Boris Johnson hustings: Flustered would-be PM laughs off Tory takedown threat after dodging questions on police incident
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Your support makes all the difference.Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson repeatedly refused to answer questions about police being called to his flat as he took part in the first run-off hustings to become the next prime minister.
Police officers were alerted early on Friday to an incident at the home Mr Johnson shares with partner Carrie Symonds, after neighbours said there had been a loud altercation involving screaming, shouting and banging.
Pressed on the incident as he faced an audience of Tory members in Birmingham, Mr Johnson said: “I don’t think they want to hear about that kind of thing.”
When asked by hustings moderator Iain Dale whether a person’s private life has any bearing on someone’s ability to discharge the office of prime minister, the crowd booed and Mr Johnson said: “Don’t boo the great man.”
Mr Johnson added: “I’ve tried to give my answer pretty exhaustively.
“I think what people want to know is whether I have the determination and the courage to deliver on the commitments that I’m making, and it will need a lot of grit right now.
“People are entitled to ask about me and my determination, my character and what I want to do for the country.”
Mr Johnson was taking part in the leadership event with foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt as the two men battle to win the support of 160,000 Tory party members who will choose the next prime minister.
Mr Hunt warned “catastrophe awaits” if the wrong person if sent to Brussels to negotiate Brexit. He said: “If we send the wrong person there’s going to be no negotiation, no trust, no deal, and if Parliament stops that, maybe no Brexit.
“Send the right person and there’s a deal to be done. Send that right person and we can do what we all need to do, which is come back with something positive for our country. And that’s what I want to do.”
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Asked how he would go about Brexit negotiations between now and 31 October, Mr Hunt said: "A wise prime minister makes choices on the basis of the options that are actually available in front of them at the time.
"Now we don't know what the situation will be on the 31 October, but if there is no prospect of a better deal, if the European Union have been as inflexible as you say, and if no deal is on the table, then I will leave without a deal because we must keep our promise to the British people.
"But I would do so with a heavy heart, because of the risks to businesses up and down the country and the risks to the union.
"But if we have to, in the end I would do that. But the reason that I haven't made the pledge that Boris has made is because I think it's very important that prime ministers keep their word.
"It is entirely possible that Parliament will rule out no-deal between now and 31 October."
Mr Hunt added: "I want to get out as soon as possible and I believe that I have the negotiating skills to give us a better chance of getting a deal that can actually get through Parliament."
Asked if he would continue with HS2, Mr Hunt said he would proceed with the high-speed railway project, which he described as "absolutely vital for our country".
Here's Mr Hunt saying his first priority would be putting together a "negotiating" team with the DUP, European Research Group and the Scottish and Welsh Tories.
Asked if he would declare a climate emergency, Mr Hunt said: "I think there is an emergency in the sense that if we don't take action now, by the time we get to 2050 it's going to be too late."
When it was put to Mr Hunt that he "alienated the vast majority of NHS staff" during his time as health secretary, he said: "As prime minister you have to take very difficult decisions, and as health secretary you have to take life and death decisions."
He said he is so proud of the NHS, adding that doctors and nurses do an "amazing job".
Mr Hunt added: "But sometimes we get it wrong, and in order to put these things right, I had to fight some very tough battles, and I hope people can see from that that I'm a kind of prime minister who isn't going to make it my biggest priority to court popularity.
"I'm going to do the right thing. And I do believe the NHS got safer on my watch and I'm very proud of the changes that were made."
Mr Johnson was criticised over his "f*** business" comment, which he described as a "stray remark". Peter Stubley has the story:
Charlie Elphicke, a supporter of Mr Johnson and the MP for Dover and Deal, praised his "assured and positive performance".
And here is Mr Hunt insisting he is a "Democrat that wants to deliver Brexit".
Mr Hunt said he has not met a single European leader who does not want to find a solution to Brexit.
"And I think they would listen to a new British prime minister. And I think if we get this right we can get the deal we need," he said.
Mr Hunt added: "If we got to 31 October and the EU have not shown any willingness to negotiate a better deal that can get through the House of Commons, that's not going to trap us in the Customs Union, then my judgment is that weighing those difficult options up, the political risk of no Brexit is far worse than the economic risk of no deal."
Mr Hunt said in that situation he would take the UK out of the EU "100 per cent", but said it would not be his choice.
He said a "responsible" prime minister should aim for a deal.
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