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Boris Johnson 'should give explanation' for home row | Boris Johnson 'should give explanation' for home row |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jeremy Hunt has added his voice to calls for Tory leadership rival Boris Johnson to answer questions about a row with his girlfriend which led to police being called to their address. | |
Mr Hunt said someone who wants to be PM "should answer questions on everything". | |
Cabinet minister Liam Fox said it was better to explain what happened then allow it to become a "distraction". | |
But MPs campaigning for Mr Johnson argue that it is a private matter. | |
Leadership frontrunner Mr Johnson dodged questions on the issue on Saturday at a Conservative Party hustings held as part of the contest to replace Theresa May as leader and ultimately prime minister. | |
It comes after a neighbour called police and recorded a heated 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 of 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". | 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". |
Asked about the issue, Mr Hunt told Sky News: "I think someone who wants to be PM should answer questions on everything, but I'm not going to comment on character." | |
But the foreign secretary also said he thought the story about Mr Johnson's row with his girlfriend was "irrelevant to the leadership debate" because the country was in "such a serious situation" over Brexit. | |
"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." | "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." |
Mr Hunt went on to criticise Mr Johnson for "shying away" from doing interviews and not answering "difficult" questions about Brexit. | |
"What we need is for him to engage properly," he said. | |
Mr Hunt also said Mr Johnson's premiership would not last if he was not straightforward with MPs about what his Brexit plans were. | |
"People are beginning to wonder about the coalition of people supporting him... what has he being telling them… which is the Boris we will get as prime minister?" | |
'Distraction' | |
The comments came after International Trade Secretary Mr Fox - a backer of Mr Hunt - told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that it was "always easier to just give an explanation" about what had happened. | |
"The key thing is then how you get on to the issues," Mr Fox said. | |
"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." | |
But 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". | 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. | 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." | "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 Mrs 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 Mrs 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. | 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. | Members will receive their ballots between 6 and 8 July, with the new leader expected to be announced in the week beginning 22 July. |