Boris Johnson insists Britain CAN claim back £350m a week from the EU for the NHS in fiery Sun debate
Boris Johnson clashed with Emily Thornberry in talkRadio debate, challenging her on Brexit and immigration
BORIS JOHNSON tonight insisted that Britain CAN save as much as £350million a week from the EU thanks to Brexit.
He told a debate audience that the Tories would "take back control of huge sums" by striking a good deal with Brussels.
And he defended the notorious claim that we pay in £350million every week, denying the suggestion that the figure is mythical.
Mr Johnson appeared at alongside Labour's Emily Thornberry, Lib Dem Vince Cable and Patrick O'Flynn of Ukip.
Talking about the savings Britain can make, the Foreign Secretary said: "How much is it a week that we can take back control of? It is about £350million a week.
"If you think that's mythical, then you risk voting for a party that will not take back control of huge sums."
The £350million figure, which was emblazoned on the Vote Leave campaign bus, has sparked massive rows ever since the referendum.
Critics claim that it does not take account of the UK rebate or the EU money which is invested in Britain.
Mr Johnson added: "I'm genuinely alarmed about the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn leading the UK negotiating team in Brussels.
"That is before the economic damage that could be done by the most left-wing Labour party in my memory."
Addressing Ms Thornberry directly, he said: "Labour have an agenda to frustrate the will of the people and stay in the EU.
"It's not clear you understand what leaving involves or that you're determined to do it.It scares me that you could go into Brussels with that mindset - you'd be eaten alive."
And challenging Labour on defence, he said they were also raising the white flag over our security and beefing up the military.
Referring to Ms Thornberry's controversial tweet mocking white van man Dan Ware in 2014, he roared: "You slag off chaps in white vans - and you run up the white flag."
Boris denied suggestions that he had been sidelined from the Tory campaign, joking: "I am a mere toenail of the body politic, I live to serve."
Ms Thornberry refused to say that Labour would consider quitting the EU without a deal, saying: "If you begin a negotiation on the basis that you are threatening to walk away, that doesn't help.
"There are many ways of leaving the European Union."
Sir Vince said that the Lib Dems would "stop a headlong rush into an extreme Ukip-style Brexit".
And Mr O'Flynn stood up for the Ukip policy of leaving the EU immediately, without a deal on trade.
The group also clashed over immigration as Mr Johnson called for a cut in net migration.
He said: "320,000 people a year is too many. I approve of immigration, by the way.
"But it's put pressure on our services, on housing in particular, and we need to think about it - we need to control it better.
"We will be able to regulate the numbers coming in from the European Union for the first time in a generation."
Mr O'Flynn echoed him, saying: "It makes sense to move to an era no longer of mass migration, but smart migration."
But Sir Vince suggested taking international students out of the migration target - and claimed that most cabinet ministers do not support the aim of cutting migration to 100,000 a year.
Ms Thornberry was put on the spot on the issue, and refused to say whether or not she was keen to reduce net migration.
Ms Thornberry faced laughter from the audience when she tried to justify Labour's support for nuclear weapons even though Jeremy Corbyn opposes the policy.
She said the leader had bowed to his colleagues because "we are a party of talents" - prompting derision from the other panellists.
Mr O'Flynn replied: "You shouldn't be able to pass a cigarette paper between a party wanting to form a government. You could drive a coach and horses through the differences in the Shadow Cabinet."
"On defence [Mr Corbyn's] authentic self is a peacenik, anti-nuclear cutter of defence."
Ms Thornberry, who is a close ally of Mr Corbyn, refused to say which parties Labour would team up with in the event of a hung Parliament.
She said: "We're not going to have a coalition... but I don't have any problem with us talking to whoever we want to talk to.
"We will put forward a Queen's speech and we will put forward a Budget and it will be up to the other parties if they want to vote for it or not.
"If they don't vote for it, they will have to go back to their constituents and explain to them why they let the likes of Boris back in."
Mr Johnson was challenged on the Tories' U-turn on social care, which will see a cap placed on the total amount pensioners must pay for their own care.
He said the party would "consult on the cap", adding that proposals by economist Andrew Dilnot "will form an important part of our consideration".
The Foreign Secretary added: "It raises the threshold of what you can currently be absolutely certain to pass on."
But Sir Vince, who was a cabinet minister under the Coalition, pointed out that a cap had already been agreed before it was abandoned by the Conservatives.
A 13-year-old schoolboy named Michael challenged the panellists to guarantee funding to schools, prompting furious attacks on Tory austerity cuts.
But Boris defended his government, saying to the other politicians: "You know fine well that London schools have been getting better and better.
"There are huge achievements by our kids, and that is not just a function of money, that is a function of standards as well."
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Ms Thornberry attacked Mr Johnson over the Tories' relationship with Donald Trump - jumping on breaking news that the US President was withdrawing from the Paris climate deal.
She suggested that it showed Theresa May had failed to influence Mr Trump, but Boris said that Jeremy Corbyn would be even worse.
He said: "The idea that Jeremy Corbyn, who is the most anti-American party leader in my lifetime, could have any influence on the United States is absolutely nugatory."
Sir Vince defended Lib Dem plans to increase income tax by 1p in order to fund the NHS.
He told the audience: "If you want a decent health service, you have to pay for it, and we'll have a penny on the pound in income tax - not pretend that a few ultra-rich people will pay for it, because they won't."
He admitted that Mrs May is almost certain to stay as PM, but predicted that she would be undermined by the Tory election campaign.
Sir Vince said: "She'll probably win, but she will come back with reduced authority when it comes to negotiating with the European Union."
All the panellists backed their party leaders when asked at the end of the debate whether they should quit if they lose the election.
Sir Vince predicted that Tim Farron "will get another chance" even as he admitted: "We're not going to win the election, but we are going to win more seats."
Mr O'Flynn said Ukip had "set the agenda" despite being on course to win zero seats, adding: "Paul [Nuttall] is absolutely the right man to lead Ukip onwards."
Boris praised the "rumbustious and entertaining debate" as he asked: "Do you want Theresa May and the Conservative team to take us through the Brexit talks?"
Ms Thornberry argued that Labour has "a really strong chance" of winning the election.
She concluded: "You can see a strength in Jeremy Corbyn that frankly you do not see in the other leaders."
Mr Johnson repeatedly tried to interrupt his rivals and talk over their answers, prompting stern words from host Julia Hartley-Brewer.
After he spoke for much longer than the allotted minute in his opening statement, Mr O'Flynn joked: "Boris is the Time Lord of politics."
He later added: "It's coming to something when the Ukip speaker is the calmest voice on the panel."
Responding to the raucous sparring between the panellists, Ms Hartley-Brewer said: "My children are better behaved than this!"
But the spirited audience welcomed Boris' aggressive stance, whooping and booing at various times throughout the debate.
Tweeting minutes after the debate, Mr Johnson said: "Just asked Thornberry how Labour will cut immigration. Erm ahhh umm eeeee ermm. No plan!"