later so a number of broadcasting positions being set up to cope with this prime ministerial debates from the bbc, all happening in this atrium that, as i was saying, is not very far away, a four minute walk from where we are all gathered here in the spin room and if you'rejustjoining me, i will just run you through what is going to happen quickly because there are a number of times through the evening you might want to make a note of and we are coming up to seven o'clock now on bbc news and i will be with you through till 815 and it is at 815 that the prime ministerial debates begins and that will be an hour and 15 minutes long and all the subjects discussed by rishi sunak and keir starmer will be based around questions that come from the audience so that will be that and they will respond and mishal husain will intervene in that debate on those respective subjects where needed and at 930, just to the left of where i am standing here in the spin room, clive my re—and laura kuenssberg will bring you live reaction to what we have heard and thenit reaction to what we have heard and then it is the news at ten at ten o'clock, and while that is going on, there is further coverage through bbc sounds and radio four and five live and lots of other outlets and a live and lots of other outlets and a live page as well. —— live myrie. the bbc has all the bases covered for that. the bbc has all the bases covered forthat. i the bbc has all the bases covered for that. i was speaking earlier to the deputy political editor of the guardian to get her thoughts on what we are about to see. you guardian to get her thoughts on what we are about to see.— we are about to see. you don't know with undecided _ we are about to see. you don't know with undecided voters, _ we are about to see. you don't know with undecided voters, especially i we are about to see. you don't know with undecided voters, especially if. with undecided voters, especially if you're working with a candidate from another party you are not necessarily sure if they just don't want to save voting for the other party and i think candidates i have spoken to things quite influx and there is a lot apathy and cynicism out there about politicians. and i think that labour have a bit more of a job over the next week to make sure that they get that vote out that they seem to be showing in the polls. is that cynicism directed at a political party or against the political class? most of it is about the political class, they are all the same, there is nothing between them, and both candidates would say there is quite a lot between the two of them. you back the difference between what labour and the conservatives are offering. but i think the past few years, especially post—brexit, maybe the lack of trust with some of the things that borisjohnson was doing, i think has left people feeling that they have a lot to do to build back trust. there is a huge range of political experiences people are having. you have been talking to people on their front doorsteps. and now we are waiting this evening for this really big set—piece political moment with all the cameras and the lights and a big audience and the two men who would be prime minister. what have you made of their performances in the previous debates we have seen in this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot to learn from the mistakes he made in the first debate. he seemed very keen to stay on message and stick to the script and he was not very nimble in terms of coming back at the attacks that rishi sunak was planting. it is odd to say this about the leader of the opposition but the prime minister often feels like the underdog and we are looking to see whether he can do better. i'm sure, we hear that keir starmer�*s team have learned from that to not let rishi sunak [and those attacks, like the £2,000 tax rise that he did very successfully kind of convey in that first debate without keir starmer really rebutting him until later on. i think we will see a keir starmer who wants to get out on the front foot earlier on that sort of thing. that was a little while ago. i am joined by the deputy political editor of the bbc. we are getting quite close to the debate starting. we were talking a little while ago. if we think about where we were after the last election, boris johnson winning a handsome majority, lots of questions for the labour party after the leadership ofjeremy corbyn, both parties have been on, shall we say, a journey for last few years. it shall we say, a “ourney for last few ears. . shall we say, a “ourney for last few ears. , . , ., ~ years. it is incredible to think back to that _ years. it is incredible to think back to that because - years. it is incredible to think back to that because back i years. it is incredible to think. back to that because back then years. it is incredible to think- back to that because back then in 2019, people were talking about borisjohnson being in powerfor a decade, the fight was over, many profiled. and then everything changed. partly it was covid pushing the tory government off course, there is no doubt about that and then partygate can be scandal around that and the behaviour of boris johnson himselfjust meant that his poll ratings starting to plummet.