国际英语资讯:UKs two leaders go head-to-head in televised election battle debate_时事

国际英语资讯:UKs two leaders go head-to-head in televised election battle debate

LONDON, Nov. 19 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour's Jeremy Corbyn faced a national audience on Tuesday night in the first ever televised head-to-head clash between the country's two top political leaders.

Just weeks before Britain's 46 million voters decide in the Dec. 12 general election who should run the country, the Conservative and Labour leaders both set out their visions of Britain in the 2020s.

Johnson said with a majority government he will end Britain's membership of the European Union (EU) at the end of January, with a new trade deal in place by the end of next year.

Corbyn, on the other hand, said Labour would negotiate a new deal with Brussels within three months of taking office and put it to the population of Britain within six months, with an option of remaining in the EU.

Johnson fired multiple questions at Corbyn over whether he would back remaining in the bloc, or leaving, criticising him for not answering.

A snap YouGov poll taken minutes after the 60-minute program put Johnson on 51 points with Corbyn on 49.

YouGov asked the people it surveyed to put aside their election preferences and judge the performances of the two leaders.

Chris Curtis, political research manager at YouGov, said: "Our snap poll shows that the public is divided on who won the debate, with most Labour voters thinking Jeremy Corbyn won, most Conservative voters thinking Boris Johnson won, and very few people changing their minds.