Boris Johnson faces fresh questions over Brexit after revealing he ‘hardly’ disagrees with rival contenders on exit date

BORIS Johnson faced fresh questions over his Brexit resolve last night after it emerged he told rival contenders they “hardly” disagreed on when to leave the EU.

In an unguarded moment, the mop-haired top Tory opened up to his opponents at the end of BBC1’s leadership debate on Tuesday night.

The ex-Foreign Secretary insisted there was little between their strategies to deliver Britain’s EU exit.

Boris has previosuly pledged to pull out by the current deadline of October 31, while all the others have opened the door to a fresh delay to pass a deal first.

As the five contenders were lead out of the BBC studio in the basement of New Broadcasting House, their microphones were still attached.

Boris was overheard telling them: “You see chaps, we don’t disagree on that much”.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove immediately retorted: “Dates, Boris, dates”.

But Boris replied to him and shrugged: “Hardly, pah”.

'HARDLY' DISAGREE

Critics claimed the remarks cast fresh doubt on his October 31 commitment.

One Tory source familiar aware of the exchange said: “It made the other contenders raise their eyebrows.

“Is Boris going to get out when he says he is, or isn’t he?”

The revelation of the remark also risks embarrassing Mr Johnson, coming just as drop out contender Dominic Raab gave him his support, saying he was “the only candidate” who deliver Brexit by October 31.

The ex-London mayor also faced attacks yesterday for refusing to give an absolute guarantee of Brexit by October 31 during the BBC debate.

When pushed, Boris would only say the departure date is “eminently feasible”.

JOHNSON'S EU SLIP

Mr Johnson’s aides didn’t dispute that the conversation took place last night.

A source close to Boris instead insisted his remarks did not draw into question anything he had said.

The source said: “It’s clear that all the major candidates want to leave on October 31.

“The only difference is Boris is committed to leaving on October 31, deal or no deal. That hasn’t changed, and will not change.”

Leadership rival Jeremy Hunt went on the attack against Boris after his refusal to guarantee an exit on time during the debate.

His successor as Foreign Secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Well I am not entirely sure what he believes on this, having listened to him last night”.

In a bid to drive a wedge between Mr Johnson and his Brexiteer backers, Mr Hunt added: “Now, the danger is that if we choose the wrong person now, we will have no trust, no negotiation, no deal, and possibly, if we have an election, no Brexit”.

Treasury committee chairman Nicky Morgan said things would “end in tears” because Mr Johnson was giving out inconsistent messages.

But his Cabinet minister backer Liz Truss last night insisted Boris would take the UK out of EU on October 31 “no ifs, no buts”.

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