Amber Rudd jeered after asking election debate audience to judge Tories 'on our own record'

Amber Rudd was jeered after asking the BBC debate audience to judge the Conservative party “on our own record”.

The Home Secretary, who participated in Wednesday night’s debate in place of Theresa May, was grilled over the lack of costings in the Tory manifesto.

She responded: “Well I would say in answer to that question, judge us on our record.”

But the audience at Senate House in Cambridge immediately erupted into boos and jeers.

She continued: “We’ve reduced the deficit; we’ve reduced taxes for the lowest paid. And we’ve made sure that we’ve continued to invest in the NHS.”

Many social media users also mocked the home secretary over the bold remark.

Labour candidate Chuka Umunna posted on Twitter: “@AmberRuddHR says "judge us by our record" on funding public services - the entire audience bursts out laughing. Says it all.”

But Ms Rudd warned that Jeremy Corbyn’s spending plans would require a “magic money tree” as she fought back in the heated debate.

She said: "We are going to live within our means. Some of the offers you will hear tonight are just fanciful."

But Mr Corbyn told her: "Have you been to a food bank? Have you seen people sleeping around our stations? Have you seen the levels of poverty that exist because of your government's conscious decisions on benefits?"

The Labour leader highlighted his plans to end the public sector pay cap and introduce a £10 an hour living wage by 2020.

Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas said Ms Rudd's response was "downright insulting".