Forty-eight hours before President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump clashed onstage in Atlanta on Thursday, the leaders of Britain’s two major parties, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, went head-to-head in Nottingham, England.
To say their debates were different doesn’t begin to capture the Atlantic Ocean-sized chasm that separated them.
In content, tone and atmosphere, the British debate showcased two politicians in their prime, sparring over the issues — frequently heated, not without personal jabs, but focused on the policy nuances of taxes, immigration and health care.
Neither Mr. Sunak, 44, nor Mr. Starmer, 61, brought up his golf handicap.
But this week’s back-to-back encounters showed how sharply these democracies have diverged, at least in this election cycle.
Persons:
Biden, Donald J, Trump, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Sunak, Starmer, Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair
Locations:
Atlanta, Nottingham, England, British, United States