Boris Johnson Avoiding Debate

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48744724

Tory leadership race: Sky set to cancel Johnson-Hunt debate


Sky News has said it will be forced to cancel a debate between the two men vying to be the next Tory leader unless Boris Johnson agrees to take part.

The broadcaster hoped to be the first to stage a head-to-head debate between Mr Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt.

But it said Mr Johnson had "so far declined" its invitation and the event would not go ahead without him.

Mr Hunt said it was "incredibly disappointing" and risked "cheating" the country out of a "proper contest".

He said the next prime minister would not have the popular mandate to take difficult decisions on Brexit and other issues if they were not prepared to face scrutiny now.

'Curtain twitchers'
Mr Johnson has faced three days of questions over his private life after a row with his partner Carrie Symonds.

The former foreign secretary has declined to comment on the nature of the argument in Ms Symonds' London home, which led to the police being called early on Friday morning.

He has also been accused of avoiding media scrutiny more generally, particularly on his Brexit policy.

Mr Johnson has agreed to take part in a one-on-one debate with Mr Hunt on ITV on 9 July, but by then voting papers will already have been sent to party members.

The two men are also taking part in a series of hustings for Tory members across the UK.

Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt took part in a five-way debate earlier in the leadership contest on the BBC last week, but Mr Johnson refused to join a similar event on Channel 4.

Writing in the Times on Monday, Mr Hunt urged his rival not to be "a coward" and to take part in the Sky debate. He insisted, though, he was "not interested" in Mr Johnson's private life.

He said Mr Johnson must explain how he could guarantee the UK would leave the EU on 31 October if Parliament voted to stop a no-deal Brexit, as it did in a non-binding vote in March.

More at link.

 

[Warlord]

Sorry Zippy. Boris is being advised that he has nothing to gain from these types of debates. Most of them just end up putting people off.

 

[Zippyjuan]

Sorry Zippy. Boris is being advised that he has nothing to gain from these types of debates. Most of them just end up putting people off.

So if he talks, people will be less likely to vote for him? Not a strong endorsement for a candidate.

 

[AngryCanadian]

So if he talks, people will be less likely to vote for him? Not a strong endorsement for a candidate.

Just like how American liberals dont want their leftist politicians to appears on FOX news? no difference really.