FIRED up Tory and Labour chiefs tore chunks out of each other today as they battled to prove who has the best interests of Sun readers at heart.
On a special local elections episode of Never Mind The Ballots, Conservative chairman Richard Holden accused Labour of "selling out" working people by slapping them with huge tax bills.
But Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth hit back, arguing that "Sun readers are getting absolutely squeezed till the pipsqueak under this lot".
It comes as the Tories were dealt a bloody nose today, with Labour sweeping to victory in hundreds of town hall seats and the Blackpool South by-election.
Reflecting on the results, Mr Holden conceded: "It’s not a good night for the Conservatives.
"A lot of my council colleagues know it’s going to be very tough on them as well."
He added: "But I think it's not game over at all. I think it's game on.
"We've still got a lot of election results to go."
Mr Ashworth snubbed the Tory Chairman's glimmer of positivity.
He told show host Harry Cole: "You can tell Rishi’s been asleep because he doesn’t quite want to wake up to the hiding the Tories have had in the last 24 hours.
"That result in Blackpool is remarkable - it sparkles as bright as Blackpool’s illuminations."
The pair clashed heads as they debated who can offer more on the economy and cost of living for Sun readers.
The PM wants to merge income tax and national insurance as part of a general election pledge, a move he claims will lesser the financial burdens on households across the nation.
But Labour has slammed the idea as a tax hike for pensioners - and claim it won't reduce financial stress on anyone but rather make it worse.
Mr Holden said: "This is a tax cut for people of working age.
"In the old days the Labour Party used to stand up for working people. It doesn't do that anymore."
Turning to Mr Ashworth, the Tory chair added: "Why don't you want to remove taxes working people?
"When you lot were in power you sold the gold, you sold us down the bloody river".
The furious Shadow Paymaster General snapped back: "Sun readers are paying more on their mortgage because of your policies.
"The mortgage-rising, tax increasing, NHS cutting Tory party.
"That's what this lot are."
Sir Keir Starmer's party seized control of several councils and stormed the Blackpool South by-election in a bruising day for Rishi Sunak.
As the Conservatives suffered their worst local election results in 40 years, the Labour chief demanded Rishi Sunak call a general election.
The PM acknowledged the losses had been "disappointing" and thanked councillors for their service in local government.
But he stressed there were still many results to be announced.
Green Party campaigners dished out leaflets with verses of the Quran to lure Muslim voters, Jonathan Ashworth said.
On Never Mind The Ballots the Shadow Paymaster General admitted his party is haemorrhaging Muslim votes because of its stance on Gaza.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice estimated Labour votes are down by eight points since last year in wards where more than 10 per cent of people identify as Muslim.
The party lost control of Oldham council as senior Labour MPs admitted Sir Keir's position on the Middle East has cost tens of thousands of votes.
Mr Ashworth claimed that on his home turf of Leicester, Green Party activists told voters they are the most closely aligned to Islamic values.
He said: "In Leicester the Green party were putting out leaflets quoting verses from the Quran.
"They said you should support the Green party because that’s in tune with Islamic values.
"The Green party have been making a direct link on using the Quran to make the case for their election in Leicester."
Mr Ashworth added: "I know from speaking to my own Muslim constituents that there is hurt, there is anger.
"They feel there ought to be a greater expression in parliament across the board for their desire to see a ceasefire in Gaza and for people to speak out on what is happening in that part of the world."
Shortly afterwards, Tory Ben Houchen was confirmed as winner in Tees Valley Mayoral election, securing a third term in office and lifting the pressure a little on the Prime Minister.
The Tories also managed to pip the Reform UK insurgents into third in Blackpool South, but only by a narrow 117 votes.
Speaking at a military base in North Yorkshire, Mr Sunak told reporters: “Obviously it’s disappointing to lose good, hard-working Conservative councillors and I’m grateful to them for all their service in local government, keeping council tax low and delivering services for local people.
“But we have still got lots of results to come as well, and there are also things that I would point to, Harlow for example where Keir Starmer held a rally just on Wednesday saying that was a place that he had to win to be on track to win a general election."
