the invitation was for leaders or leading figures to take part, and tonight, the seven debaters are... for the conservatives, the leader of the house of commons, penny mordaunt. the leader of reform uk, nigel farage. labour's deputy leader, angela rayner. rhun ap iorwerth, the leader of plaid cymru — the party of wales. carla denyer, co—leader of the green party in england and wales. the liberal democrats�* deputy leader, daisy cooper. and the scottish national party's westminster leader, stephen flynn. applause the parties drew lots to decide their position on stage. and they stand before an audience chosen by the pollsters savanta. they come from many different backgrounds, reflecting voters from across great britain. they include supporters of the seven parties, as well as some undecided voters. they may come to this with strong views, orfind themselves persuaded by something they hear from the stage. and the questions you will hear in the next 90 minutes will come from that audience. time will go fast — we need to make sure all seven of you get your say and there will be times i move you on or call a halt. journalists and other representatives of the parties are gathered in our spin room, where there will be reaction to the live debate. and so to the first of tonight's questions. comes from francisco dotjessiman. as we celebrate d—day and remember those _ as we celebrate d—day and remember those like _ as we celebrate d—day and remember those like my— as we celebrate d—day and remember those like my father— as we celebrate d—day and remember those like my father and _ as we celebrate d—day and remember those like my father and so _ as we celebrate d—day and remember those like my father and so many- those like my father and so many others _ those like my father and so many others who — those like my father and so many others who served _ those like my father and so many others who served this _ those like my father and so many others who served this country. those like my father and so manyi others who served this country so well, _ others who served this country so well, how— others who served this country so well, how will_ others who served this country so well, how will the _ others who served this country so well, how will the parties - others who served this country so well, how will the parties ensure i well, how will the parties ensure our army— well, how will the parties ensure our army is— well, how will the parties ensure our army is ready— well, how will the parties ensure our army is ready and _ well, how will the parties ensure our army is ready and our- well, how will the parties ensure i our army is ready and our country is safe from _ our army is ready and our country is safe from another— our army is ready and our country is safe from another major— our army is ready and our country is safe from another major conflict? . safe from another major conflict? thank _ safe from another major conflict? thank you. — safe from another major conflict? thank you. and_ safe from another major conflict? thank you, and let _ safe from another major conflict? thank you, and let me _ safe from another major conflict? thank you, and let me turn- safe from another major conflict? thank you, and let me turn first i safe from another major conflict? | thank you, and let me turn first to angela rayner, for labour.- angela rayner, for labour. thank ou, and angela rayner, for labour. thank you. and thank— angela rayner, for labour. thank you, and thank you _ angela rayner, for labour. thank you, and thank you to _ angela rayner, for labour. thank you, and thank you to all- angela rayner, for labour. thank you, and thank you to all those i you, and thank you to all those that have served in our armed forces and continue to do so, in what is a very insecure world at the moment. first of all, labour is committed to the triple lock on nuclear deterrence, especially in the climate that we are in, which means we will keep our nuclear deterrent, that we will make sure that the four submarines are built in barrow and we will continue with the upgrade. we will have a commitment to the 2.5% spending of gdp which obviously is very important and gdp which obviously is very importantand i gdp which obviously is very important and i think one of the other things that is a real scandal at the moment is our armed forces and the accommodation they are given, so we will look at that issue as well. we want to make sure everyone has secure, decent homes in the uk. ,, everyone has secure, decent homes in the uk. _ , ., the uk. daisy cooper for the liberal democrats? — the uk. daisy cooper for the liberal democrats? the _ the uk. daisy cooper for the liberal democrats? the liberal _ the uk. daisy cooper for the liberal democrats? the liberal democrats| the uk. daisy cooper for the liberal. democrats? the liberal democrats are the -a of democrats? the liberal democrats are the party of paddy _ democrats? the liberal democrats are the party of paddy ashdown _ democrats? the liberal democrats are the party of paddy ashdown so - democrats? the liberal democrats are the party of paddy ashdown so we - the party of paddy ashdown so we take defence very seriously so first of all _ take defence very seriously so first of all we _ take defence very seriously so first of all we would maintain the nuclear delerrehl_ of all we would maintain the nuclear deterrent we have, an absolute priority— deterrent we have, an absolute priority for— deterrent we have, an absolute priority for us is reversing the cuts _ priority for us is reversing the cuts to— priority for us is reversing the cuts to our— priority for us is reversing the cuts to our troops of 10,000, which has happened under the conservatives stop we _ has happened under the conservatives stop we would increase spending on defence. _ stop we would increase spending on defence, year on year, in the next parliament, — defence, year on year, in the next parliament, with the ambition of reaching — parliament, with the ambition of reaching 2.5% by the end of the next parliament — reaching 2.5% by the end of the next parliament. having decent homes for our veterans and for our armed forces— our veterans and for our armed forces is— our veterans and for our armed forces is incredibly important. i'm very proud — forces is incredibly important. i'm very proud of the fact it was a liberal— very proud of the fact it was a liberal democrat amendment that tried to _ liberal democrat amendment that tried to make sure we had every single _ tried to make sure we had every single home met the decent homes standard, _ single home met the decent homes standard, it was only because of the general— standard, it was only because of the general election that legislation fell but — general election that legislation fell but it is a priority for us. nigel— fell but it is a priority for us. nigel farage? we fell but it is a priority for us. nigel farage?_ fell but it is a priority for us. nigel farage? fell but it is a priority for us. niuuelfarae? ., ,, ,, nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than _ nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than we _ nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than we were _ nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than we were in - nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than we were in the - nigel farage? we are spending less on defence than we were in the last| on defence than we were in the last labour government pro rata, the army has shrunk, recruitment is catastrophic, so rather than having a weird concept of national service, where 30,000 youngsters would do a year, we need to recruit 30,000 people into the army full time and, yes, the veterans point has been made already, respect our veterans including those with the average age of 100 who were deserted by the prime minister in normandy yesterday, which i think was a complete and utter disgrace and shows us we actually have a very unpatriotic prime minister. it was dreadful. a, ., unpatriotic prime minister. it was dreadful. ., , ., , dreadful. mordaunt, can you respond to that, rishi — dreadful. mordaunt, can you respond to that, rishi sunak _ dreadful. mordaunt, can you respond to that, rishi sunak leaving - dreadful. mordaunt, can you respond to that, rishi sunak leaving the - to that, rishi sunak leaving the commemorations before the end of the day? commemorations before the end of the da ? ~ . commemorations before the end of the da ? . ., ., ,, commemorations before the end of the da? ., , , day? what happened was completely wron: and day? what happened was completely wrong and the _ day? what happened was completely wrong and the prime _ day? what happened was completely wrong and the prime minister - day? what happened was completely wrong and the prime minister has - wrong and the prime minister has rightly— wrong and the prime minister has rightly apologised for that, apologised to veterans but also to all of _ apologised to veterans but also to all of us _ apologised to veterans but also to all of us because he was representing all of us. i'm from portsmouth, i've also been defence secretary. _ portsmouth, i've also been defence secretary, and my wish at the end of this week— secretary, and my wish at the end of this week is — secretary, and my wish at the end of this week is that all of our veterans— this week is that all of our veterans feel completely treasured and i'm _ veterans feel completely treasured and i'm hoping tonight to convince you of— and i'm hoping tonight to convince you of some things that are important to them, important to their— important to them, important to their legacy, and i couldn't do that if i their legacy, and i couldn't do that if i wasn't — their legacy, and i couldn't do that if i wasn't straight with you on that— if i wasn't straight with you on that issue _ if i wasn't straight with you on that issue-— if i wasn't straight with you on that issue. would you have left d-day early? _ that issue. would you have left d-day early? l _ that issue. would you have left d-day early? i didn't _ that issue. would you have left d-day early? i didn't go - that issue. would you have left d-day early? i didn't go to - that issue. would you have left . d-day early? i didn't go to d-day, that issue. would you have left - d-day early? i didn't go to d-day, i think what happened _ d-day early? i didn't go to d-day, i think what happened was _ d-day early? i didn't go to d-day, i think what happened was very - d-day early? i didn't go to d-day, i i think what happened was very wrong, ithink— think what happened was very wrong, i think the _ think what happened was very wrong, i think the prime minister has apologised for that but what i also think it _ apologised for that but what i also think it is — apologised for that but what i also think it is important is we honour their— think it is important is we honour their legacy. they fought for our freedom — their legacy. they fought for our freedom. unless we are spending the film freedom. unless we are spending the right amount on defence we can't honour— right amount on defence we can't honour that legacy. the baseline for our equipment programme is 2.5%. if you are _ our equipment programme is 2.5%. if you are not _ our equipment programme is 2.5%. if you are not committed to spending that over— you are not committed to spending that over the period it needs to be spent, _ that over the period it needs to be spent. you — that over the period it needs to be spent, you are not funding defence, and i_ spent, you are not funding defence, and i have _ spent, you are not funding defence, and i have tojust mention also the cornerstone — and i have tojust mention also the cornerstone of our is our nuclear deterrent — cornerstone of our is our nuclear deterrent and you need more than submarines, sailors and warheads to deliver— submarines, sailors and warheads to deliver that — submarines, sailors and warheads to deliver that. you need credibility and its _ deliver that. you need credibility and its too — deliver that. you need credibility and its too late for labour on credibility. angela rayner voted recently. — credibility. angela rayner voted recently, along with the guy that wants— recently, along with the guy that wants to — recently, along with the guy that wants to be your foreign secretary and half— wants to be your foreign secretary and half the labour front bench, to end our— and half the labour front bench, to end our nuclear deterrent and you are doubting they would use that, she might be prime minister in four or five _ she might be prime minister in four or five years' time. if you are doubting _ or five years' time. if you are doubting that she or david lammy keir starmer would use that, imagine putin is— keir starmer would use that, imagine putin is thinking. without credibility, we become a target. if we become a target, you are less safe _ we become a target, you are less safe it's — we become a target, you are less safe. it's too late for this generation of labour politicians. that credibility is shot. do not vote _ that credibility is shot. do not vote these people in.- that credibility is shot. do not vote these people in. angela rayner, would ou vote these people in. angela rayner, would you like _ vote these people in. angela rayner, would you like to _ vote these people in. angela rayner, would you like to respond _ vote these people in. angela rayner, would you like to respond to - vote these people in. angela rayner, would you like to respond to that? i would you like to respond to that? penny, you can keep pointing at me but you are the party that crashed the economy and left is in a real mess, i am absolutely clear we will keep our nuclear deterrent and we will invest in it. it keep our nuclear deterrent and we will invest in it.— will invest in it. it doesn't matter. _ will invest in it. it doesn't matter. you _ will invest in it. it doesn't matter, you are - will invest in it. it doesn't matter, you are preparedj will invest in it. it doesn't i matter, you are prepared to will invest in it. it doesn't _ matter, you are prepared to spend... it matter, you are prepared to spend... it doesn't _ matter, you are prepared to spend... it doesn't matter how many submarines... it doesn't matter how many submarines. . ._ it doesn't matter how many submarines... if yourfoe does submarines... if your foe does not believe you submarines... if yourfoe does not believe you will use these weapons _ not believe you will use these weapons the deterrent is gone and that is— weapons the deterrent is gone and that is the — weapons the deterrent is gone and that is the position you are in. it's that is the position you are in. it's serious _ that is the position you are in. it's serious stuff.— that is the position you are in. it's serious stuff. we've become a lau~ahin it's serious stuff. we've become a laughing stop _ it's serious stuff. we've become a laughing stop internationally - laughing stop internationally because of your party. keir starmer changed the labour party. we are very clear on our number one priority, very clear on our number one priority. ...— very clear on our number one riori ,... , priority, let me bring in some more parties _ priority, let me bring in some more parties on _ priority, let me bring in some more parties on this _ priority, let me bring in some more parties on this question. i priority, let me bring in some| more parties on this question. my more parties on this question. ij�*i: brother more parties on this question. m: brother served in more parties on this question. m; brother served in iraq, i won't be lectured on whether or not i am absolutely committed to the security force like the question, the question was how will the parties ensure our army is ready and our country is safe from another conflict. . . , , ., country is safe from another conflict. ., ., , , ., ., conflict. carla denyer, how would the green party _ conflict. carla denyer, how would the green party ensure _ conflict. carla denyer, how would the green party ensure that? - conflict. carla denyer, how would| the green party ensure that? first of all i the green party ensure that? first of all i want _ the green party ensure that? first of all i want to _ the green party ensure that? first of all i want to say _ the green party ensure that? first of all i want to say we _ the green party ensure that? first of all i want to say we all- the green party ensure that? first of all i want to say we all owe a huge _ of all i want to say we all owe a huge debt— of all i want to say we all owe a huge debt to our veterans, from d-day_ huge debt to our veterans, from d-day and — huge debt to our veterans, from d—day and conflict since and it's a tragedy— d—day and conflict since and it's a tragedy that so many veteran struggle in life, their high rates of homelessness and that is something that's a high priority for ntyself_ something that's a high priority for myself and the greens to tackle. in terms _ myself and the greens to tackle. in terms of— myself and the greens to tackle. in terms of defence more broadly, this election— terms of defence more broadly, this election is— terms of defence more broadly, this election is about choosing what kind of country _ election is about choosing what kind of country we want to be, and of course _ of country we want to be, and of course part— of country we want to be, and of course part of that is security. we live in _ course part of that is security. we live in uncertain and dangerous times— live in uncertain and dangerous times with war on our european trorders— times with war on our european borders and major threats from cyber attacks _ borders and major threats from cyber attacks that don't care about geographical boundaries. the threats should _ geographical boundaries. the threats should not— geographical boundaries. the threats should not be underestimated. but the biggest threat facing the uk and the biggest threat facing the uk and the world _ the biggest threat facing the uk and the world is change and military, interestingly, are taking this threat — interestingly, are taking this threat extremely seriously because they know — threat extremely seriously because they know @ in threat extremely seriously because they know @ in answer to the auestion they know @ in answer to the question how _ they know @ in answer to the question how would - they know @ in answer to the question how would you - they know @ in answer to the question how would you are l they know @ in answer to the - question how would you are unsure our army is ready do you not want to see the size of the army grow and defence spending go up to 2.5% of gdp? �* , defence spending go up to 2.5% of gdp? �*, ., ., 4' defence spending go up to 2.5% of gdp? �*, ., ., ~ ., defence spending go up to 2.5% of gdp? 3 ., , ., gdp? let's look at why we are talkin: gdp? let's look at why we are talking about _ gdp? let's look at why we are talking about that _ gdp? let's look at why we are talking about that number. . gdp? let's look at why we are talking about that number. asj talking about that number. as members of nato we are rightly asked to contribute a fair amount towards the defence budget, that's totally fair enough for nato to ask that the uk is _ fair enough for nato to ask that the uk is already contributing the 2% that nato— uk is already contributing the 2% that nato asks. that doesn't mean however— that nato asks. that doesn't mean however we couldn't be spending that money _ however we couldn't be spending that money more effectively and as greens we are _ money more effectively and as greens we are clear— money