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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Boris Johnson falls behind Jeremy Hunt in poll of British voters' preferred PM, amid Trump-esque hustings claim and no-deal hint

Meanwhile, across the floor, Labour's Chris Williamson is suspended a second time over antisemitism row

Peter Stubley,Jon Sharman
Friday 28 June 2019 14:47 EDT
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Boris Johnson says suspending parliament is still on the table

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Boris Johnson has refused to rule out suspending parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit as he stepped up his campaign to become the next prime minister.

The Tory leadership frontrunner confirmed the option was on the table after Jeremy Hunt urged him to be “straight with the people” and accused him of getting “some important facts wrong”.

It came as a senior ally of Angela Merkel savaged the former foriegn secretary by saying he "invented stories" while working as the Daily Telegraph's Brussels reporter - and that he "has not changed".

Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came under huge pressure to sack Chris Williamson following a row over antisemitism - before the outcast Derby North MP had the whip suspended for a second time.

Mr Williamson, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, was first suspended in February after being recorded claiming Labour had “given too much ground” and been “too apologetic” in tackling antisemitism.

Theresa May met with Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Japan in a chilly encounter that will likely be remembered for the no-love-lost handshake the pair shared in front of press photographers.

The meeting followed the Russian president's claim that liberal values were now obsolete in the face of populist surges in the US and Europe.

See below how we covered the day's events

Mr Johnson is asked whether he would turn the region into a "South Western Powerhouse". He agrees and says: "The South West needs that focus as well. The program is one that we should develop further."

He says he wants to make sure "local cottage hospitals" are maintained in rural areas.

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:41

Mr Johnson is asked about his avoidance of TV debates, with the questioner using a phrase of Margaret Thatcher's. "Are you frit? And if you are frit, are you fit to be prime minister."

He says that two head-to-head debates are "more than enough to glut the appetite" and makes the Trumpian claim that “no one could have done as many hustings as I have done".

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:44

Mr Johnson says that he wants a "points-based immigration system",  so that "we don't just have people coming in without jobs to go to."

“I do think freedom of movement does not work," he adds. "That was not working for us anymore. Yes we can be open, yes we can be welcoming of talent, but it needs to be democratically controlled."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:49

Boris Johnson says he regrets his attempt to normalise relations with Russia while foreign minister. "I really thought that it was possible to eyeball the Russians and get a new relationship... build a new friendship, a new partnership, it just isn't there."

He says Mr Putin is "totally wrong" that liberalism is obsolete. 

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:53

On Iran's nuclear program, Mr Johnson said he would urge Iran not to breach the nuclear deal, adding: "I would urge them not to go down that track, I would urge them to continue to show restraint - that's the sensible thing."

He earlier said: "The reality is that, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Iranians are currently compliant... yes, they are pushing at the margins, but they are still technically compliant.

"That does not mean that they are to be trusted and we need to be very, very vigilant about Iran and about that government because they are bent on all sorts of mischief in the region.

"I think one of the areas where Donald Trump talks sense - and there are several by the way, there are many areas - I think it is right for us to work both with the Americans and with our European friends to constrain Iran in the region."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:53

Mr Johnson claims he has never known a time when there has been so much talent within the Conservative Party.

He does not commit to having a quota of 50 per cent women in cabinet but says he will "advance the interests of women in government and parliament."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:55

He confirms he wants to raise tax and national insurance thresholds, adding: "Too many people on low incomes are paying too much on tax."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 11:57

Mr Johnson promises to work with the Irish government and pledges that there would be no hard border with Ireland "under any circumstances".

"The whole of the UK will come out of the EU entire and united without in any way prejudicing the government of Northern Ireland. We will get it done."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 12:02

Penultimate question: Will you say no to Huawei?

Mr Johnson says: "I am very dubious about anything that compromises security. it may be that there are useful things that can be done in infrastructure, but we should not be doing anything that will deter cooperation with our most valuable intelligence partners."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 12:03

A 17 year-old Tory member asks if Mr Johnson will lower the voting age to 16.

The MP congratulates the questioner for becoming a member of the party and being able to vote in the leadership election but says he is "not attracted to reducing the age of the franchise".

"I want people to value their votes. We don't get enough 18 to 24 year-olds voting, let alone 16 to 18 year-olds."

Peter Stubley28 June 2019 12:05

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