EU referendum: How did the candidates fare during Wembley live debate?

Political Editor Oliver Wright rates the performances of Gisela Stuart, Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsome, Sadiq Khan, Ruth Davidson and Frances O’Grady

Oliver Wright

Political Editor

Tuesday 21 June 2016 22:27 BST

Comments

The candidates cross swords during the live televised debate in Wembley (BBC)

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The Remain and Leave camps clashed in an acrimonious debate in which the economy and immigration were at the forefront of claim and counter-claim.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan drew raucous cheers for rounding on his predecessor Boris Johnson and claiming Vote Leave was "scaremongering" by claiming Turkey would imminently join the EU.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson also received widespread praise for challenging the Leave side to provide examples for their arguments and passionately describing her time in the armed forces.

But Mr Johnson received possibly the biggest cheer of the night when he declared in his closing arguments that polling day on Thursday "could be our country's independence day".

Here is how The Independent rated the two sides:

Leave

Gisela Stuart 4/10

Not easy for the only Labour member of Leave side. She started well but fell apart when challenged on whether the Leave campaign would promise to cut immigration to the EU. She did not have a convincing answer.

Boris Johnson 6/10

This was always going to be a challenge for the London Mayor – as he was going to be the one member of the Leave panel who the Remain side wanted to take down. His was an assured performance – but not outstanding. He held his ground but little more.

Andrea Leadsom 3/10

A less impressive performance from Ms Leadsom than in the last debate that she took part in. She seemed slightly stilted and very Conservative – which given that Labour voters are the key constituency was perhaps a mistake.

Remain

Sadiq Khan 6/10

Sadiq Khan was a tough and, at times, aggressive debater – taking on Boris Johnson on the economy and immigration. Not always sympathetic he, however, managed to get his points across. Unlikely to convince many swing voters.

Ruth Davidson 8/10

The star of the debate. Davidson repeatedly challenged the leave campaign – and Boris in particular – for not having specifics to back up their arguments. She was feisty without being overly aggressive and proved why she has been so successful at improving the Tories fortunes north of the border.

Frances O’Grady 6/10

The former head of the TUC was there to be the ‘workers voice in the debate. She didn’t lack passion – but sometimes sounded a little over the top. However her attacks on the Tory leavers – saying they could not be trusted to protect employment rights – will probably have hit home with voters she was on the panel to influence.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we we’re running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Does the UK need to take more control of its sovereignty?

Could the UK media swing the EU referendum one way or another?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

Will leaving the EU lead to the break-up of the UK?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?