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| Boris Johnson 'should give explanation' for home row | Boris Johnson 'should give explanation' for home row |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said it would be "easier" for Boris Johnson to "just give an explanation" about the row recorded at his home. | International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said it would be "easier" for Boris Johnson to "just give an explanation" about the row recorded at his home. |
| The MP said reports of the row between Mr Johnson and his partner should not be a "distraction" from policy discussion in the leadership race. | The MP said reports of the row between Mr Johnson and his partner should not be a "distraction" from policy discussion in the leadership race. |
| But fellow leadership rival Jeremy Hunt said "what happens in people's personal lives is really a matter for them". | |
| On Saturday, leadership frontrunner Mr Johnson dodged questions on the issue. | |
| It comes after a neighbour called police and recorded a loud row at the home Mr Johnson shares with his partner Carrie Symonds in London. | It comes after a neighbour called police and recorded a loud row at the home Mr Johnson shares with his partner Carrie Symonds in London. |
| Defending his actions, Tom Penn told the Guardian he was worried about his neighbours' safety, adding: "I hope that anybody would have done the same thing." | Defending his actions, Tom Penn told the Guardian he was worried about his neighbours' safety, adding: "I hope that anybody would have done the same thing." |
| He said he began recording from inside his flat in Camberwell, south London, after he heard "slamming and banging" in the early hours on Friday. | He said he began recording from inside his flat in Camberwell, south London, after he heard "slamming and banging" in the early hours on Friday. |
| In the recording - heard by the Guardian, but not by the BBC - Ms Symonds reportedly could be heard telling the Tory MP to "get off me" and "get out of my flat". | |
| Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show about the row, Mr Fox - who backs Mr Hunt - said: "It's always easier to just give an explanation. | |
| "The key thing is then how you get on to the issues. What we can't have is it being a distraction from explanations about wider policy." | "The key thing is then how you get on to the issues. What we can't have is it being a distraction from explanations about wider policy." |
| He said it was "fair" for candidates to be asked questions about their character, but added: "I'm not sure what we've seen over the last few days is a fair reflection of that." | He said it was "fair" for candidates to be asked questions about their character, but added: "I'm not sure what we've seen over the last few days is a fair reflection of that." |
| When asked about the incident, Mr Hunt steered clear of calling for Mr Johnson to explain what happened. | |
| He told Sky News: "I think what happens in people's personal lives is really a matter for them. | |
| "What people care about is who is going to be the wise prime minister who navigates this country out of the biggest constitutional crisis in our lifetimes." | |
| 'Distractions' | |
| Also in his interview on the Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fox dismissed suggestions that Mr Johnson was a potential security risk. | |
| Recalling Mr Johnson's previous role in government, he said: "Do you think Theresa May would make him foreign secretary if there were genuine worries about him being a security risk?" | Recalling Mr Johnson's previous role in government, he said: "Do you think Theresa May would make him foreign secretary if there were genuine worries about him being a security risk?" |
| "I think we have to get away from these distractions and talk about policy issues." | "I think we have to get away from these distractions and talk about policy issues." |
| Meanwhile, speaking to John Pienaar on BBC Radio 5 Live, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said Mr Johnson had a proven record, so "people know what he's like in office". | |
| Asked about the row, she said: "There's no point asking me. I believe it's a private matter - I don't think the public are concerned about that. | |
| "Boris served for eight years as mayor of London, did a brilliant job; he's served as foreign secretary - people know what he's like in office, and that's what's important." | |
| But shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne said Mr Johnson was "completely unsuitable" to be prime minister. | But shadow communities secretary Andrew Gwynne said Mr Johnson was "completely unsuitable" to be prime minister. |
| Speaking on Sky News, he said: "In one sense, of course, it is a private matter, but when you're running for public office, when you are wanting to be the prime minister of the UK, then these matters are in the public interest. | Speaking on Sky News, he said: "In one sense, of course, it is a private matter, but when you're running for public office, when you are wanting to be the prime minister of the UK, then these matters are in the public interest. |
| "I've long held the view that Boris Johnson is unsuitable to be prime minister of this country." | "I've long held the view that Boris Johnson is unsuitable to be prime minister of this country." |
| On Saturday, Mr Johnson repeatedly avoided questions about the incident as he and Mr Hunt made their pitches to Tory party members on why they should succeed Theresa May as prime minister. | |
| When the event moderator, Iain Dale, accused him of ducking the question, Mr Johnson did not respond directly, instead saying: "People are entitled to ask me what I want to do for the country." | When the event moderator, Iain Dale, accused him of ducking the question, Mr Johnson did not respond directly, instead saying: "People are entitled to ask me what I want to do for the country." |
| Mr Dale was heckled by some in the audience when he continued to press the MP, but later defended his persistence. | Mr Dale was heckled by some in the audience when he continued to press the MP, but later defended his persistence. |
| "There will have been lots of other people in the audience who didn't boo, and who actually did want to hear the answer to that question," he told the BBC. | "There will have been lots of other people in the audience who didn't boo, and who actually did want to hear the answer to that question," he told the BBC. |
| It was the first of 16 events, or hustings, to choose the next Conservative party leader - and prime minister - following Theresa May's resignation after she failed to get her Brexit deal through Parliament. | It was the first of 16 events, or hustings, to choose the next Conservative party leader - and prime minister - following Theresa May's resignation after she failed to get her Brexit deal through Parliament. |
| She remains in office until her successor is found. | She remains in office until her successor is found. |
| Conservative Party members will vote for their next leader after an initial list of 10 candidates to replace Mrs May was whittled down to Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson following a series of votes by Tory MPs. | |
| Members will receive their ballots between 6 and 8 July, with the new leader expected to be announced in the week beginning 22 July. |