Pugnacious Farage delivers punches that send opponents off balance in BBC election debate

Nigel Farage was flawless and popular, outperforming his rivals during the BBC debate. -html.eip.telegraph.co.uk/bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837.html?direct=true&id=bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837&template=articleRendererHTML» class=»tmg-particle Sticky-Nav WRP- bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837″ title=»General Election» data-business-type=»editorial» loading=»eager» scroll=»no» Frameborder=»0″ allow=»web-share» style=» width: 100%; min-width: 100%; position: relative; margin: 0px;»>

They say you should never get into a fight. the one who buys ink by the barrel, and now that proverb should include: Never get into a fight with someone who has their own TV show.

Nigel Farage, engaged in live debate for the first time this election, was impeccable, combative and popular.

Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, struggled to keep up with him. but, shackled by the reality of 14 years in government, she was pushed into second place by the charismatic leader of reformist Britain.

A Telegraph online poll of who was at the top and who was at the bottom put Mr Farage well ahead by all indicators. The 90-minute BBC show has a net positive rating more than twice that of Ms Mordaunt.

The big loser that night was Angela Rayner. Sent on a mission to be the sensible voice in the room, she struggled to think on her feet, her views on nuclear deterrence were tainted, and she repeatedly retreated to her safe territory where «the Tories had destroyed the economy.»

Mr Farage appeared by far the most comfortable of the seven politicians on the platform. After spending three years presenting his own show on GB News, he rehearsed his lines to the point he could deliver them in his sleep, and survived everything thrown at him on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. ! it is not surprising that he became the king of this particular jungle.

By the end of the evening, while others were shaking their heads and furrowing their brows, Mr Farage was so amused that he was grinning like a naughty schoolboy and making monosyllabic remarks in response to the serious speeches of his opponents.

The thing about Mr Farage is that he doesn't look like a politician. On knife crime, Ms Mordaunt said candidly: “We need more police and we need police in communities who can keep an eye on people.” The audience was silent.

When it was Mr Farage's turn, he spoke directly to the audience, who applauded as he told them: «Now you can go shoplift, any of you. You can shoplift and steal £200 without being prosecuted. We are seeing the decline of public order in this country.»

Ms Mordaunt entered the debate in the worst of circumstances after Rishi Sunak was forced to apologize for leaving D-Day celebrations early.

Ms Mordaunt entered the debate in the worst of circumstances after Rishi Sunak was forced to apologize for leaving D-Day celebrations early. p> p>

Her job was to try to bring the debate back to the issue of taxes and repeat the claim that Labor would raise taxes by £2,000 per household, and she bravely attempted to do so by declaring that tax cuts were «in our DNA as Conservatives «, but Mr Farage was ready for it.

He accused the Tories of «dishonesty of mind-boggling proportions» over taxes, saying: «Even in Tony Blair's time the top rate of tax in this country was 40p and one million people in this country paid that.» By 2029, eight million people will pay 40p tax… That's why life is so hard.»

Ms Mordaunt now faces several bookies' odds of losing her North Portsmouth seat and has had much more to defend herself than she did during her 85-day stay. as Minister of Defense.

Mr Farage set the tone from the start: after Ms Rayner and Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, responded to a question on the defense by humbly laying out their policies, Mr Farage used it to go on the attack.

Rishi Sunak “deserted” veterans by returning home early from Normandy, he said, “which is a complete and utter disgrace and shows we have an unpatriotic Prime Minister. It was terrible.”

Continuing the rhetoric, Mr Farage added: “If his instincts had been the same as those of the British people, he would not have thought for a second that he would not be attending a big international ceremony. It shows how out of touch he is with the people of this country.»

In a gravity-defying move, Ms Mordaunt said it was «completely wrong» for Mr Sunak to leave France early and lashed out at Mrs. Rayner standing next to her, rather than risk a counterattack from the leader of reformist Britain.

Let's start with the fact that she defended her position well. She reminded Ms Rayner that she «recently voted with the guy who wants to be Foreign Secretary and half the leader of the Labor Party» to get rid of nuclear deterrence.

“Imagine what Putin thinks. Without trust, we become a target. If we become a target, you are less safe. It's too late for this generation of Labor politicians, trust is broken. Don't vote for these people.»

Drawing her sword of truth to strike her opponent, she said: «If your enemy does not believe that you will use this weapon, the deterrent is gone, and this is the position in which you are. This is serious stuff. This is what will happen if you choose these people.”

But Ms Mordaunt has serious problems with the issue of immigration. Where Mr Farage mocked others for their 'Open Door!' policy. Everyone come! Benefit for everyone!” Ms Mordaunt went off topic and was reminded of the question by moderator Mishal Hussain.

She can now focus on protecting her seat while Mr Farage heads to Clacton to focus on his own long-term affairs. the fight for a seat in parliament.