Viewers convinced Keir Starmer muttered ‘p****’ at Rishi Sunak during debate – but here’s what he really said
TIKTOK viewers are convinced that Sir Keir Starmer called Rishi Sunak a "pr**k" during the debate, despite the word not being audible at all.
The Labour leader went head to head with the Prime Minister in a televised debate on Tuesday night as the pair battle to win votes for this year's general election.
In a fiery exchange about their past professions, Sir Keir accused Sunak of profiting from betting against the UK while working at a hedge fund during the financial crisis.
Sunak then attacked Sir Keir for working with "extremists like Abu Qatada";, adding: “I’d rather have my job than work for Abu Qatada”.
Sir Keir calls Sunak's retort "desperate" and looks down as the PM continues to argue his case.
A TikTok user then uploaded a clip of Starmer during the exchange, appearing to show the Labour leader muttering to himself.
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They captioned it: "Starmer calling Sunak a pr**k."
While no such utterance is audible during the televised exchange, some social media users appear to have become convinced that it actually happened.
One user wrote: "Totally agree, Keir."
Another said: "I didn't notice that! Brilliant!"
A third said: "100% correct."
The clip has raked in more than 3,000 likes and 500 comments.
In a clearer version of the clip, Sir Keir can be quite clearly heard calling Sunak "desperate".
He appears to lick his lips, and the word "pr**k" cannot be heard at all.
Abu Qatada, known as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, found himself under Sir Keir's legal wing at a hearing back in 2008, according to The Telegraph.
This followed a decade-long tug-of-war between British authorities and Qatada's extradition to Jordan, where he faced terrorism charges.
The Labour leader was at the time a leading barrister and only one of a number of human rights lawyers who represented Qatada.
Qatada was once dubbed Osama bin Laden's spiritual ambassador to Europe and described as a "truly dangerous individual".
Eight key flashpoints from the first major debate
Here's eight key flashpoints from the first major debate of the General Election 2024 between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
1) Sir Keir said he would never use private healthcare in any circumstances. Mr Sunak said he would.
2) Keir Starmer gets the first laugh of the night when he tears into PM's claim that “nhs waiting lists are coming down” .
3) The PM cheered by the audience as he berated Sir Keir over how he would resolve NHS strikes.
4) The Prime Minister hints at leaving the European Convention on Human Rights: "If I'm forced to choose between securing our borders and our country's security or a foreign court, I'm going to choose our country's security every single time."
5) Sir Keir's eye roll when Mr Sunak kept interrupting him.
6) Presenter Julie Etchingham forced to intervene when the two men kept shouting over each other: “Please, an appeal from me not to speak over one another.
7) Keir Starmer called Rishi Sunak “the British expert on tax rises”.
8) The PM attacks Starmer for helping hate preacher Abu Qatada fight his deportation in court in 2008.
After finally being deported to Jordan in 2013, he was acquitted in court and continued to be active in sharing his views.
Before entering politics, Rishi Sunak worked for investment bank Goldman Sachs and a hedge fund, then co-founded an investment firm.
His website stated that he co-founded a large investment firm, working with companies from Silicon Valley to Bangalore.
Sunak entered Parliament in 2015.
Labour told The Sun Sir Keir did not say "p***k" but said "desperate" instead.
Lip reader Jacqui Press told The Sun: "He is not saying ‘Pr**k’ because the ‘P ‘ is the first letter and the lips have to touch immediately and he says another letter before the ‘ P’.
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"The muscle of the mouth at the end of the spoken word moves in a smile shape and very little emphasis on the throat muscle (glottal stop). If that letter was a K it would be harsh.
"It appears he is saying ‘desperately’."