Tory leadership latest: Boris Johnson rules out working with Nigel Farage in EU negotiations

Boris Johnson has insisted he would not work with Nigel Farage in Brexit talks as he faced off with rival Jeremy Hunt in the latest leadership hustings.

Mr Johnson, who reiterated his desire to leave the EU by October 31, said he believed in the tactic of not giving other parties “the oxygen of publicity”.

Asked to clarify that meant not working with the Brexit Party leader, he said: “It’s a pretty clear no… absolutely not.”

Mr Farage and Mr Johnson were both Brexiteers in the run up to the referendum in 2016, which had led to some rumours there could be coordination between their respective parties if Mr Johnson were leader.

Rory Stewart, who came fifth in the Tory leadership battle, had said during his campaign that he would work with Mr Farage in a bid to resolve the Brexit debate. 

During the hustings, Mr Johnson also declared his desire to “wallop Corbyn for six” at the next general election and insisted he was the right person to beat the Labour Party.

He also insisted that he could work with colleagues across the political spectrum to achieve a Brexit deal. 

He said: “I think the first thing is to recognise that politics has changed since March 29. I think that colleagues do see that we are facing, not just the Tory Party but also Labour, we are facing an existential threat.

“We all need to get this thing done and we need to move forward and that’s why I think they will want to get Brexit over the line on October 31 and then move forward.

“And when that election comes eventually, I remind you that I think we need to be ready to wallop Corbyn for six.”

Mr Johnson’s comments came after his rival, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, spent half an hour answering queries from the public.

The pair took part in the first ever online hustings in a Tory leadership race on Wednesday, where questions were submitted over social media.

At some points there were quizzed on the same topics, in which some common ground was revealed.

The pair both said they would keep the NHS free at the point of access, with Mr Johnson stating no trade deal with the US would impact that.

“Under my premiership the NHS will be free to everybody at the point of use,” Mr Johnson said.

“Absolutely not, particularly not in the event of some free trade deal with the United States.”

The pair also said they agreed with guaranteeing the right of EU citizens in the UK post-Brexit.

“They do a fantastic job. I believe most European countries would reciprocate in that situation,” Mr Hunt said.

Knife crime was also another point they seemed agreed on, with each saying there was need for more police numbers, and they both spoke of the benefits of improving infrastructure in the country.

When asked questions about their rivals, each also declined to get into person mudslinging.

Asked if Mr Johnson has faults, Mr Hunt said: “Look, everyone’s got faults but I think it would demean this competition if we started pointing fingers at each other because he could find just as many faults in me I’m sure if he looked.”

While Mr Johnson said he followed the mantra “never speak ill of a fellow Conservative”, when asked about some criticising him.