During a UK prime ministerial election debate, Rishi Sunak rushed to the side of a television host after she fainted live on air. The debate had to be cancelled mid-way through.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was in the midst of making a point about her economic plans if elected as the Conservative Party leader when she was seen on screen reacting with horror to the sound of a crash off screen.
‘The Sun’ newspaper, which was the co-host of the debate with ‘TalkTV‘ on Tuesday evening, had to then switch to another studio after host Kate McCann felt unwell.
The former Chancellor “raced to Kate’s side”, as well as by Liz Truss, who also went to check on the presenter. Both the candidates were seen kneeling down checking if she was fine.
“Kate McCann fainted on air last night and although she is fine, the medical advice was that we shouldn’t continue with the debate. We apologise to our viewers and listeners,” a spokesperson for News UK, the company behind ‘TalkTV’ said.
After the debate was halted around 30 minutes, a message on TalkTV and ‘The Sun’ online stream read: “We’re sorry for the disruption to this programme.”
The candidates, however, continued fielding questions from ‘The Sun’ readers after the show went off air.
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss were clashing with each other over the issue of taxes, the key dividing line of the election, with the former branding Truss’ plans to cut taxes as “morally wrong”.
“I think ‘The Sun’ readers are sensible enough and have enough common sense to know that you don’t get something for nothing,” said the 42-year-old British Indian former Chancellor.
“It’s important that we leave our kids and our grandkids, and I think it is important to think about that inheritance, and I don’t want to pass them a bill,” he said.
Liz Truss, 47, hit back with some of the arguments that have been playing out between the two finalists as they intensify their campaign to win over Tory member votes.
“It’s wrong that we currently have the highest tax burden in this country that we’ve had for 70 years. And I believe that ‘The Sun’ readers want us to keep to our manifesto commitment of not raising taxes,” she said.
