Speaking with Beth Rigby on News’ Battle For Number 10 in Grimsby, the Labour leader expressed his anxiety about the impact his role will have on his teenage children rather than “the big decisions.”
He claimed that it would have been simpler if his two children—a girl, 13, and a boy, almost 16,—were at “difficult ages” and that they would have been easier to raise.
Meanwhile, in response to a probe concerning “broken promises” he had made when he became prime minister in January 2023, Rishi Sunak—who was also questioned by Rigby—defended his performance in Number 10.
The prime minister was especially questioned about immigration, which he said was “too high,” the tax burden, and NHS waiting lines.
He acknowledged that he could sympathize with people’s “frustrations,” but maintained that the nation had “been through two once-in-a-century shocks”: the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The prime minister also responded to a question from Grimsby student William by saying he is “incredibly excited” for his children to perform national service. “I think it will be transformative for our country” , he stated.
He was also questioned about immigration, specifically how he felt Brexit supporters (in Grimsby, 70% chose to leave the EU) felt when they found out that there had been 1.9 million net migrants over the previous three years.