Politics

Tory leadership contenders tear chunks out of each other in first TV debate – without Boris Johnson


THE race for No10 got personal tonight as Tory rivals faced off for the first time – and tore chunks out of each other live on TV.

Brexiteer Dominic Raab was subjected to furious assaults from all the other contenders and branded a would-be “dictator” over his threat to shut down Parliament.

 The Tory leadership candidates apart from Boris Johnson on stage at the first live TV debate

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The Tory leadership candidates apart from Boris Johnson on stage at the first live TV debateCredit: PA:Press Association
 Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid during the TV debate

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Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid during the TV debate
 Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart had angry clashes on stage

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Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart had angry clashes on stageCredit: Channel 4

Michael Gove boasted he’s a better Commons performer than any other candidate while Sajid Javid hit out at the privileged background of his opponents.

But Boris Johnson was represented by an empty podium after refusing to turn up to the event.

The most heated row in the early stages of the debate came when they were asked if they’d consider suspending Parliament to stop MPs from blocking a No Deal Brexit.

Mr Raab, the most hardline Brexiteer in the race, was attacked on all sides for refusing to rule it out – Rory Stewart said the plan would be “deeply disturbing”.

Mr Javid blasted: “You don’t deliver on democracy by smashing democracy – we’re not selecting a dictator of this country.”

Jeremy Hunt insisted it would be a “profound mistake” to sideline Parliament, adding it is a “total misreading of the Brexit vote and what the British people will accept”.

But when Mr Gove joined the pile-on against Mr Raab, the ex-Brexit Secretary accused him of selling out the Leave cause, saying: “You would buckle because you’ve shown you would take another extension.”

Mr Raab also compared Mr Stewart to Venezuela’s socialist dictator Maduro because of his suggestion of thrashing out Brexit with a “citizens’ assembly” similar to those beloved by the left.

PERSONAL JABS

In another personal barb, Mr Javid – the son of a bus driver – made a coded jab at the gilded upbringing of the other candidates, who were mostly privately educated and all went to Oxford.

He said: “As well as having the right message, we need to have the right messenger. We need to be a party that has a broad appeal across the country and that means having a messenger that can connect broadly with the whole electorate.”

Asked if Britain is ready for a non-white PM, the Home Secretary replied: “I know what it’s like to walk into a room and be an outsider, I’ve lived with prejudice for much of my life especially as a child.

“But I think we have become the most successful multi-racial democracy in the world. The country is ready for anyone to become Prime Minister as long as they have the experience to do the job.”

Mr Gove opened his pitch by saying: “When Jeremy Corbyn wakes up on a Wednesday morning before Prime Minister’s Questions, who is the person he’s going to be most terrified of facing? That’s me.”

Mr Stewart won laughter and applause with a free-wheeling, aggressive performance where he compared delivering Brexit to the near-impossible task of fitting all his rubbish in a single bin.

The five men are all keen to promote themselves as the best person to challenge Boris in the final two.

Each contender insisted that he is best-placed to take on both Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage – and most ruled out taking in the Brexit Party to negotiations with Brussels.

Mr Javid quipped: “You don’t beat the Brexit Party by becoming the Brexit Party.” But he also vowed to prepare Britain for No Deal – unlike Theresa May.

They are being grilled about their policies, background and Brexit stance in front of a live studio audience of “floating voters” who say they’re open to backing the Tories at the next election.

We need to have the right messenger

Sajid Javid

Surprise contender Mr Stewart hit out at BoJo’s boycott as he headed in for the event in East London.

He said: “We’re choosing a Prime Minister and the public has the right to hear from us and judge who had the qualities to be Prime Minister.”

During the debate, Mr Hunt added: “If Boris’ team won’t let him out to debate five pretty friendly colleagues, how will he get on with 27 EU countries?”

Mr Johnson has agreed to sign up to a BBC debate on Tuesday – hours after the second ballot of MPs which will see at least one candidate kicked out of the race.

But he refused to take part in the Channel 4 broadcast, arguing that a debate featuring six candidates is too crowded.

Instead he is being represented by an empty podium in the middle of the line-up.

Boris has been criticised for making fewer public appearances and interviews than his rivals.

Rory Stewart compares other Conservatives’ Brexit deals to rubbish bins

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He has adopted a safety-first attitude to avoid seeing his campaign undermined by too many of his trademark gaffes.

Mr Johnson is almost certain to make it on to the final shortlist of two candidates whom party activists will choose between, after he won the support of more than 100 MPs in the first ballot.

Mr Hunt and Mr Gove are also on course to make it through the second ballot on Tuesday, with the other three contenders struggling to stay in the contest.

 Michael Gove arriving for the first Tory leadership debate

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Michael Gove arriving for the first Tory leadership debateCredit: PA:Press Association
 Dominic Raab arriving in East London this evening

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Dominic Raab arriving in East London this eveningCredit: PA:Press Association
 Rory Stewart blasted Boris Johnson for not taking part

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Rory Stewart blasted Boris Johnson for not taking partCredit: PA:Press Association
 Jeremy Hunt was driven in to the debate

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Jeremy Hunt was driven in to the debateCredit: PA:Press Association
 Boris Johnson has refused to take part in the TV debate

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Boris Johnson has refused to take part in the TV debateCredit: London News Pictures

Timetable of Tory leadership election which will pick new PM

June 7: Theresa May stood down as party leader but will continue as PM until her successor is elected

June 10: Nominations for the leadership closed with ten candidates entering the race

June 13: First ballot of MPs; three candidates (Leadsom, Harper and McVey) eliminated

June 14: Matt Hancock drops out

June 16: All candidates invited to take part in live debate on Channel 4, starting at 6.30pm

June 18: Second ballot, open 3pm-5pm; any candidate with fewer than 33 votes eliminated – all remaining candidates invited to take part in live debate on BBC One, starting at 8pm

June 19: Third ballot (if needed), open 3pm-5pm; candidate with fewest votes eliminated

June 20: Fourth ballot (if needed), open 10am-12pm; candidate with fewest votes eliminated – any further ballots needed will also take place on this day

June 22: Final two candidates take part in first members’ hustings, set to take place in Birmingham

July 8: Tory bosses send out postal votes to all party activists

July 22: Result announced this week, in time for Commons recess to begin

Channel 4 leave podium empty for Boris Johnson and invite Conservative candidate to join live debate


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