The latest headlines in your inbox
Boris Johnson was left tongue-tied when asked for his opinion on the Conservative Party FactcheckUK row.
The Prime Minister was quizzed by Guardian journalist Rowena Mason on why the Conservative Party Press Office had re-branded its official Twitter account during the ITV leaders’ debate to appear as an independent fact-checking service.
The account then tweeted comments under the guise of independently verified truth, including attacks on Jeremy Corbyn.
Responding to the question after delivering the Conservative Party manifesto at an event in Telford, Mr Johnson said: “Well, I’m afraid, Rowena, the Twittersphere is not really my province “
After some hesitation, he added: “I’m informed that Labour have some sort of operation which is, er, very similar to this but, um, what I, um, well I haven’t followed this Twitter stuff with perhaps the attention that you would like Rowena.”
After some more pauses, he appeared to dodge any more commentary on the question and turned his attention Jeremy Corbyn, referencing the Bermuda Triangle as he criticised the Labour leader’s stance on Brexit.
He said: “I will prize myself of the detail of this, but when it comes to trust in politics and the facts of this election, what we need to know is there is one giant fact which we continue to chase down.
“There is one illusive – like The Hunting of the Snark or the quest for the answer to Fermat’s last theorem, or the riddle of the sphinx or the Bermuda Triangle – the one hard fact that we continue to search for in the great maelstrom of Labour’s policy on Brexit… is what is the position of the leader of the Labour Party on whether he wants to come out of the European Union?”
He added: “And I have to say, if you cannot supply a fact like that at this stage with barely 18 days to go before polls open, I do not know how you can credibly take this country forward next year or credibly get a deal with the European Union – that is the issue, Rowena.
“The mystery continues to deepen.”
General Election 2019 – In pictures
1/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a visit to Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, while on the campaign trail for the General Election
PA
2/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson on a cherry picker during a visit to an eco home building site whilst on the General Election campaign trail in Sheffield
PA
3/80
Labour Manifesto launch
Jeremy Selwyn
4/80
Nigel Farage visits the Brook pie and mash shop in Dagenham
Lucy Young
5/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to David Wilson Homes in Bedford while on the campaign trail for the General Election
PA
6/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to The Oatcake Boat owned by Kay Mundy, in Stoke-on-Trent, while on the General Election campaign trai
PA
7/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn decorates a plate during a visit to a pottery manufacturer in Stoke-on-Trent while on the General Election campaign trail.
PA
8/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson wears a construction helmet reading “Prime Minister” during a visit to Wilton Engineering Services, part of a General Election campaign trail stop in Middlesbrough
Reuters
9/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson runs to his campaign bus after a general election campaign visit to Wilton Engineering Services, in Middlesbrough
AFP via Getty Images
10/80
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Trumpington Park Primary School, in Cambridge, whilst campaigning for the General Electio
PA
11/80
Jeremy Corbyn reacts during the election head-to-head debate live on TV
AP
12/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds part of the door of a washing machine during a visit to Ebac electrical appliances manufacturer during a General Election campaign trail stop
Getty Images
13/80
Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage talks to a during a walkabout with PPC candidate Mike Greene as part of a general election campaign event in Peterborough
Reuters
14/80
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid during a visit to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Coventry while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
15/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts during a general election campaign visit to Perthshire Preserves in Stirling
AFP via Getty Images
16/80
Michael Gove and Andrew Gwynne during an interview at tonight’s debate in the ‘Spin Room’ ahead of general election
via Reuters
17/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a ‘Made In Britain’ sign he took off the packaging of a washing machine during a visit to Ebac electrical appliances manufacturer during a General Election campaign trail stop
Getty Images
18/80
Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage holds a pint during general election campaign event in Peterborough
Reuters
19/80
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid during a visit to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Coventry while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
20/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy at Wythenshawe, while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
21/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson eats a candy stick which reads “Back Boris” during a General Election campaign trail stop at Coronation Candy in Blackpool,
AP
22/80
Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson makes a pizza with chef Leonardo Mastrofilippo at Cafe Amisha during her general election campaign tour in London
Reuters
23/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock during General Election campaigning
PA
24/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Bathpool, Taunton
PA
25/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon (R) holds a baby as she campaigns with SNP candidate Catriona MacDonald
AFP via Getty Images
26/80
Jo Swinson at Total Boxer
Jeremy Selwyn
27/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow
PA
28/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a gift card with an image mocking him, during a General Election campaign trail stop in Wells
AP
29/80
Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
30/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steers a tug boat during a General Election campaign stop in the port of Bristol,
AP
31/80
Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
32/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school in Taunton
AFP via Getty Images
33/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wears boxing gloves as he poses with British boxer Dereck Chisora, during his visit to Gator ABC Boxing Club in Ilford
AFP via Getty Images
34/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, during General Election campaigning
PA
35/80
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan practices with a sparing partner Tyler Brindle as he visits a community boxing gym in London
Reuters
36/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, drinks from a pint watched by Defence Minister Johnny Mercer (right) as he meets with military veterans at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
PA
37/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with a local woman pushing a wheelbarrow
PA
38/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage attends a general election campaign event in Sedgefield
Reuters
39/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts
PA
40/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow
PA
41/80
Britain’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a baby as he meets with supporters at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
AP
42/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children’s nursery
AFP via Getty Images
43/80
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills, The Spinning Mill in Leeds
Getty Images
44/80
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery while on the General Election campaign trail in Midsomer Norton
PA
45/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps with the clean up at an opticians as he visits Matlock in Sheffield
Getty Images
46/80
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool
PA
47/80
Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even
Getty Images
48/80
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green
Getty Images
49/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson moves a pallet of chocolate biscuits in a -25 degree celsius storage unit during a general election campaign visit to the headquarters of Iceland Foods in Deeside, northeast Wales
AFP via Getty Images
50/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country
PA
51/80
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eats a cupcake during a visit to a bakery whilst on the election campaign trail in Alloa
PA
52/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Reuters
53/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire
PA
54/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
PA
55/80
Britain’s opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow
AP
56/80
Boris Johnson at Downing Street
Jeremy Selwyn
57/80
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
PA
58/80
Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election
@carriesymonds
59/80
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian
Getty Images
60/80
Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
Reuters
61/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals in North Watford
PA
62/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election
AP
63/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
PA
64/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage stops for a pint of beer with the party’s candidate for Ashfield Martin Daubney (right) during a campaigning stop in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
PA
65/80
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield
Reuters
66/80
Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury’s hand in Battersea
Jeremy Selwyn
67/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC’s The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
68/80
Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party’s election campaign in south London
AFP via Getty Images
69/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign.
PA
70/80
Nigel Farage at the Brexit Party’s election campaign launch
AP
71/80
Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds
Getty Images
72/80
Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
73/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen
PA
74/80
Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street in London
Reuters
75/80
Jeremy Corbyn meeting the party faithful during a rally while on the campaign trail in Swindon
PA
76/80
Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street
Reuters
77/80
Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
78/80
Nigel Farage gives the thumbs up
PA
79/80
Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes
PA
80/80
Government advisor Dominic Cummings walks along Whitehall on his way to Downing Street wearing a bulldog clip
Getty Images
1/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a visit to Bassetlaw District General Hospital in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, while on the campaign trail for the General Election
PA
2/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson on a cherry picker during a visit to an eco home building site whilst on the General Election campaign trail in Sheffield
PA
3/80
Labour Manifesto launch
Jeremy Selwyn
4/80
Nigel Farage visits the Brook pie and mash shop in Dagenham
Lucy Young
5/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to David Wilson Homes in Bedford while on the campaign trail for the General Election
PA
6/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to The Oatcake Boat owned by Kay Mundy, in Stoke-on-Trent, while on the General Election campaign trai
PA
7/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn decorates a plate during a visit to a pottery manufacturer in Stoke-on-Trent while on the General Election campaign trail.
PA
8/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson wears a construction helmet reading “Prime Minister” during a visit to Wilton Engineering Services, part of a General Election campaign trail stop in Middlesbrough
Reuters
9/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson runs to his campaign bus after a general election campaign visit to Wilton Engineering Services, in Middlesbrough
AFP via Getty Images
10/80
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Trumpington Park Primary School, in Cambridge, whilst campaigning for the General Electio
PA
11/80
Jeremy Corbyn reacts during the election head-to-head debate live on TV
AP
12/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds part of the door of a washing machine during a visit to Ebac electrical appliances manufacturer during a General Election campaign trail stop
Getty Images
13/80
Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage talks to a during a walkabout with PPC candidate Mike Greene as part of a general election campaign event in Peterborough
Reuters
14/80
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid during a visit to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Coventry while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
15/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts during a general election campaign visit to Perthshire Preserves in Stirling
AFP via Getty Images
16/80
Michael Gove and Andrew Gwynne during an interview at tonight’s debate in the ‘Spin Room’ ahead of general election
via Reuters
17/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a ‘Made In Britain’ sign he took off the packaging of a washing machine during a visit to Ebac electrical appliances manufacturer during a General Election campaign trail stop
Getty Images
18/80
Leader of the Brexit Party Nigel Farage holds a pint during general election campaign event in Peterborough
Reuters
19/80
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid during a visit to Nanaksar Gurdwara in Coventry while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
20/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy at Wythenshawe, while on the campaign trail ahead of the General Election
PA
21/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson eats a candy stick which reads “Back Boris” during a General Election campaign trail stop at Coronation Candy in Blackpool,
AP
22/80
Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson makes a pizza with chef Leonardo Mastrofilippo at Cafe Amisha during her general election campaign tour in London
Reuters
23/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock during General Election campaigning
PA
24/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Bathpool, Taunton
PA
25/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon (R) holds a baby as she campaigns with SNP candidate Catriona MacDonald
AFP via Getty Images
26/80
Jo Swinson at Total Boxer
Jeremy Selwyn
27/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow
PA
28/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a gift card with an image mocking him, during a General Election campaign trail stop in Wells
AP
29/80
Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
30/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steers a tug boat during a General Election campaign stop in the port of Bristol,
AP
31/80
Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
32/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school in Taunton
AFP via Getty Images
33/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wears boxing gloves as he poses with British boxer Dereck Chisora, during his visit to Gator ABC Boxing Club in Ilford
AFP via Getty Images
34/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, during General Election campaigning
PA
35/80
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan practices with a sparing partner Tyler Brindle as he visits a community boxing gym in London
Reuters
36/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, drinks from a pint watched by Defence Minister Johnny Mercer (right) as he meets with military veterans at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
PA
37/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with a local woman pushing a wheelbarrow
PA
38/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage attends a general election campaign event in Sedgefield
Reuters
39/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts
PA
40/80
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow
PA
41/80
Britain’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a baby as he meets with supporters at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
AP
42/80
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children’s nursery
AFP via Getty Images
43/80
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills, The Spinning Mill in Leeds
Getty Images
44/80
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery while on the General Election campaign trail in Midsomer Norton
PA
45/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps with the clean up at an opticians as he visits Matlock in Sheffield
Getty Images
46/80
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool
PA
47/80
Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even
Getty Images
48/80
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green
Getty Images
49/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson moves a pallet of chocolate biscuits in a -25 degree celsius storage unit during a general election campaign visit to the headquarters of Iceland Foods in Deeside, northeast Wales
AFP via Getty Images
50/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country
PA
51/80
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eats a cupcake during a visit to a bakery whilst on the election campaign trail in Alloa
PA
52/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Reuters
53/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire
PA
54/80
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
PA
55/80
Britain’s opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow
AP
56/80
Boris Johnson at Downing Street
Jeremy Selwyn
57/80
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
PA
58/80
Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election
@carriesymonds
59/80
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian
Getty Images
60/80
Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
Reuters
61/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals in North Watford
PA
62/80
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election
AP
63/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
PA
64/80
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage stops for a pint of beer with the party’s candidate for Ashfield Martin Daubney (right) during a campaigning stop in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
PA
65/80
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield
Reuters
66/80
Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury’s hand in Battersea
Jeremy Selwyn
67/80
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC’s The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
68/80
Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party’s election campaign in south London
AFP via Getty Images
69/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign.
PA
70/80
Nigel Farage at the Brexit Party’s election campaign launch
AP
71/80
Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds
Getty Images
72/80
Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
73/80
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen
PA
74/80
Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street in London
Reuters
75/80
Jeremy Corbyn meeting the party faithful during a rally while on the campaign trail in Swindon
PA
76/80
Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street
Reuters
77/80
Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
78/80
Nigel Farage gives the thumbs up
PA
79/80
Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes
PA
80/80
Government advisor Dominic Cummings walks along Whitehall on his way to Downing Street wearing a bulldog clip
Getty Images
The factcheckUK furore erupted after the Conservatives re-branded their usual feed, followed by nearly 76,000 users, during the ITV debate. The account gave a verdict that Mr Johnson won the head-to-head contest.
The Conservative Party were later rebuked by Twitter over the incident.
In a statement, Twitter said the Conservative feed constituted “attempts to mislead people” and warned there would be “decisive corrective action” if the ruse was repeated.
The Electoral Commission also responded to the growing row by reminding all parties that voters are “entitled to transparency and integrity from campaigners in the lead up to an election”.
Independent fact-checking charity Full Fact, which partners this newspaper’s project to scrutinise election claims and expose untruths, called on the Conservatives not to repeat the exercise, calling it “an attempt to mislead”.
