Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will face questions from Beth Rigby and members of the public during Sky News’ special leaders’ event on Wednesday, the broadcaster has confirmed.

Award-winning political editor Rigby will scrutinise the leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties on their commitments to the country during 20-minute in-depth interviews.

The Battle for Number 10 – a Sky News Leaders Special Event will air live on Sky News on Wednesday at 7.30pm from Grimsby – an area expected to play a key role in the election.

Sky News’ lead UK presenter Sarah-Jane Mee will be among the representative audience – drawn from the local area and nationally – as they put their questions to Mr Sunak and Sir Keir in 25-minute slots. There will be a coin toss to decide who goes first.

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It will be the second televised event with the two party leaders, coming halfway through the general election campaign and just three weeks ahead of polls opening. At the first leaders’ debate last week, Mr Sunak and Sir Keir were given 45 seconds to respond to each question put to them.

Sky News executive editor and managing editor Jonathan Levy said: “People said they wanted to hear more from Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, so Sky News is giving them more time to tell you about their plans for your future. Each candidate – 45 minutes, not 45 seconds… in-depth and unfiltered.

“We’re giving the nation the full story, first.”

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Sir Keir said: “I’m really looking forward to it because I enjoy being able to talk directly to Sky viewers and to the audience there in Grimsby.

“I think having slightly more time will allow us to develop some of the answers that we need to give.”

The new Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency is complex and likely to be a key battleground in the election.

Grimsby turned Conservative for the first time since the end of the Second World War in 2019, with many people at the time feeling a cultural rift with the Labour Party.

The constituency has now been combined with Cleethorpes, where the Tories have been in power since 2010, but support for them is fading.

Since its formation in 1997, Cleethorpes has been a bellwether seat, backing the largest party in Westminster.

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The Battle for Number 10 Leaders Special Event, Wednesday 12 June 7pm-10pm on Sky News – free wherever you get your news.

Freeview channel 233, Sky 501, Virgin 603, BT 313 and streaming on the Sky News website, app and across social channels. It is also available to watch on Sky Showcase.

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