Brexit news: Boris Johnson admits Tories 'staring down the barrel of political extinction', as Jeremy Hunt faces fox hunting backlash

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the day.

Here is today's front page, with our splash on the impact of spending cuts on NHS hospitals. You can read the piece here.

The Tory leadership contest is entering a crucial phase, as ballots are being sent to members over the coming days. While the contest does not end until 22 July - with a new PM announced the next day - members are widely expected to cast their votes over the next few days.

Bear this in mind when considering the actions of both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt over the next few days.

A great example is Hunt's sudden support for overturning the ban on fox hunting, which is likely to go down a storm with the Tory grassroots.

Elsewhere, Boris Johnson has given an punchy interview to Reuters, where he warned the Tories were facing wipeout if they fail to deliver on Brexit.

He said: “I don’t think that parliament is going to want to stop Brexit. Don’t forget we are staring down the barrel now of political extinction, the Conservative Party, it is very difficult situation unless we get this thing over the line. What I want is a sensible Brexit that is supported by both sides of the channel but we have got to come out by October 31 and get it done, get it done by then at the latest.

“Don’t forget that only a couple of weeks ago parliament actually opted not to vote for such a proposal. I think that MPs will look at their responsibilities in a spirit of maturity and restraint and consider our wider duty to the electorate who we asked to vote on EU membership and we agreed to respect that result."

Jeremy Hunt has carried out a humiliating U-turn just hours after pledging to bring back fox hunting, saying: “This is not something I will seek to change as prime minister.”

The foreign secretary backtracked after his proposal – widely seen as a desperate attempt to woo Tory members – met with a storm of criticism, including from Conservative MPs.

“The law is not going to change on fox-hunting. There isn’t a majority in the House of Commons, I don’t see there ever being one,” he said.

Former Tory MP Nick Boles gives the fox hunting row short shrift... 

Another big story this morning - Labour has crashed to fourth place in a poll for the first time, as a shadow cabinet member admitted supporters are deserting the party because of its fence-sitting on Brexit.

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Jeremy Hunt has said there is "no reason" why Britain cannot continue to have good relations with China, despite an escalation of the dispute over Hong Kong.

In his Today programme interview, the foreign secretary refused to outline what sanctions he could impose on China, after the country's ambassador in London was reprimanded by the UK's top diplomat.

The Foreign Office and Beijing have been involved in a spat following a call from Mr Hunt not to use the protests in Hong Kong as a "pretext for repression".

China's foreign ministry hit back and ambassador Liu Xiaoming lambasted the UK Government over its approach.

But Mr Hunt said: "We have good relations with China... there's no reason why that can't continue.

"But, for us, it is very important that the 'one country, two systems' approach is honoured."

Asked to spell out what the consequences might be, he said: "No foreign secretary would ever spell out precisely what would happen in a situation like that - you need what Bill Clinton called strategic ambiguity.

"The reason that you wouldn't spell it out is because you don't want to provoke the very situation you are trying to avoid.

"I'm not saying anything about what those consequences might be - that would not be the right thing for me to do as Foreign Secretary, because, of course, you keep your options open.

"But I am making the point that the United Kingdom views this situation very, very seriously."

An FCO source said Mr Liu had been hauled in for a meeting on Wednesday with Foreign Office chief Sir Simon McDonald, the head of the diplomatic service, following the "unacceptable and inaccurate" comments from China's ministry of foreign affairs.

The turmoil in Hong Kong has seen protesters storm parliament and raise the old British colonial flag in the legislative chamber on the 22nd anniversary of the territory's return to Chinese rule on July 1.

Tory party chairman Brandon Lewis says membership of the Conservative Party has risen to 180,000, from around 160,000 people.

This is the electorate for the new Tory leader - and the new PM.

Brexit secretary Steve Barclay has told Sky News that he cannot rule out a recession in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

"As a former Treasury minister no one can ever rule out what could happen in the future," he said.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling on business to use its influence with Conservative Party members to raise the alarm about the “hardline and irresponsible” no-deal Brexit positions being taken by the two leadership contenders.

In a speech to the CBI today, the Labour mayor will say that the contest to succeed Theresa May as prime minister has descended into a "bizarre contest to see which man will promise the most economically damaging plans".

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