Starmer mocked on social media after mentioning toolmaker father AGAIN (2024)

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Sir Keir Starmer was mercilessly mocked on social media last night after bringing up that his father was a toolmaker again.

The Labour leader was met with groans and laughter as he reminded the audience about his father's job during the Sky News election debate with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Grimsby Town Hall.

Sir Keir has repeatedly told voters about his childhood during the general election campaign.

Discussing his own financial situation, Sir Keir drew laughter as he told the audience: 'I accept I earn a lot of money in the job I am now in. But when I grew upmy dad was a toolmaker, he worked in a factory.

As the audience broke into laughter, the Labour leader hit back, responding: 'It's true - my mum was a nurse - and we couldn't make ends meet, which is not a laughing matter.'

But as well as being mocked by the audience, voters watching at home could not help but flood social media with jokes and memes about Sir Keir's comments.

One user shared a photo of Mr Sunak speaking to a pensioner on the bus and sarcastically quipped: 'Hey, did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker...?'

Another posted a clip of former The X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne breaking into laughter with the caption: 'Keir Starmer mentioning his dad was a toolmaker minutes into the debate.'

A third joked: 'BREAKING: Keir Starmer's father was a toolmaker.'

Another wrote: 'But did YOU know that Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker?'

Others quipped that they should have had Sir Keir bringing up that his dad was a toolmaker in their 'debate bingo'.

Sir Keir also brought his childhood up at the ITV debate, telling the audience: 'My dad worked in a factory, he was a toolmaker. My mum was a nurse, we didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up but we were in a position on occasion where we couldn't pay our bills so I know how that feels.'

The Labour leader was not the only one to be mocked on social media last night, with his opponent Mr Sunak also called out forclaiming his 'appalling diet' of Haribo and Twix would make people 'like him more'.

The PM chuckled as he said: 'Funnily enough people seem to think I have a very healthy lifestyle and I go to the gym and all this obsession about my fasting.

'But I actually have an appalling diet as I eat an enormous amount of sugar and I'm very unhealthy in that regard, which I was talking to someone today about. They were completely shocked.

'I'm not sure that's something for someone to like me more or less but it was something I was talking to someone today. And they were genuinely surprised about the amount of Haribos, Twixes and everything else that I get through - particularly during a campaign.

'So contrary to popular belief I don't actually have that healthier lifestyle or diet.'

Social media went into meltdown as users posted hilarious memes to poke fun at Mr Sunak for his love for the sugary confectionery.

One post showed a man scoffing on a bowl of a sweets alongside a message which read: 'Sunak will be hitting the Haribo after this #BattleForNo10.'

While another showed a wide-eyed girl appearing to be in the middle of a sugar rush as she excitedly holds some candy floss.

It capped off a torrid 24 hours for Mr Sunak and comes on the back of him being ridiculed for saying he had to go without Sky TV as a child.

Mr Sunak and Sir Keir both faced a grilling on Wednesday night as they answered questions in Grimsby Town Hall.

The leaders departed from the usual head-to-head debate format, instead undergoing a 20-minute interview from Sky News's Beth Rigby and answering 25 minutes of questions from audience members.

Sir Keir went first, facing questions about trust issues, taxation and how he would tackle public services and inequality, while Mr Sunak was asked about his five pledges from 2023 and tax.

A snap poll by YouGov showed that 64 per cent thought Sir Keir performed better, while 36 per cent backed the PM.

Keir StarmerLabourRishi Sunak