they have seen. some politicians coming here to try and put their side of the equation. that is when the hubbub goes through the roof after the debate, as people react to what they have seen. let's look ahead to what may be coming any direction of sir keir starmer and rishi sunak. they will all have been gaming out what kind of questions they might want to get. where do you think each will be put under the most pressure?— think each will be put under the most pressure? what is different about this one _ most pressure? what is different about this one as _ most pressure? what is different about this one as they _ most pressure? what is different about this one as they have - most pressure? what is different about this one as they have been through a couple of these already so they will be attuned to what is coming. but they won't really know where the audience will be coming from. but i'm sure cost of living, taxation, the environment, all those things will come and i think both of them will have been put under pressure over tax because outside economists have said neither have been honest about what is coming down the track and when that is put to them, it puts both of them on the back foot, plus they have been slinging members at each other about who will put tax up more than the other. i don't know how much the audience likes that kind of thing because in the end i think most people feel that they don't quite know what will happen after the election regardless of which party does come in. when it comes to issues like immigration, i think it issues like immigration, i think it is where they will both come under pressure, the conservatives will say we have a plan, you have seen our plan, the deportation scheme and they can say they have something to do because it has not really got off the ground, literally, yet, they will turn that on labour to say you don't have any plan at all. i think those two are where they both really come under a lot of pressure but i sometimes think it is the personal questions that throw the leaders a little bit more because they have to think on their feet and it is nothing they can rehearse. they might not know what is coming, about leadership, what are you most proud of, one that is often asked is what do you think is the best quality of your opponent? that is a very tricky one. that kind of thing can catch them out. , one. that kind of thing can catch them out-— one. that kind of thing can catch them out. , , ., ,~' them out. sometimes they get asked about our them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults _ them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults and _ them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults and they _ them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults and they say - them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults and they say i - them out. sometimes they get asked about your faults and they say i am i about your faults and they say i am about your faults and they say i am a perfectionist. i about your faults and they say i am a perfectionist.— a perfectionist. i try to hard. those are — a perfectionist. i try to hard. those are some _ a perfectionist. i try to hard. those are some of _ a perfectionist. i try to hard. those are some of the - a perfectionist. i try to hard. | those are some of the policy details. as i understand, a question will be asked at once —— once an issue has been raised, they will be a to—and—fro between the two men and may be mishal husain as well. that is different to _ may be mishal husain as well. twat is different to previous once there will —— where they was a limited chance to respond. this sounds a bit more free—flowing and for mishal husain, it is about trying to control them talking over each other, do they attack each other, it is very difficult i think on you have a live audience because you go back to the questionnaire and you say are you happy with that answer? it is difficult to fob off the question when it is a member of the publico often will have a personal experience, a caring issue, the nhs, it is tricky because it may be someone who has had a difficult time and you don't want to sound like a robot giving a policy answer. they will be mindful of the broader picture. the conservatives, rishi sunak, he is struggling, there has been no narrowing in the polls so far that we can see. and that is not what they hoped for. is he going to decide this is my last chance, i have to go for it? but he also will face questions about the betting story, he has a lot of things that have gone on during the campaign that he will have to asked answer. you have contacts within both parties. will they carve out significant amounts of time for the two leaders and their teams around them, will it be a priority? t two leaders and their teams around them, will it be a priority?- them, will it be a priority? i think so. this them, will it be a priority? i think s0- this is _ them, will it be a priority? i think so. this is something _ them, will it be a priority? i think so. this is something we - them, will it be a priority? i think so. this is something we have . them, will it be a priority? i think. so. this is something we have been having for a few years now. the debates have become an important part of the campaign. they really punctuate the campaign and of course it is a chance for viewers and listeners to really hear directly from the leaders and for them to appeal directly to them. it is quite unusual in that sense. it is not a leaflet through the door, facebook, online messages, it is actually into the living room. it is very important and of course the way it is written up is important because thenit is written up is important because then it is analysed later on and people trawl through all the different things, trying to see who the winner was. let different things, trying to see who the winner was.— different things, trying to see who the winner was. ., , ., ., the winner was. let me ask you about the winner was. let me ask you about the sin the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room. _ the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room. a _ the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room, a lot— the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room, a lot of— the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room, a lot of theatre - the winner was. let me ask you about the spin room, a lot of theatre to - the spin room, a lot of theatre to the spin room, a lot of theatre to the spin room in the aftermath of the spin room in the aftermath of the tv debates. some people say it might be good theatre but how much are we really learning? to what degree does a tv debate like this shape the political coverage of the campaign? t shape the political coverage of the cam aian? ~ shape the political coverage of the camaiun? ~' ., , shape the political coverage of the camuain? ~' ., , ~ ., campaign? i think it does. what i have found _ campaign? i think it does. what i have found in _ campaign? i think it does. what i have found in the _ campaign? i think it does. what i have found in the previous - campaign? i think it does. what i have found in the previous ones i campaign? i think it does. what i l have found in the previous ones is that you can really tell where they feel their weak points and strong points are because the people spinning for them and you have been speaking to some already, they all clearly are watching it in another room, talking and discussing what was good and bad... and then i saw that coming and talk about it. any verse one it was interesting because there was a lot about keir starmer not closing down this suggestion from rishi sunak that labour would put up taxes by £2000 per household. we thought it was strange he had not done that. julie etchingham said we will come back to tax and they did not do it. but as soon as the spinners came in, they immediately started talking about that and rebutting that suggestion. they had been watching as well. and realising, we have to shut this down. you can tell afterwards what they're focusing on and what they are attacking their opponent on, where they think they have won some point so they have been strong or weak on it. point so they have been strong or weak on it— weak on it. when we talk about spinners. _ weak on it. when we talk about spinners, sometimes _ weak on it. when we talk about spinners, sometimes generally | weak on it. when we talk about - spinners, sometimes generally with politics, we talk about people working in e—commerce operations but in the case of spin rooms, the people doing the spinning are normally senior politicians. that is somethina normally senior politicians. that is something that _ normally senior politicians. that is something that has _ normally senior politicians. that is something that has been - normally senior politicians. that is i something that has been introduced even more so now. i think there are five members of the shadow cabinet year. the last one, there were members of the cabinet as well. i think they have definitely at the game by putting in pretty senior people do, do all of that and it is on the record, it is not from an anonymous source. it is people say directly what they think is happen. the viewers canjudge directly what they think is happen. the viewers can judge for themselves. the viewers can 'udge for themselves._ the viewers can 'udge for themselves. , ., ., ., themselves. there is no shortage of micmphones — themselves. there is no shortage of microphones and _ themselves. there is no shortage of microphones and cameras. - microphones and cameras. just a reminder if you are switching on, we are at nottingham trent university, building up to the prime ministerial debate, hosted by mishal husain that starts at 8:15pm. you can watch it on bbc iplayer, bbc news and bbc one. you may have a lot of questions about how these kind of debates are organised, how the format is settled on and so forth and i have been speaking about that to a senior bbc news executive comedy ofjournalism. we aren't our colleagues and other broadcasters talk to the parties and the representatives over time. if they choose not to take part, that means they would not be a head—to—head —— head debate. with the seven hand—out early in the campaign, some leaders choose to put up campaign, some leaders choose to put up a death or a party spokesman and thatis up a death or a party spokesman and that is fine but for this programme it has to be the two people who could be prime minister of this country. they cannot send a standard. —— stand in. i am joined standard. —— stand in. iamjoined bya —— stand in. i am joined by a representative of a polling company. thank you for your help on occasions like this. there is an inevitability that there is a perception of how this matters in the way the polling has been published.— this matters in the way the polling has been published. that's right. we have not seen _ has been published. that's right. we have not seen much _ has been published. that's right. we have not seen much movement - has been published. that's right. we have not seen much movement yet. | has been published. that's right. we i have not seen much movement yet. as a result of the debate. we have not seen much movement in the polls generally speaking. we have seen reform game ground that has not really been as a result of anything has happened. this is what it is all about. the event today coming as it does so close to the actual election day represents a good chance but also in many ways the last scheduled chance to make a difference. does ollin: chance to make a difference. does polling follow _ chance to make a difference. does polling follow similar _ chance to make a difference. does polling follow similar patterns? is it more likely to move in the last week or the first week of the campaign?— week or the first week of the cam-cain? , . , ,, campaign? generally speaking, between a _ campaign? generally speaking, between a third _ campaign? generally speaking, between a third and _ campaign? generally speaking, between a third and 4096 - campaign? generally speaking, between a third and 4096 of - campaign? generally speaking, - between a third and 4096 of people between a third and 40% of people say they make their minds up during the campaign but often people think that means they change their mind when in actualfact that means they change their mind when in actual fact in that means they change their mind when in actualfact in most that means they change their mind when in actual fact in most cases that means they change their mind when in actualfact in most cases it willjust when in actualfact in most cases it will just settle. when in actualfact in most cases it willjust settle. but when in actualfact in most cases it will just settle. but we when in actualfact in most cases it willjust settle. but we know when in actualfact in most cases it will just settle. but we know there is also people who don't pay much attention to things until the last week. forthe attention to things until the last week. for the average person on the street, less engaged people, it will be the last few days and events like this that really will be if anything the only time they pay close attention. t the only time they pay close attention-— the only time they pay close attention. . , , , ., ~ ., ., attention. i was speaking to a member of— attention. i was speaking to a member of the _ attention. i was speaking to a member of the shadow - attention. i was speaking to a i member of the shadow cabinet, attention. i was speaking to a - member of the shadow cabinet, they say they are telling all their colleagues and voters as well, the polls, a lot of people who don't know which way they will go. keep working and pushing, was the message from that member of the shadow cabinet. is that fair or actually do you think that most people are approaching settling? tt is you think that most people are approaching settling?- approaching settling? it is fair because it _ approaching settling? it is fair because it is _ approaching settling? it is fair because it is not _ approaching settling? it is fair because it is not about - approaching settling? it is fair because it is not about the - approaching settling? it is fair - because it is not about the national poll it is about the constituencies. and each one of those contests can make a big difference to the overall outcome. small changes can still be important. it does not surprise me that all the parties are still really going for it. fit, that all the parties are still really going for it. a couple of questions _ really going for it. a couple of questions coming _ really going for it. a couple of questions coming out - really going for it. a couple of questions coming out is - really going for it. a couple of questions coming out is how. really going for it. a couple of - questions coming out is how accurate are the polls and how influential are the polls and how influential are they? let start with how accurate they are. what do you imagine a margin of error would be? by imagine a margin of error would be? by historical standards, in nine out of ten occasions, the final result has been within plus or —4% of the actual outcome and two thirds of the time it has been within plus or minus 2%. by historical standards, they tend to be accurate but that is not being they are always accurate. they can be —— they can be potential for movement. at the league that labour has at the moment far exceeds anything any history of polling that suggests the overall story could be different. stand suggests the overall story could be different. �* , ., , , suggests the overall story could be different. �* i, ., different. and give us a type of oll that different. and give us a type of poll that has — different. and give us a type of poll that has been _ different. and give us a type of poll that has been given - different. and give us a type of poll that has been given a - different. and give us a type of poll that has been given a lot l different. and give us a type of| poll that has been given a lot of attention, people who have not encountered these yet, introduce as to them because they be —— had been driving some big headlines and reactions? abs, driving some big headlines and reactions? �* , ., driving some big headlines and reactions? ~ , ., ., driving some big headlines and reactions?_ driving some big headlines and reactions? ~ , ., ., , , ., reactions? a short and simple way to think about it — reactions? a short and simple way to think about it is _ reactions? a short and simple way to think about it is a _ reactions? a short and simple way to think about it is a conventional- think about it is a conventional national poll is kind of like a big bowl of lego. 0f national poll is kind of like a big bowl of lego. of the other toys are available. to work out the seats, you would then break into individual seats were —— working techniques like swing and things like that. but through mrp surveys, they take individual blocks and try to work out how each one of those 650 contacts in the country will play out, using statistical modelling, and then add it up.— out, using statistical modelling, and then add it up. they have been caettin a and then add it up. they have been getting a lot _ and then add it up. they have been getting a lot of _ and then add it up. they have been getting a lot of attention _ and then add it up. they have been getting a lot of attention because l getting a lot of attention because they are saying we think this is how they are saying we think this is how the house of commons could look. yes, because translating the share of the vote into the share of the seat is extremely difficult. share of the vote into the share of the seat is extremely difficult. are you comfortable _ seat is extremely difficult. are you comfortable with _ seat is extremely difficult. are you comfortable with how _ seat is extremely difficult. are you comfortable with how much - seat is extremely difficult. are you i comfortable with how much attention they have been getting, given that some have project outcomes that are really quite different to other polls? really quite different to other olls? �* ,., , really quite different to other olls? �* , ., really quite different to other olls? ., polls? all polls involve assumptions and they involve _ polls? all polls involve assumptions and they involve modelling - polls? all polls involve assumptions and they involve modelling and - polls? all polls involve assumptionsj and they involve modelling and they involve particular decisions that pollsters are making and that is true for mrp surveys. but in and of themselves, tojust true for mrp surveys. but in and of themselves, to just a statistical technique and there are good ones and they will be bad ones. just because it uses these techniques, it is not necessarily mean it is any better, it means it is approaching it in a different way.— it in a different way. different --eole it in a different way. different people are — it in a different way. different people are using _ it in a different way. different people are using different - people are using different methodology for their mrp polls. someone is going to get to chilly the fifth and think may be ousted not work as well.— not work as well. they are all makin: not work as well. they are all making specific _ not work as well. they are all making specific decisions - not work as well. they are all l making specific decisions about not work as well. they are all - making specific decisions about what they think will be important in individual constituencies, picking data that they think will be useful and making assumptions about the way they think the election will go and that could have an impact on the overall outcome.— that could have an impact on the overall outcome. there has been a lot of discussion _ overall outcome. there has been a lot of discussion about _ overall outcome. there has been a lot of discussion about how - lot of discussion about how influential polls are and one of the reasons that is coming up is because there has been so many of them, really quite a lot, close to 100 being fed into the poll tracker at the bbc. why are they so many polls this time? ., , ., the bbc. why are they so many polls this time? . , ., ., , ., this time? that is a legal question. i think this time? that is a legal question. i think part — this time? that is a legal question. i think part of _ this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it _ this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it is _ this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it is to _ this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it is to do _ this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it is to do with - this time? that is a legal question. i think part of it is to do with the i i think part of it is to do with the fact that we have in previous elections had a lot of polls but this time around there are lots of new entrants to the market that have ever worked on election before. they come from different backgrounds rather than polling backgrounds. and they are having a go and seeing what happens and for us old hands, we always welcome the involvement. we will see what happens after the election. ., ~ , ., , . election. thank you very much indeed. let's now go from nottingham trent university to the bbc news room in london and bring in my colleague. i have a message on social media saying is there going to be live fact checking as this debate goes on? i know who i want to speak to about that and that is you. tell us what you and our colleagues will be doing through the debate. the easy answer to that _ doing through the debate. the easy answer to that is _ doing through the debate. the easy answer to that is yes, _ doing through the debate. the easy answer to that is yes, we _ doing through the debate. the easy answer to that is yes, we are - doing through the debate. the easy answer to that is yes, we are going| answer to that is yes, we are going to be fact checking everything as the debate goes on. we have spent a lot of time actually before these debates prepping for it and looking at some of the claims the parties have been making online, looking at some of the things they have done in previous debates, coming up with bid documents that try to explain whether they are correct or not. you can almost breakdown two separate things that i think we will be trying to do tonight. i can show you on one of the screens. the first thing we do is look at some of the dubious claims. you might have seen these ones over recent weeks. we have been talking about them a lot. the conservatives claiming tax will go the conservatives claiming tax will 9° up the conservatives claiming tax will go up £2000 for every working family and labour, labour claiming mortgages will go up under the conservatives. we have tried to unpack where these figures come from. why some of the methods that have been used in coming up these figures are really questionable and why the headline claims are potentially quite misleading. if you get something like that in the debate tonight, you go on the bbc news website, watch the news channel, the ten o'clock news after, we will look at any of these claims and explain where they can be trusted. that is really important because we always get slightly inflated claims from the political parties and it is important to explain them and put them in context. ultimately it is up to you whether you think there is any merit in them because a lot of this is political, notjust mathematical. we will try and tell you what we think stacks up and what does not. it is notjust stacks up and what does not. it is not just about saying this is stacks up and what does not. it is notjust about saying this is right and that is wrong. there is also context which i think is important when you get to a campaign and you might see keir starmer andre she saw it having a big barney about something like —— and richey —— rishi sunak having a barney about the nhs in england. we have no idea if it'll come up tonight. but to give you an example, something that is quite important to scrutinise, rishi sunak and said when he talks about record backlogs in the nhs in england that they have started to come down. have a look. we will try and show you a bit closer. if you look right at the end, you can see what has happened, the waiting list have gone up and up, the dead start to fall and if you look right at the end, the progress on this stance to stagnate and in the most recent figures, the overall backlog has gone a bit. that is a bit extra context that we are trying to provide for some of the debates and the arguments that keir starmer and rishi sunak have. we don't know what is going to come up tonight, so there is always a bit ofjeopardy on this. the audience will have their say and i'm sure there will be a wide variety of subjects but we are spending our time for the next couple of hours doing some revision for them and trying to figure out what some of the potentially dubious things that have been said our and figure out how we can make them a bit more accessible and help people make up their minds about whether there is anything in them or not. fascinating. you are trying to anticipate what is may be said. let me also quickly ask you, you were alluding to the fact that inevitably across the debate, a whole range of subjects will, and within the team on duty receiving there are people with different specialisms who can respond to one policy area or another quickly?— respond to one policy area or another quickly? yes, there are, almost a remarkable _ another quickly? yes, there are, almost a remarkable number- another quickly? yes, there are, almost a remarkable number of| another quickly? yes, there are, - almost a remarkable number of smart people in this team who understand very specific things, be that environmental claims, energy, tax, spending, we have people like the bbc head of statistics, or looking at these claims that are being made. we discuss them and sometimes have a to—and—fro about whether something stacks up. we have other experts on hand who we can contact if we want a third opinion. the big thing i think is trying to test some of the arguments. it is not always about saying believe this, don't believe this, there are some examples where something is so egregious that you can kind of say, that does not stack up can kind of say, that does not stack up but it is also about putting those expert opinions together and trying to explain what the bbc verify team has found, putting it in front of the audience and letting people make up their own minds. the biggest decision that everybody is going to have his a week tomorrow in the general election itself but i think what we can hopefully delay spring all the brains together and try and put a bit more context on it, trying to explain some of the numbers, and hopefully help people make their minds up about what they can trust and what they cannot. thank you very much for explaining all of that. my all of that. my bbc colleagues are prying, as i say, for when the debate begins and as and when either keir starmer or rishi sunak says something that requires clarification, we will be doing that as soon as we possibly can. initially through the life stage on the bbc news website, you will see some of those clarifications to the television and streaming and also on the radio. if you'rejustjoining us, i am ros atkins and i am in the nottingham trent university building. it is the spin room, just adjacent to the venue for the prime ministerial debate. that begins at age 15 pm. we arejust ministerial debate. that begins at age 15 pm. we are just under two hours away now. —— 815. i am joined by a pollutant —— political communication professor. thank you very much forjoining us. how important are these moments to your general assessment of the media coverage of the campaign? thea;r your general assessment of the media coverage of the campaign?— coverage of the campaign? they are oversea major— coverage of the campaign? they are oversea major events, _ coverage of the campaign? they are oversea major events, these - coverage of the campaign? they are l oversea major events, these debates. hence all of the journalists here watching. hence all of the 'ournalists here watchinu. , ., ., watching. every time i turn around, it has filled — watching. every time i turn around, it has filled up _ watching. every time i turn around, it has filled up a _ watching. every time i turn around, it has filled up a little _ watching. every time i turn around, it has filled up a little more. - watching. every time i turn around, it has filled up a little more. it - it has filled up a little more. ut is and it is already very warm here. it is very critical as regards the news agenda but having said that, there are a lot of other opportunities during the campaign and we have seen them in the various interviews that candidates have given and there are various problems that both parties have encountered, especially the conservatives. they have marginalised the effects of some of the debates we have seen. tonight it is really important because it is a head—to—head between the two rivals and we have not seen since the very beginning of the election and it will be interesting to see what if at all rishi sunak can do to reset his campaign yet again. do can do to reset his campaign yet aaain. , , , . , can do to reset his campaign yet aaain. , , ,. again. do these set pieces become more importantly _ again. do these set pieces become more importantly closer _ again. do these set pieces become more importantly closer we - again. do these set pieces become more importantly closer we get i again. do these set pieces become more importantly closer we get to | more importantly closer we get to election day? can we say they have more impact if they are closer to the day? more impact if they are closer to the da ? , ., ., more impact if they are closer to theda? ., the day? there is a real problem with this campaign _ the day? there is a real problem with this campaign that - the day? there is a real problem with this campaign that we - the day? there is a real problem with this campaign that we have | the day? there is a real problem i with this campaign that we have the football and glastonbury and a lot of other things going on injune. and some electors may be not paying as much close attention now, especially with the weather. there are other distractions. that might be a consideration. when you're coming towards the final two weeks of the campaign, the final week, anything and everything that could go wrong, if it goes wrong in that period, can cut through and it will be interesting tonight majesty to what extent either of the spokespeople can basically articulate what it is they want to do for the country. you articulate what it is they want to do for the country.— articulate what it is they want to do for the country. you were telling me earlier. — do for the country. you were telling me earlier, loughborough - do for the country. you were telling | me earlier, loughborough university has been studying the media coverage of the campaign for decades. you have a lot of campaigns to reference. quite frequently i have heard people saying this would be digital election, the social media election. you coverage across—the—board, does tv... is it still the most powerful media form? because this brings such a change in the media landscape, tv and broadcasting, radio as well, remain really significant and arguably print and other... newspapers are not being read in the same numbers as they once were but those brands, the telegraph, the mail, the mirror, the telegraph, the mail, the mirror, the times, they are things that we understand and know so well. some of the digital brands have not quite succeeded in cutting through in the way they still do. 50 succeeded in cutting through in the way they still do.— way they still do. so those legacy brands, way they still do. so those legacy brands. even _ way they still do. so those legacy brands, even though _ way they still do. so those legacy brands, even though the - way they still do. so those legacy i brands, even though the readership is falling in terms of newspaper sales, you are saying they still have as much influence because of what? �* .., , , have as much influence because of what? �* , , , have as much influence because of what? , i, what? because they still capture the ima . ination what? because they still capture the imagination of— what? because they still capture the imagination of a _ what? because they still capture the imagination of a significant - what? because they still capture the imagination of a significant number. imagination of a significant number of readers. and their materials are circulating on social media. the bbc is out there is the major news provider. and we also have things like the guardian, the mail 0nline comedy daily mirror and the sun newspaper as well. all of these brands, if you look at the top news sources, still the audiences rely on those trusted and tried traditional brands. ., ., ., , ., , ., brands. you are measuring lots of different things _ brands. you are measuring lots of different things but _ brands. you are measuring lots of different things but in _ brands. you are measuring lots of different things but in terms - brands. you are measuring lots of different things but in terms of i different things but in terms of which brittle parties and politicians are getting the most attention, positive and, can you see patterns? attention, positive and, can you see atterns? , ., , patterns? yes, the tool candidates toni . ht, patterns? yes, the tool candidates tonight. they _ patterns? yes, the tool candidates tonight, they are _ patterns? yes, the tool candidates tonight, they are here, _ patterns? yes, the tool candidates tonight, they are here, that's - patterns? yes, the tool candidates tonight, they are here, that's why | tonight, they are here, that's why they are debating, they have most of they are debating, they have most of the attention. but it is notable —— noticeable that nigel farage has maintained his position in third. ed davey has had a really good campaign but has not cut through in the way that nigel farage is able to generate headlines. i use that term advisedly. that cuts through any media agenda. that is quite significant success in terms of generating publicity. in the last few days, it has become slightly more critical with his comments about russia. but he has maintained about russia. but he has maintained a momentum that he started in the campaign with the surprising element he would be party leader and since then he has been able to generate additional publicity which... and ed davey has as well, but he has crowded out some of the other leaders who are some way behind. thank you very much indeed. appreciate that. as i have been mentioning, hosting tonight is going to be mishal husain. right now she is going to be busy preparing but they short while ago, we caught up with her. here we are on the stage, where the debate is about to take place. tell us how it will pan out. we debate is about to take place. tell us how it will pan out.— us how it will pan out. we have turned this _ us how it will pan out. we have turned this corner _ us how it will pan out. we have turned this corner of _ us how it will pan out. we have turned this corner of the - us how it will pan out. we have i turned this corner of the university campus into our debate stage and we are standing between the two podiums whether leaders will be. i will be in front of them and then the audience behind and you will see quite a simple format really, a simple form of unfiltered democracy, if you write, where one by one, the question is will stand up and they will put their questions to both leaders and it will be myjob to nudge them back to the question if necessary at times, to move the debate on, because we want to cover as many topics is possible. we are in this crucial period of the election campaign because in nine days, one of these two men will be prime minister, so that is the aim to get away broad range of topics, allow those in the audience and have questions ready to have their say and ultimately to see how these two men respond. their words and their toll and their demeanour. we can speak to the death of the political editor of the guardian newspaper. you have been walking around nottingham. == newspaper. you have been walking around nottingham.— around nottingham. -- deputy olitical around nottingham. -- deputy political editor. _ around nottingham. -- deputy political editor. yes, _ around nottingham. -- deputy political editor. yes, one - around nottingham. -- deputy political editor. yes, one of. around nottingham. -- deputy| political editor. yes, one of the things i have found surprising as there seems to be quite a lot of undecided voters. the polls seem to show we are heading for an enormous landslide but people did not seem to have made up their minds. mas landslide but people did not seem to have made up their minds.— have made up their minds. was that because they _ have made up their minds. was that because they were _ have made up their minds. was that because they were genuinely - have made up their minds. was that l because they were genuinely thinking i could go this way or that way? were they not deciding which to settle on? ., ., �* ~ ., settle on? you don't know with undecided _ settle on? you don't know with undecided voters, _ settle on? you don't know with undecided voters, especially i settle on? you don't know with undecided voters, especially if| settle on? you don't know with i undecided voters, especially if you are walking without candidate from another party. maybe theyjust don't want to say they are all floating for the other party. but candidates feel things are in flux, there is a lot of apathy and cynicism about politicians out there. and i think that labour have a lit —— 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. ts that they seem to be showing in the olls. , ., that they seem to be showing in the olls., . , ., that they seem to be showing in the olls., ., a ., . that they seem to be showing in the polls. is that cynicism directed at a olitical polls. is that cynicism directed at a political party _ polls. is that cynicism directed at a political party or— polls. is that cynicism directed at a political party or against - polls. is that cynicism directed at a political party or against the i a political party or against the political class?— a political party or against the olitical class? ., , ., political class? most of it is about the political _ political class? most of it is about the political class, _ political class? most of it is about the political class, they _ political class? most of it is about the political class, they are - political class? most of it is about the political class, they are all. the political class, they are all the political class, they are all the same, there is nothing between them, and both candidates will —— would say there is quite a lot between the two of them. but i think the past few years, especially post—brexit, may be 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 build a lot to do to build back trust. lot to build a lot to do to build back trust-— lot to build a lot to do to build back trust. , . ., ., back trust. there is a huge range of olitical back trust. there is a huge range of political experiences _ back trust. there is a huge range of political experiences people - back trust. there is a huge range of political experiences people are - 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 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? t previous debates we have seen in this campaign?— previous debates we have seen in this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot _ this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot to _ this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot to learn _ this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot to learn from - this campaign? i think keir starmer has had a lot to learn from the - has had a lot to learn from the mistakes you 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 and i think that... i'm sure we hear that keir starmer�*s team have learned from that do not let rishi sunak land those attacks, likely to thousand pound tax rise that he did very successfully kind of conveyor 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. iiit earlier on that sort of thing. in terms of funding the plans, what is the analysis of whether this really stacks up or whether both are hoping for growth of the economy? i think we have seen from some of the think tank analysis, particularly the iss yesterday, that they think that lots of the plans can't be described as funded and lots of the measures that both parties are seeing will grow the uk economy can only have a marginal impact at best. —— from the ifs yesterday. it is fair to say that people are getting a bit frustrated with that analysis on both sides and they claim their plans are fully funded and especially from the labour side, you hear people saying to me, of course we want by the end of the term to have done more ambitious things then we set out in our manifesto and we want to end a waiting lists, and notjust cut it by the small amounts, but we need to make sure that initially the things we are setting out are funded, which is why people get frustrated perhaps on the other side of the spectrum of them not being involved enough. so thatis them not being involved enough. so that is the economy, growth and spending. are there any specific policies you looking out for and keen to hear either men talking about that you don't think they have been adequately scrutinised on yet? i think there will be some difficult questions potentially on migration and that is one of the things that labour stumbles on and i think there is plenty in that plan that people think i have quite a lot of holes in it and they talk about returns agreements being their main goal but you can't do a returns deal with the teledyne so what does that mean? and labour does not seem to have answers to some