Boris Johnson hustings: Flustered would-be PM laughs off Tory takedown threat after dodging questions on police incident

Business leaders are urging the next PM, whether Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt, to commit to completing HS2. More than 20 figures from industry and commerce have written an open letter calling for the next Tory leader to back the high-speed rail project in its entirety.

Business groups including the CBI, the Institute of Directors, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and London First have signed the letter.

Mr Johnson is reported to have asked a former boss of the £56 billion pound scheme to carry out a review if he is made PM, while Mr Hunt has said HS2 is “absolutely vital” and he would not scrap the project in its entirety.

“We assert that committing to HS2 in full, once and for all, will spread the flow of investment across the Midlands, the North of England and into Scotland,” the letter states. “The current poor connectivity in the North is a major obstacle to encouraging companies from growing in the region and is a barrier to inward investment.”

Will Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt outline exactly how they plan to deliver Brexit? Unlikely, given the vague rhetoric on display since Theresa May announced she was stepping down.

Here’s John Rentoul’s take on the sense of unreality at work in the Tory leadership contest and what we can expect in the weeks ahead.

The Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson has said she would like to “name and shame” the neighbours who alerted police to the row at Boris Johnson’s home.

After asking on Twitter “Anyone know who they are?” she appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning to argue they should be identified so people can know their political views.

“What business do we have listening in to a private lovers’ tiff? We’ve got a very creepy malicious neighbour who just happens to record a conversation through the wall … If they’re malicious enough to be recording, what are their motives?

“I think we’ve got a right to know if they’re trying to damage this couple’s reputation on the basis of a lovers’ tiff. I think the neighbours politics should be known.”

Foreign office minister Andrew Murrison will visit Tehran on 23 June and call for “urgent de-escalation in the region and raise UK and international concerns about Iran’s regional conduct” during talks with the government.

The trip was announced after Donald Trump said the US was “cocked and loaded” to retaliate against Iran for downing an American drone, but cancelled the strikes 10 minutes before they were to be carried out on Thursday after being told 150 people could die.

It comes amid continuing tension between the UK and Iran over the treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual citizen who has been detained in Iran since April 2016.

Speaking about Mr Murrison’s planned visit, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard Ratcliffe said: “I’ve been asked how hopeful I am. I’m not sure if I'm hopeful, but certainly will be watching very closely to see how things develop and what comes back.” Mr Ratcliffe is on day eight of a hunger strike outside the Iranian Embassy in London in support of his wife.

Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd backing Jeremy Hunt’s call for Boris to face him in public debates.

“Violent men exist and infect every social class, nationality, religion, party affiliation and socio-economic background,” says Kirsty Strickland in our latest Voices piece.

Former Labour home secretary Jacqui Smith – who came under scrutiny following the expenses scandal of 2009 – has tweeted about the discussion over the domestic row at Boris Johnson’s home.

=

Boris Johnson has been helping out at a bakery in the Oxfordshire town of Bicester today alongside local Conservative politicians.

The first run-off hustings between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, organised by Conservative Campaign Headquarters, is set to begin in Birmingham around 3pm.

The event will hosted by broadcaster Iain Dale, who will get the chance to ask the frontrunner about the reports of an altercation at Mr Johnson’s home at his first appearance since details of the row emerged.

Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt will each get to make a short pitch to the audience, followed by questions from both Dale and the Tory members at the event.

Jeremy Hunt has urged his party not to elect a “populist” in at attack aimed at both his rival Boris Johnson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking at the Conservative Progress Conference this morning, he said: “Now faced with a hard left populist, we could choose our own populist, or, do even better – and choose our own Jeremy.”

Hunt also warned against putting the “wrong person” in place to negotiate with Brussels. “If we send the wrong person out as our PM there will be no trust, no negotiation, no deal – and if Parliament forces a general election no Brexit.”

The challenger claimed he was the man to take on Corbyn, calling the Labour leadership “the most dangerous, ruthless, anti-western, anti-British, hard left cabal”.