UK Tory leadership debate halted after moderator faints

Liz Truss, right, and Rishi Sunak with TalkTV Politics host Kate McCann on The Sun’s Showdown, the battle for No10, the latest head-to-head debate for the Conservative Party (AP) leadership candidates

LONDON: The latest televised debate between two Conservative Party candidates vying to become Britain’s next prime minister was abruptly halted on Tuesday night after the moderator fainted on stage.
Live footage of the debate between former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Minister Liz Truss on media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s new “TalkTV” channel was abruptly interrupted midway through the hour-long event. .
Just before that, Truss had stopped talking midway with a shocked expression as the sound of the collision in front of her drowned out the broadcast.
“Oh my God!” Truss exclaimed in shock, before leaving the podium to walk towards the moderator, TalkTV’s political editor. Kate McCannwas out of the camera.
TalkTV, which launched in April and is hosting the debate with The Sun, later confirmed McCann passed out.
“While she is fine, medical advice is that we should not continue to argue,” it added in a short statement.
Another TalkTV host, Ian Collins, who started broadcasting from the channel’s studio after a short period of time, said the candidates were continuing with an off-camera question and answer session with the audience. Small fake present at the debate.
“Relieved to know @KateEMcCann is fine,” Truss tweeted about an hour after the incident happened.
“Really sorry that such a good debate had to end,” she said.
Sunak also took to Twitter to call it “good news” that the moderator is said to be making repairs.
“It was a great debate and I look forward to having you guys grill again soon!” he added.
The event ran into misfortune after The Sun’s political editor Harry Cole was forced to withdraw as co-moderator early Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19.
The debate is the second in 24 hours for Sunak and Truss, after the pair squared off on Monday night in a heated BBC debate.
The duo are vying to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, and thus prime minister, with around 200,000 members of the ruling party set to vote next month.
The winner to replace outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5.