Jeremy Corbyn will use tonight’s historic head-to-head TV clash to expose “blustering” Boris Johnson as untrustworthy and offering no hope for the UK, senior Labour figures believe.
The prime-time ITV slot, expected to be watched by millions of voters, will be a key moment for the Labour leader to try to reassure voters that his policies would make the country a better place.
Mr Corbyn is currently lagging behind in the polls and the hour-long debate, hosted by Julie Etchingham, will give him the chance to project his vision straight into the nation’s sitting-rooms.
The Labour leader’s team believe that this week, including the launch of the Labour manifesto on Thursday, could be a decisive moment when public opinion starts to shift in their favour.
Shadow minister Jack Dromey told the Mirror: “The debate is an opportunity for Jeremy to expose blustering Boris for what he is - a man who cannot be trusted, offering no hope for the country.
“Jeremy needs, with typical sincerity, to show that Labour will offer radical and much-needed change. This could be a pivotal moment which turns the tide in Labour’s direction.”
At this stage in 2017 Labour was further behind in the polls, but by election day had closed the gap significantly, enough to deprive Theresa May - who refused to appear in debates and whose manifesto fell flat - of her majority.
It will be the first time a sitting PM has agreed to a one-on-one debate with the leader of the Opposition, and Mr Johnson‘s advisers acknowledge that it is a major risk.
The pair have only clashed at PMQs three time, even though Mr Johnson has been in power since July.
The first half of tonight’s debate will focus on Brexit and the Tory leader is expected to attack Labour’s plan to give the people a final say - insisting only he can get deliver Brexit.
But Mr Corbyn will be on comfortable territory for the second half - during which they will be quizzed on domestic policy - and will focus on the devastation caused by almost a decade of Tory austerity and whether Mr Johnson can be trusted.
Both men have been prepping for the debate with their top teams for days.
Mr Johnson is being coached for the live showdown by Brett O’Donnell, an American Republican guru he worked with during the Brexit referendum and advised him to repeatedly deliver his “take back control” mantra.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove has reprised his role as the Tory leader’s opponent by acting as Mr Corbyn during rehearsals.
Mr Corbyn, however, has rejected outside help and has stuck with the same team of advisors who prepare him for PMQs every week.
A young Labour aide who insiders say does “a mean impression of Boris” has again being playing the role of the PM.
It comes after the Lib Dems and the SNP lost a High Court challenge against ITV over its decision to exclude their party leaders Jo Swinson or Nicola Sturgeon from the debate.
All four party leaders will appear in a Question Time Special in Sheffield this Friday.
BORIS JOHNSON BINGO BOX
get Brexit done
oven-ready Brexit
dither and delay
Parliament is paralysed
a nightmare on Downing Street
two referendums next year
CORBYN VS JOHNSON:
Jeremy Corbyn, 70
STYLE empathetic geography teacher
TEMPERAMENT gets ratty easily, but passionate on issues he cares about
EXPERIENCE came out top during Labour leadership hustings and performed well at last election
STRENGTHS popular Labour policies
WEAKNESSES confusion over his Brexit policy
DANGER MOMENTS sounding too sympathetic to controversial foreign regimes
POTENTIAL WINS the effect of Tory austerity on real people’s lives
HOPED FOR OUTCOME establishing himself as the only person who cam stop Johnson could help win back voters from Lib Dems
Boris Johnson, 55
STYLE slapdash supply teacher
TEMPERAMENT gets flustered and says silly things but getting better at sticking to the line
EXPERIENCE did poorly in Brexit debates in 2016 and against Jeremy Hunt in the Tory leadership debate - even though he won contest
STRENGTHS the Tories represent a straightforward route to Brexit
WEAKNESSES will struggle to distance himself from the cuts and chaos of the Tories’ years in power
DANGER MOMENTS sounding dismissive about the plight of real people or being too aggressive towards Corbyn
POTENTIAL WINS half of the debate will be about Brexit
HOPED FOR OUTCOME unifying the Leave vote so they vote him back into No 10
Who will be in the ITV general election debate tonight and why is it controversial?
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will go head-to-head in the first televised debate.
It is the first time the leaders of the two main parties have squared off since 2015 - and it is set to be dramatic.
The debate will be hosted by Julie Etchingham - and campaign bosses will hope that a good performance will give their candidate an edge as the election hits its stride.
The Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party lost their case against ITV in the High Court on Monday.
The court ruled the parties had not been unfairly excluded.
ITV say they will propose another format later in the campaign which will give the other parties a chance to be heard.
