'Dominic, why are you sweating and I'm not?': Labour's Barry Gardiner tears into Tory minister in live BBC clash

Conrad Duncan
Barry Gardiner and Dominic Raab clashed after the second head-to-head leaders debate on Friday: BBC News
Barry Gardiner and Dominic Raab clashed after the second head-to-head leaders debate on Friday: BBC News

Labour’s Barry Gardiner launched a blistering attack on Dominic Raab over the Conservatives’ record in government after the second televised leader's head-to-head debate of the general election campaign.

The shadow international trade secretary accused Mr Raab, the foreign secretary, of sweating under pressure as he challenged the Tory minister on inequality and Boris Johnson’s use of figures.

Mr Gardiner appeared to be laughing as Mr Raab praised the prime minister for his debate performance against Jeremy Corbyn on Friday.

When he was asked for his thoughts, Mr Gardiner immediately turned to Mr Raab and said: “Dominic, why are you sweating then and why am I not?”

He then accused Mr Johnson of showing "no grasp of numbers" and being a prime minister for "one per cent of the nation".

“The top one per cent of this nation over the past 10 years has seen its income go up by 185 per cent and at the same time, you’ve got four million children in poverty,” Mr Gardiner said.

“How do you justify that? Dominic, how do you justify it?”

The two politicians also clashed on Brexit, an issue which Mr Raab claimed the Labour leader cannot answers “basic questions” on.

Mr Gardiner said the Conservatives would push for a no-deal Brexit after the election, while the foreign secretary attempted to force Mr Gardiner to confirm if he would vote for a Brexit deal negotiated by Labour.

When the BBC News presenter pointed out that Mr Gardiner had already said he would decide once the deal was negotiated, Mr Raab continued to attack the Labour candidate for not giving a yes or no answer.

“You haven’t answered the question though, have you Dominic? And that’s why you’re sweating,” Mr Gardiner responded.

A snap YouGov poll after the debate showed a close result with Mr Johnson narrowly ahead on 52 per cent and Mr Corbyn on 48 per cent.

The two leaders clashed on Brexit, the NHS and racism during the hour-long debate, in which neither candidate landed a knockout blow on their opponent.

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Snap poll gives Johnson 52-48 victory in TV debate with Corbyn