Tory leadership debate: Boris Johnson brandishes kipper on stage as he declares May's Brexit deal ‘defunct' at final hustings
The final Conservative Party leadership hustings with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, as it happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Tory leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt both stood by their stated approaches to handling Brexit at the final hustings before the polls close for Conservative members to vote for their party’s new leader and the country’s next prime minister.
Mr Johnson repeatedly refused to rule out suspending Parliament as PM to force through Brexit and said the UK would leave the European Union by 31 October with or without a deal.
Mr Hunt meanwhile said he could delay Brexit beyond that point if a deal was in reach, but he has also not ruled out walking away from negotiations without an agreement.
See below for live updates
Mr Hunt insists he will help to properly defend free speech on university campuses.
"To my knowledge there is only one vice chancellor in the country who supports the Conservatives," he says.
The fact that there is only one out of 300 prepared to admit that shows how difficult it is to say you support the party, he adds.
Mr Hunt says we need to encourage young people to save for social costs at the end of their lives.
Asked what he will do to prevent the persecution of Christians, Mr Hunt says he thinks we "have had a blind spot" in UK policy, "perhaps because of political correctness."
He adds that he has commissioned a report from the Bishop of Truro about this and he will act on its recommendations.
The UK "stands foursquare behind the people of Hong Kong", Mr Hunt says.
NHS waiting lists "are far too long", Mr Hunt admits, as he cites a number of measures he put in place as health secretary to help tackle problems with the service.
He adds that 9,000 more staff are needed.
Young carers "do an incredible job", Mr Hunt says.
He adds that we have to put in place "whole family support".
Jeremy Hunt gives Iain Dale the Union Jack label badge he has been wearing for the debates as a gift.
Here's a roundup of what happened at the final Tory hustings between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt as the Conservative Party chooses its new leader and the country's next prime minister:
Mr Johnson refused to say when he would bring in a Queen's Speech as prime minister during the final hustings of the battle for the Conservative Party crown.
With critics accusing him of being ready to suspend Parliament in order to push through a no-deal Brexit on October 31, the frontrunner in the race avoided questioning on his plans.
Asked when he would bring in a Queen's Speech if he gets to Number 10, Mr Johnson said: "I am not going to comment on our programme."
Mr Johnson has repeatedly refused to rule out proroguing - suspending - Parliament as PM.
In an eye-catching move, Mr Johnson kicked off the final Tory leadership hustings by brandishing an Isle of Man kipper on stage.
Addressing the crowd in east London, he whipped out the fish and said the plastic wrapping it was in was an example of EU rules increasing business costs. However, the Isle of Man is not part of the EU.
Mr Johnson also said the entirety of Theresa May's Brexit deal is "effectively defunct" but that the backstop to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland is the most egregious part.
"I think the whole Withdrawal Agreement is effectively defunct but the backstop is certainly the bit I find most difficult," he said.
Mr Johnson said the backstop could mean being trapped in the EU customs union indefinitely or "losing control" of Northern Ireland.
Asked if he was good with money, Mr Johnson said: "What can I say, I've certainly spent a lot. Yes."
Mr Johnson also said he was a feminist and did not dye his hair.
His opponent, Mr Hunt also declined to say when he would hold a Queen's Speech, but ruled out proroguing Parliament in order to get a no deal through.
Asked whether Mrs May's deal is "dead", Mr Hunt replied: "As it is now, yes.
"I want to get a deal and so we have got to make some profound changes to that Withdrawal Agreement.
"That doesn't mean ripping up the whole thing but it does mean the backstop has to go."
Both candidates stuck firm to their Brexit stances despite Ms May insisting the next prime minister should strive to reach a withdrawal deal.
Offering advice to her successor, Ms May said they should find a way to leave the European Union that was "in the national interest".
Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson has made a "do or die" pledge to leave the EU on October 31 with or without a deal.
Current Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt has said he could delay Brexit beyond that point if a deal was in reach, but has not ruled out walking away from negotiations without an agreement.
Labour's deputy leader in the Lords Baroness Hayter has been sacked over comments about Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
On ITV's Peston, Nadine Dorries is talking about the future Cabinet and imagining who Boris Johnson may appoint.
"I would like to see Sajid [Javid] as Chancellor... I think Priti Patel would make a good party chairwoman," she says.
Is Nadine Dorries sporting the famous Zara Dress?
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