Britain Decides: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn to go head-to-head in TV debate

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the leader of the Labour opposition Jeremy Corbyn will go head-to-head in a televised election debate this evening.

The hour-long debate, which will begin at 20:30 GMT, will be the last time the two politicians share a stage before British voters go to the polls on December 12.

The leaders of the two main parties are expected to spar over the crucial issue of Brexit, Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union that has overshadowed the 2019 campaign, as well as the country’s National Health Service and the economy.

The Conservative and Labour Party leaders will answer questions from 100 audience members in Maidenstone in Kent, in the south of the country. The questions have been submitted to BBC online.

Earlier in the campaign the pair clashed in a debate on ITV. Their wide-ranging discussion touched on Brexit, Scotland and the leaders’ records at the helms of their respective parties.

Ahead of the debate Mr Johnson was delivered a body blow by former Prime Minister Sir John Major. Mr Major, who followed Margaret Thatcher into 10 Downing Street, urged voters to support three former Conservative MPs running against Mr Johnson.

Former ministers David Gauke, Dominic Grieve and Anne Milton were effectively expelled from the Conservative Party in September for blocking Mr Johnson’s Brexit legislation.

“Let me make one thing absolutely clear: none of them have left the Conservative party, the Conservative party has left them,” Mr Major said, adding that he considered Brexit the “worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime”.

In response, Mr Johnson has said he is “sad” that the former prime minister had intervened and said he “respectfully” disagrees with him.

Speaking to London’s LBC radio programme on Thursday, British election guru Sir John Curtice has said it is likely the Conservatives will get a majority in the upcoming election.

Research done by The Times newspaper has indicated Scotland may hold the keys to unlocking a Conservative majority in the upcoming election.

Mr Johnson repeatedly called for a general election after becoming prime minister in July. He said winning a Conservative majority in parliament was the only way to deliver on the decision of the 2016 referendum.