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Tory leadership: Hunt seeks change to TV debate schedule | Tory leadership: Hunt seeks change to TV debate schedule |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Jeremy Hunt has said plans for a televised Conservative leadership debate three days after voting begins is making a "mockery" of the contest. | Jeremy Hunt has said plans for a televised Conservative leadership debate three days after voting begins is making a "mockery" of the contest. |
Mr Hunt said Boris Johnson had challenged him to a debate on ITV, scheduled to take place on 9 July. | Mr Hunt said Boris Johnson had challenged him to a debate on ITV, scheduled to take place on 9 July. |
He accepted, but then "realised" it would take place the day after party members received their postal ballots. | |
The pair will make their first leadership pitch directly to party members in Birmingham later. | The pair will make their first leadership pitch directly to party members in Birmingham later. |
Members of the Conservative party will receive their ballot papers between 6-8 July, with the new leader expected to be announced in the week beginning 22 July. | |
The foreign secretary said any debate should take place before voting starts. | |
Tory MPs whittled an initial list of 10 candidates down to those two through several rounds of voting. | Tory MPs whittled an initial list of 10 candidates down to those two through several rounds of voting. |
In the fifth and final round on Thursday, Boris Johnson came out on top with 160 out of the 313 votes cast. | In the fifth and final round on Thursday, Boris Johnson came out on top with 160 out of the 313 votes cast. |
Mr Hunt received 77 and Michael Gove was knocked out with 75. | Mr Hunt received 77 and Michael Gove was knocked out with 75. |
ITV's programme will be the third televised debate of the campaign and the first in which the two finalists will go head-to-head. | ITV's programme will be the third televised debate of the campaign and the first in which the two finalists will go head-to-head. |
Mr Hunt said: "It makes an absolute mockery of this leadership contest for the Conservative Party if people will actually have started voting before they have had a chance to see the two protagonists on TV." | Mr Hunt said: "It makes an absolute mockery of this leadership contest for the Conservative Party if people will actually have started voting before they have had a chance to see the two protagonists on TV." |
He said Mr Johnson had "challenged" him to an ITV debate, but then realised some members would have already entered their votes. | |
Mr Hunt did not make it clear whether he would be asking ITV to move its debate forward or seeking a broadcaster to stage one before 6 July. | Mr Hunt did not make it clear whether he would be asking ITV to move its debate forward or seeking a broadcaster to stage one before 6 July. |
But he added: "I think we should be doing debates early, we should be doing them often." | But he added: "I think we should be doing debates early, we should be doing them often." |
Later on Saturday, the two contenders will attend the first of 16 leadership campaign events, known as hustings. | Later on Saturday, the two contenders will attend the first of 16 leadership campaign events, known as hustings. |
There they will face questions about Brexit and their wider policy plans from Conservative party members. | There they will face questions about Brexit and their wider policy plans from Conservative party members. |
Mr Johnson featured on most of Saturday's newspaper front pages following reports by the Guardian that police were called to his London home after neighbours reported "slamming and banging". | Mr Johnson featured on most of Saturday's newspaper front pages following reports by the Guardian that police were called to his London home after neighbours reported "slamming and banging". |
The newspaper said his partner, Carrie Symonds, was heard telling Mr Johnson to "get off me" and "get out of my flat". | The newspaper said his partner, Carrie Symonds, was heard telling Mr Johnson to "get off me" and "get out of my flat". |
The Metropolitan Police said "there was no cause for police action" and a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "No comment". | The Metropolitan Police said "there was no cause for police action" and a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: "No comment". |
Mr Hunt endured a difficult day on the campaign trail on Friday when an inquiry heard he had failed to keep his promise to a man with terminal cancer during his time as health secretary. | Mr Hunt endured a difficult day on the campaign trail on Friday when an inquiry heard he had failed to keep his promise to a man with terminal cancer during his time as health secretary. |
The inquiry is looking at why 4,800 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis C or HIV in the 1970s and 1980s. | The inquiry is looking at why 4,800 people with haemophilia were infected with hepatitis C or HIV in the 1970s and 1980s. |
A spokesman for Mr Hunt said he had "pushed for this landmark inquiry". | A spokesman for Mr Hunt said he had "pushed for this landmark inquiry". |