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| Tory leadership: Johnson warns party of risk of Brexit 'extinction' | Tory leadership: Johnson warns party of risk of Brexit 'extinction' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives face "potential extinction" if they do not get Brexit done, Boris Johnson has warned. | The Conservatives face "potential extinction" if they do not get Brexit done, Boris Johnson has warned. |
| The former foreign secretary told a leadership hustings the party will "not be forgiven" if it does not take the UK out of the EU by 31 October as planned. | The former foreign secretary told a leadership hustings the party will "not be forgiven" if it does not take the UK out of the EU by 31 October as planned. |
| He said he was best placed to beat Labour and "put Nigel Farage back in his box" but reportedly ruled out a snap general election if he becomes PM. | He said he was best placed to beat Labour and "put Nigel Farage back in his box" but reportedly ruled out a snap general election if he becomes PM. |
| Mr Johnson is one of 11 candidates vying to succeed Theresa May as leader. | Mr Johnson is one of 11 candidates vying to succeed Theresa May as leader. |
| His comments came as the Eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG) called on leadership contenders to abandon Mrs May's Brexit deal. | His comments came as the Eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG) called on leadership contenders to abandon Mrs May's Brexit deal. |
| A paper published by the influential ERG said the next prime minister should sign up to the 31 October deadline and step up preparations for a no-deal exit on World Trade Organisation terms. | A paper published by the influential ERG said the next prime minister should sign up to the 31 October deadline and step up preparations for a no-deal exit on World Trade Organisation terms. |
| On Tuesday, two candidates pulled out of the leadership race as the party tightened the rules for the contest amid concerns about the size of the field. | On Tuesday, two candidates pulled out of the leadership race as the party tightened the rules for the contest amid concerns about the size of the field. |
| Mr Johnson, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart and ex-Commons leader Andrea Leadsom addressed the One Nation Conservative Caucus of Tory MPs in Parliament at the first hustings of the campaign. | Mr Johnson, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart and ex-Commons leader Andrea Leadsom addressed the One Nation Conservative Caucus of Tory MPs in Parliament at the first hustings of the campaign. |
| The group, which opposes a no-deal Brexit, has invited all the candidates to appear before them to make their case for the top job. | The group, which opposes a no-deal Brexit, has invited all the candidates to appear before them to make their case for the top job. |
| Mr Johnson, regarded as the frontrunner in the contest, said the party was facing an "existential crisis" following its drubbing in last month's European elections. | Mr Johnson, regarded as the frontrunner in the contest, said the party was facing an "existential crisis" following its drubbing in last month's European elections. |
| "We will not be forgiven if we do not deliver Brexit on October 31," he said. | "We will not be forgiven if we do not deliver Brexit on October 31," he said. |
| "We need to realise the depth of the problems we face. Unless we get on and do this thing, we will be punished for a very long time. There is a very real choice between getting Brexit done and the potential extinction of this great party." | "We need to realise the depth of the problems we face. Unless we get on and do this thing, we will be punished for a very long time. There is a very real choice between getting Brexit done and the potential extinction of this great party." |
| His warning was echoed by fellow leadership hopeful Ms Leadsom, who said a delay to the UK's exit from the EU could "spell the end" for the party. | His warning was echoed by fellow leadership hopeful Ms Leadsom, who said a delay to the UK's exit from the EU could "spell the end" for the party. |
| 'Managed exit' | 'Managed exit' |
| Mr Johnson suggested the solution to the current deadlock would be to replace the Irish backstop - the controversial insurance policy designed to maintain an open border - with "alternative arrangements" so as to facilitate a "managed exit" from the EU. | Mr Johnson suggested the solution to the current deadlock would be to replace the Irish backstop - the controversial insurance policy designed to maintain an open border - with "alternative arrangements" so as to facilitate a "managed exit" from the EU. |
| The EU has said the backstop must remain in the withdrawal agreement and has resisted calls from Tories and the DUP for a time limit, or exit date, to be put on it. | The EU has said the backstop must remain in the withdrawal agreement and has resisted calls from Tories and the DUP for a time limit, or exit date, to be put on it. |
| The Tory leadership hustings hosted by the One Nation Caucus of Conservative MPs began with reporters, me included, starting to loiter outside. | The Tory leadership hustings hosted by the One Nation Caucus of Conservative MPs began with reporters, me included, starting to loiter outside. |
| Between us and the action inside, there were two heavy wooden doors and a pretty thick wall - and some parliamentary security staff not particularly keen on us leaning too obviously against either the doors or the wall. | Between us and the action inside, there were two heavy wooden doors and a pretty thick wall - and some parliamentary security staff not particularly keen on us leaning too obviously against either the doors or the wall. |
| A rather forthright conversation then began between us lot in the press pack and Conservative Party officials about why we weren't allowed in - given those in the room were discussing who should be our prime minister by the end of next month. | A rather forthright conversation then began between us lot in the press pack and Conservative Party officials about why we weren't allowed in - given those in the room were discussing who should be our prime minister by the end of next month. |
| Read more from Chris here | Read more from Chris here |
| Mr Johnson, who has insisted the UK must leave by the end of October with or without a deal, said a no-deal exit would cause "some disruption". | Mr Johnson, who has insisted the UK must leave by the end of October with or without a deal, said a no-deal exit would cause "some disruption". |
| But he warned that demands for another referendum on the UK's future in Europe would grow if the UK was forced to seek another extension from the EU. | But he warned that demands for another referendum on the UK's future in Europe would grow if the UK was forced to seek another extension from the EU. |
| He insisted: "I believe I am best placed to lift this party, beat Jeremy Corbyn and excite people about conservatism and conservative values." | He insisted: "I believe I am best placed to lift this party, beat Jeremy Corbyn and excite people about conservatism and conservative values." |
| Home Secretary Sajid Javid told the meeting that if his party "don't look like change, voters will go for change in the form of (Jeremy) Corbyn". | Home Secretary Sajid Javid told the meeting that if his party "don't look like change, voters will go for change in the form of (Jeremy) Corbyn". |
| He stressed that the party should not seek to emulate Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, insisting "we will not beat the Brexit Party by becoming the Brexit Party". | He stressed that the party should not seek to emulate Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, insisting "we will not beat the Brexit Party by becoming the Brexit Party". |
| In a reference to Benjamin Disraeli's "one nation" political philosophy, he added: "One nation is a term that was coined by a prime minister who was a bit of an outsider. Pick a prime minister who is also a bit of an outsider." | In a reference to Benjamin Disraeli's "one nation" political philosophy, he added: "One nation is a term that was coined by a prime minister who was a bit of an outsider. Pick a prime minister who is also a bit of an outsider." |
| International Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the event: "I began this race believing I should be a truth-teller on principle - ironically I have discovered that it is very popular - and the only way to avoid an election and win the next one is by being straight with people. | International Development Secretary Rory Stewart told the event: "I began this race believing I should be a truth-teller on principle - ironically I have discovered that it is very popular - and the only way to avoid an election and win the next one is by being straight with people. |
| "No more unicorns, no more red lines, no more promises we can't deliver. That's how we get Brexit done, defeat Corbyn and unify the country." | "No more unicorns, no more red lines, no more promises we can't deliver. That's how we get Brexit done, defeat Corbyn and unify the country." |
| He also told MPs he would not sign a confidence and supply deal with the DUP in exchange for funding, as Mrs May did. | He also told MPs he would not sign a confidence and supply deal with the DUP in exchange for funding, as Mrs May did. |
| Who will replace Theresa May? | |
| The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister. |