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Tory leadership race: Boris Johnson pledges to 'get Brexit done' at hustings – live Tory leadership race: Boris Johnson pledges to 'get Brexit done' at hustings – live
(32 minutes later)
Hunt is asked whether the mandatory foreign aid target should be abolished and that money spent within the UK by a member of the audience who notes that some military veterans are in need. “Oh dear, I’m afraid you’re not going to like the answer I’m going to give now,” Hunt says.
While he says he wants to help veterans, he points out that some countries are “much, much worse off than us” and says he wants to reform the way the money’s spent, rather than scrap foreign aid.
And that’s all from Jeremy Hunt.
Here’s a little more detail on Hunt’s proposals on social care. He said:
I do think that councils need more money to discharge their responsibilities on social care. I also think we need to take more responsibilities ourselves. Just as we save for a pension throughout our lives, I think we need to create incentives for people to save for their social care costs as well.
He said the government should also consider incentives to encourage people to look after elderly relatives in the family home.
There are 420,000 households in our country that are three-generation households where granny, mum and dad and the kids all live under the same roof. I think that is a good thing.
I am not saying we all want to live with our mother-in-law. But I think that three-generation families are a wonderful thing.
If you look at Spain and Italy, where they spend less on social care than us but they don’t have a social care crisis, is because they are societies that hold families together.
As the party of the family, I think we should look to see if we could introduce incentives for that as well.
Speaking with his wife Lucia in the front row, Mr Hunt said: "I am not saying that we all want to live with our mother-in-law... I would love to live with my mother in law darling - she doesn't speak that great English so we can't have an argument."
Hunt signals that he would keep the help to buy policy and says he will “go further”, with a scheme called “right to own”. Under that, he says, young people would be gifted land and would have to pay the cost of building a house on it themselves.
Hunt tells the audience says Brexit is the “ultimate test” of British democracy, indicating that many foreign nations are looking to see whether or not the UK government will enact the referendum result.
He says it’s important to “understand the fears of the 48%” and says Brexit will not be a case of saying “foreigners are not welcome” in the UK. It will not be, he says, a “Ukip Brexit”.
He had been asked by a member of the audience it was acceptable for MPs to ignore their constituents’ votes in the referendum. “No. It’s not,” he responded, before acknowledging that a majority of his own constituents voted to remain (as he did himself), while he now advocates leaving.
There are lots of constituencies where more people voted Remain, my constituency is one of them. But we didn’t say we were going to take this decision constituency by constituency, we said we were going to take this decision as a country and 52% voted to leave.
Hunt says he’s in favour of greater devolution of powers in England, saying it would help the north of the nation in particular.
Hunt is asked what are the “serious consequences” with which he has threatened China if freedoms are watered down in Hong Kong. He says it’s an “important question to ask” but one that no foreign secretary would ever answer.Hunt is asked what are the “serious consequences” with which he has threatened China if freedoms are watered down in Hong Kong. He says it’s an “important question to ask” but one that no foreign secretary would ever answer.
He says he expects China to abide by the one country, two systems programme and says consequences would follow if it does not.He says he expects China to abide by the one country, two systems programme and says consequences would follow if it does not.
The foreign secretary says he is a supporter of encouraging three generations of families to live together in a bid to cut social care costs – with one generation looking after the other.The foreign secretary says he is a supporter of encouraging three generations of families to live together in a bid to cut social care costs – with one generation looking after the other.
Hunt is asked straight away about repealing the hunting ban. He says he would vote for it but that pursuing repeal wouldn’t be his priority as prime minister.Hunt is asked straight away about repealing the hunting ban. He says he would vote for it but that pursuing repeal wouldn’t be his priority as prime minister.
He’s asked why, then, he decided to make what is a fairly unpopular position public. Hunt tells the audience he gave a “straight answer to a straight question” when asked about the issue and – in what sounds like another dig at Johnson over his character – Hunt says he’s not one of the politicians who gives different answers to different audiences.He’s asked why, then, he decided to make what is a fairly unpopular position public. Hunt tells the audience he gave a “straight answer to a straight question” when asked about the issue and – in what sounds like another dig at Johnson over his character – Hunt says he’s not one of the politicians who gives different answers to different audiences.
Hunt opens with a joke about confusing China and Japan, then moves swiftly to Brexit. He says there’s very little distance between him and Johnson on the issue and then repeats his claim that the question is who’s best placed and most trusted to get a deal.Hunt opens with a joke about confusing China and Japan, then moves swiftly to Brexit. He says there’s very little distance between him and Johnson on the issue and then repeats his claim that the question is who’s best placed and most trusted to get a deal.
That line about trust has been widely interpreted at a thinly veiled dig at his opponent, who has faced serious questions about his character.That line about trust has been widely interpreted at a thinly veiled dig at his opponent, who has faced serious questions about his character.
That’s it from Boris Johnson – Jeremy Hunt is about to take the stage.That’s it from Boris Johnson – Jeremy Hunt is about to take the stage.
Asked about privatising the rail industry, Johnson says the way to improve the system is to “find the right arse to kick”. He says there’s no accountability currently and says transport bosses should “pay the political price for failing to deliver”.Asked about privatising the rail industry, Johnson says the way to improve the system is to “find the right arse to kick”. He says there’s no accountability currently and says transport bosses should “pay the political price for failing to deliver”.
On the environment, Johnson says the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is “ambitious but it can be done”.On the environment, Johnson says the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is “ambitious but it can be done”.
He says the UK is a leader in “battery technology” and says he would back offshore wind turbines and solar technology to produce a greater share of the UK’s energy in order to meet the target.He says the UK is a leader in “battery technology” and says he would back offshore wind turbines and solar technology to produce a greater share of the UK’s energy in order to meet the target.
Johnson backs cutting corporation tax and business rates, which he claims will boost the UK economy. But he refuses to say whether he will match Jeremy Hunt’s plan to push corporation tax as low as 12.5%.Johnson backs cutting corporation tax and business rates, which he claims will boost the UK economy. But he refuses to say whether he will match Jeremy Hunt’s plan to push corporation tax as low as 12.5%.
Asked whether such cuts are prudent, Johnson says he believes that cutting some taxes can bring in greater revenues because the cuts give an incentive to increase production.Asked whether such cuts are prudent, Johnson says he believes that cutting some taxes can bring in greater revenues because the cuts give an incentive to increase production.
Johnson also picked a fight with large online firms – such as Google, Amazon and Facebook – who he says must be forced to pay more tax.Johnson also picked a fight with large online firms – such as Google, Amazon and Facebook – who he says must be forced to pay more tax.
The former foreign secretary signals that he supports the rights of demonstrators in Hong Kong to protest and calls on China to adhere to the one country, two systems principle. China has accused the UK of meddling in internal affairs over the latter’s support for the demonstrators.The former foreign secretary signals that he supports the rights of demonstrators in Hong Kong to protest and calls on China to adhere to the one country, two systems principle. China has accused the UK of meddling in internal affairs over the latter’s support for the demonstrators.
Johnson tells the audience he’s “not remotely attracted” to the possibility of proroguing Parliament in order to force through Brexit. There’s significant support among audience members, it must be said, for proroguing when the question is put to them. But he stays firm in his position.Johnson tells the audience he’s “not remotely attracted” to the possibility of proroguing Parliament in order to force through Brexit. There’s significant support among audience members, it must be said, for proroguing when the question is put to them. But he stays firm in his position.
An audience member asks Johnson what his plan is to address drug, gun and knife crime. Johnson says “key nominals” of county lines gangs need to be “rounded up” and that the nation needs to “be backing the police”.An audience member asks Johnson what his plan is to address drug, gun and knife crime. Johnson says “key nominals” of county lines gangs need to be “rounded up” and that the nation needs to “be backing the police”.
Johnson repeats his line about reducing knife crime during his time as mayor – citing his backing for stop and search. He says “you cannot fudge the murder rate” and that it was reduced by 50% during his tenure.Johnson repeats his line about reducing knife crime during his time as mayor – citing his backing for stop and search. He says “you cannot fudge the murder rate” and that it was reduced by 50% during his tenure.
While the rate did fall by a significant margin – though by nowhere near as much as Johnson claims – it then rose again during his time as London mayor.While the rate did fall by a significant margin – though by nowhere near as much as Johnson claims – it then rose again during his time as London mayor.
Johnson is asked what he’d do as prime minister to ensure northern England gets a fairer share of funding. He says he’d back funding for transport and look at devolving some powers to smaller regions.Johnson is asked what he’d do as prime minister to ensure northern England gets a fairer share of funding. He says he’d back funding for transport and look at devolving some powers to smaller regions.
On Scottish independence, Johnson claims he puts the union before Brexit – but says no Scottish voter would be able to support a UK government that does not push through Brexit after being asked to in the referendum.On Scottish independence, Johnson claims he puts the union before Brexit – but says no Scottish voter would be able to support a UK government that does not push through Brexit after being asked to in the referendum.
Therefore, he says, Brexit – which poses a serious potential existential threat to the union as it exists – has to happen in order to save the union.Therefore, he says, Brexit – which poses a serious potential existential threat to the union as it exists – has to happen in order to save the union.