BLUE ON BLUE
Boris promises to get UK off the ‘hamster wheel of doom’ as he repeatedly clashes with Hunt over Brexit in TV debate
BORIS Johnson promised to get Britain off the "hamster wheel of doom" by delivering Brexit in three months - as he clashed bitterly with Jeremy Hunt in last night's live TV debate.
The two Tory frontrunners tore chunks out of each other as underdog Mr Hunt went on the attack in the scrap to be Britain's next PM.
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In a fiercely contested live debate on ITV, the two men vying to be the next Tory leader rowed over Brexit, the US President and abortion - but managed to come up with one thing they each liked about their opponent.
As the pair went toe-to-toe tonight Boris vowed to get Britain back on the right track and give the country its mojo back.
He insisted: "This country faces a momentous choice - we can either continue with the same old, failed, can-kicking approach, destroying trust in politics, sapping business confidence.
"Or else we can change, get back our mojo, restore this country's reputation around the world and put ourselves on the path to long-term success."
In the blue-on-blue debate which descended into a heated scrap:
- Boris refused to say if he would keep the US ambassador in his job after his cables were leaked
- He tore into Mr Hunt for refusing to commit to a firm deadline to get us out of the EU
- Boris sparked fears that he IS planning an election by saying a vote is "forthcoming"
- Rival Hunt said he wasn’t serious enough to be PM and blasted him for refusing to answer questions properly
- The pair argued about whether they would rather cut taxes for the rich or help the less-well off
The pair argued over the transatlantic row between the UK and the US which has dominated newspaper headlines today.
Boris argued that President Trump was "dragged into a British political debate" after cables describing the US government as "inept" were leaked at the weekend.
He repeatedly refused to join Mr Hunt in criticising the White House, and also wouldn't guarantee that he would not sack our ambassador in Washington Sir Kim Darroch.
The US President sparked a huge barny with the PM today over her failed Brexit deal and lashed out at Sir Kim as "wacky and pompous".
Boris tonight admitted he "wasn't sure" that the comments were the "right thing to do", but repeatedly refused to say whether the ambassador would stay in his post if he became PM.
He stamped his authority insisting: "I and I alone will decide who takes important politically sensitive jobs such as the UK ambassador to the US."
And he wouldn't criticise his pal Donald Trump, who has said several times he will make a great PM.
On the other hand, the Foreign Secretary attacked President Trump's comments as being "disrespectful and wrong to our Prime Minister and my country" in a strong backing of the outgoing PM.
He promised not to let America tell Britain who should be their ambassador, and insisted that he would keep Sir Kim in post if he gets into No10.
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This is an amazing country, now is the time to show we believe in Britain
Boris Johnson
Mr Hunt accused his rival of only caring about being in Number 10 and writing his newspaper columns in a furious hour-long debate fronted by ITV's Julie Etchingham in front of a live audience.
The Foreign Secretary said Boris was all in it for himself while Boris called him a "defeatist" with a "papier-mâché deadline" for Brexit.
Boris repeatedly refused to say he would resign as PM if he didn't get us out by October 31 as he has promised.
He would only say: "I don't want to hold out the prospect to the EU that they could secure my resignation by refusing to agree a deal."
He added: “Delay doesn’t deliver a deal, a deadline will deliver a deal.”
And he went on the attack at Mr Hunt for refusing to firmly agree he would get us out on time.
"How about by Christmas?" Boris joked.
The frontrunner to become the next PM dodged questions yet again on whether he would shut down Parliament too - something his opponents fear would allow him to push through a No Deal Brexit without the permission of MPs.
But Mr Hunt blasted back: "We’re not going to leave without a deal with optimism, we need to have details."
Boris also said Mr Hunt didn't really believe in Brexit because he was "somebody who was on the other side of the argument for so long" too.
And he teased and corrected Mr Hunt after he quoted his hero Winston Churchill.
Mr Hunt said: "blood, toil, tears" but Mr Johnson corrected him with the actual quote - "blood toil tears and sweat".
The pair were asked what they most admired in their opponents to wind up the debate this evening.
Boris said he admired Mr Hunt's ability to change his mind and argue for Brexit - a subtle dig at his Remain-backing past.
And Mr Hunt prompted chuckles from the audience when he said he liked Boris' ability to answer questions properly.
The underdog quipped: "You ask him a question, he puts a smile on your face and you forget the question."
Boris Johnson vows he's the man to deliver Brexit in live ITV head to head debate
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Work and Pensions Secretary and Hunt supporter Amber Rudd said her man won because he showed he was "the man with the plan".
She said: “Jeremy won the debate by once again clearly explaining why he is the leader most likely to get deal with the European Union.
“Tonight we saw why Jeremy Hunt is ahead in the eyes of the general public and the person they think would make the best Prime Minister.
“Jeremy is a deal maker and has a track record of delivery.
“He has my vote and I urge all members to back him.”
But Iain Duncan Smith, Mr Johnson's campaign manager, said his man even surprised his own team with his performance last night.
He told The Sun: "Boris nailed it on the key issues, whereas I think Jeremy Hunt squirmed under the pressure about leaving on October 31st.
And Boris was funny - at times he made the audience laugh, he jibed a bit at Jeremy so that was good.
"It was a real moment when you can say he believes in Britain.
"Tonight we saw a Boris that nobody quite expected emerge - and this is the real man."
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt asked what they most admire about their opponents in live debate
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Last night the President insisted he would no longer work with Sir Kim after the leak.
Downing Street have stuck by him and insisted he was just doing his job honestly.
However, they did add that the Government did not share all of his views.
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Donald Trump says Britain's ambassador to Washington Sir Kim Darroch who branded president 'inept' has 'not served UK well'
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