Jeremy Hunt has blasted Boris Johnson for “refusing” to answer difficult questions in the Tory leadership campaign.
The Foreign Secretary hit out at his rival for Downing Street as pressure grew on Mr Johnson to explain why police were called to his home at midnight.
Mr Hunt said his rival “should answer questions on everything” – hours after fellow Cabinet minister Liam Fox urged Mr Johnson to “just explain”.
Mr Johnson refused yesterday to explain why police were called to reports of a row at the flat he shares with partner Carrie Symonds.
Neighbour Tom Penn recorded the incident and dialled 999 in the early hours of Friday after he heard “a loud scream and banging, followed by silence.”
Mr Hunt said today during a visit to Peterhead, Aberdeenshire: “I am not going to comment on Boris’s personal life. That’s for others to make their judgments on.
(Image: PA)
“What Boris needs to do is engage properly in this leadership debate.
“Not to shy away from the Sky News live debate which is scheduled for Tuesday evening which he’s been invited to – I’ve said I’m willing to go to.
“This is an audition to be the prime minister of the United Kingdom and Boris needs to show that he is prepared to answer difficult questions.”
He added Mr Johnson was “refusing” to answer questions on his policies, saying: “We need to know basic answers and Boris has not been answering those questions”.
Mr Hunt was asked directly by Sky if he thought Mr Johnson should explain the background to the police involvement.
He replied: “I think someone who wants to be prime minister should answer questions on everything.”
(Image: PA)
However, he swiftly added: “I’m not going to comment on issues of character because … I am sure you and I have got things, that, you know, we would be embarrassed if they came out.
“I just think it’s irrelevant given the gravity of the situation.”
Mr Hunt suggested his rival was failing to answer key questions about his Brexit plan.
When he launched his campaign, Mr Johnson said he would take Britain out of the EU on October 31, deal or no deal.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
But questioned since that pledge the frontrunner has failed to give a cast-iron guarantee, instead saying Brexit “must” happen by Halloween and it’s “eminently feasible”.
Asked if he agreed with claims that Mr Johnson’s private life made him a security risk, Mr Hunt said: “I would never make those comments myself.”
He called on his supporters not to make such claims either as he does not “think the British public want a debate about people’s private life”.
Mr Hunt added: “They want a debate about the constitutional crisis that we are in at the moment with Brexit .”
Read the full story on today’s developments in the leadership contest here.
