Boris Johnson chats Brexit and women with his dad in chance Tube encounter
Despite being pro-Remain Stanley Johnson congratulated his son on his TV debate performance
BORIS Johnson isn’t known for saying nice things to pro-EU campaigners but made an exception for one – because it was his dad.
The pair had a chance meeting on the Tube and the former mayor of London’s pro-Remain Boris Johnson's pro-Remain father congratulated his Brexit-backing son on the way he handled himself during a testy TV debate.
A last minute decision to catch the Bakerloo line back to Westminster after returning from a Leave rally in Buckinghamshire saw Stanley Johnson get into the same carriage as his ex-mayor son by chance.
Despite being on opposite sides of the issue, Mr Johnson Snr said he heard the ex-mayor handled himself well in last week's ITV live debate when the all-female pro-Remain panel were accused by some of ganging-up on Boris with personalised attacks.
Mr Johnson Snr spoke approvingly about the way his son conducted himself on the ITV debate, stating: "Apparently you were very good at not being hassled by the women."
The former mayor then appeared to indicate the presence of the Press in the carriage, and the subject of conversation was changed.
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In one of the most pointed attacks of the debate, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said of Mr Johnson: "He's the life and soul of the party.
“But he's not the man you want to drive you home at the end of the evening."
During the debate Ms Rudd reeled off Government lines of attack on the economy and shouted: “I fear the only number Boris is interested in is Number 10.”
Labour’s Ms Eagle said Mr Johnson was happy for Brits to lose their jobs as long as it gave him a shot at replacing David Cameron.
And Scottish First Minister Ms Sturgeon said the idea of Boris as PM was a “pretty horrifying prospect”.
But he blasted back at the Gang of Three, warning against the “great temptation” of personal jibes.
He said it was important to stick to the issues and insisted voting for Brexit would mean the government could reclaim control over immigration and have up to £350million a week more to spend on the NHS.
The surprise encounter on the Tube also saw Mr Johnson Snr dismiss reports that his son dyed his hair as "nonsense" and "utter garbage".
The former mayor told his father he thought that the interviewer had been joking, until the subject emerged in a Sunday newspaper.