BORIS Johnson ducked questions about his private life yesterday but still won his first leadership tussle with Tory rival Jeremy Hunt.
Facing 1,500 grassroots party members to launch his pitch for power, the PM-in-waiting flatly refused six times to talk about his headline-making row with his girlfriend.
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For 15 excruciating minutes, he was bombarded with awkward posers about the early-hours bust-up with Carrie Symonds.
But he shrugged them off, insisting: “I don’t think people want to hear about that kind of thing. What they want to hear is what my plans are for this country.”
BoJo was speaking at the first of 16 head-to-head hustings barely 36 hours after cops were called to his London flat when a neighbour who heard Carrie screaming called 999.
Some party supporters in Birmingham jeered when interviewer Iain Dale asked him about the incident — but others shouted: “Answer the question”.
‘NOBODY ELSE’S BUSINESS’
Keeping his cool, Mr Johnson side-stepped, saying his private life was nobody else’s business.
Instead he promised a new “gung-ho spirit” for Britain with tougher law and order, more funding for schools and Brexit delivered on time by October 31.
Broadcaster Mr Dale pressed him: “If the police are called to your home it makes it everyone’s business. You are running for office, not just of Conservative Party leader but of Prime Minister.”
The crowd booed, but in good humour Mr Johnson told them: “Don’t boo the great man.” He added: “I’ve tried to give my answer pretty exhaustively.
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“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.”
Mr Dale told the former Foreign Secretary he was “completely avoiding” the question.
Asked what was the worst personal crisis, he said it was when as London Mayor he had to drive 400 miles to fly back to the riot-torn capital from a holiday in Canada in 2011.
His dead-bat response drew cheers — and there were further jeers when Dale tried to push further.
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Boris was also quizzed about a reception in June 2018 when, asked about business concerns over a hard Brexit, he replied “f*** business”. He said he was “referring to a very powerful lobby group who wanted to have a particular type of exit from the EU that would not actually achieve the result that we want”.
BoJo went on to promise of more funding for police, schools and high-speed broadband. Meanwhile, Mr Hunt warned “catastrophe awaits” if members choose the wrong PM ahead of the Brexit deadline.
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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.”
‘HE SHOULD HAVE ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS’
Afterwards activist Tim Sinclair said Mr Johnson should have answered all questions.
He added: “If it was just a row, he should have said so.
“The fact he refused sows doubts about what happened and his ability to tackle hard questions and give straight, direct answers.”
But last night a snap poll of Tory councillors showed Mr Johnson more than 20 points ahead of his rival.
It suggests the domestic bust-up has had little impact on their view as to who would be the better PM.
Six in ten said they will vote for Mr Johnson in the leadership contest, compared with 39 per cent planning to back Mr Hunt, according to a ComRes survey.
The poll also reveals an overwhelming preference for a No Deal Brexit if the new leader fails to clinch a better deal with Brussels.
Some 83 per cent said the next PM must deliver Brexit on or before October 31, when the extended Article 50 notice period is due to expire.
Eighty per cent said that if the EU refuses to make any further concessions the UK should leave without a deal.
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SOFA SO GOOD FOR CHARMER
By David Wooding, Sunday Political Editor
A LOOK of dread swept Boris Johnson’s face as he entered a packed hall to kick off his stumbling leadership bid yesterday.
It wasn’t the 1,500 activists waiting to grill him about his domestic row with girlfriend Carrie Symonds.
It was the armchair that seemed to be the cause of his concern. The off-white armchair in which he was invited to sit for his question-andanswer session.
For it was a similar shade to Carrie’s sofa which became the cause of his current woes after he splashed it with red wine 36 hours earlier.
The last thing he needed right now was another soft furnishings crisis.
He gave it more than a passing glance before sitting — and then looked rather nervous about where to place his file in case it soiled its spotless upholstery.
But once settled BoJo looked more relaxed and batted off questions with ease and humour.
Six times he refused to answer queries about his private life. And that only warmed the audience to him – and against his interrogator.
Jeremy Hunt had every reason to look at ease but appeared nervous at times. He took a leaf out of David Cameron’s campaigning style by addressing the hall in shirt-sleeves.
But his sometimes breathless performance lacked BoJo’s charm and chutzpah. The hustings will probably only cement the views of supporters and detractors on both sides.
With the nation waiting for him to slip, Mr Johnson showed he’s a man who can cope with pressure without losing his cool or sense of humour.
While he insisted his home life is strictly off-bounds, he was open about his hopes for Britain.
His message seemed to be, if you want me as your PM you’ll just have to accept I’m not spotless.
A bit like Carrie’s sofa, really.
