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Tory leadership: Hunt seeks change to TV debate schedule Tory leadership: Hunt warns not to select a 'populist'
(about 3 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. Tory leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt has warned the party not elect a "populist" and risk losing power to a "dangerous" Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Hunt said Boris Johnson had challenged him to a debate on ITV, scheduled to take place on 9 July. Mr Hunt criticised the opposition leader whilst appearing to jibe his rival Boris Johnson.
He accepted, but then "realised" it would take place the day after party members received their postal ballots. He said "Now faced with a hard left populist, we could choose our own populist, or, do even better - and choose our own Jeremy."
The pair will make their first leadership pitch directly to party members in Birmingham later. Mr Hunt also challenged his rival to a live TV debate before votes were cast.
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. Both candidates are due to make their first leadership pitch to party members later.
The foreign secretary said any debate should take place before voting starts. Speaking at the Conservative Progress Conference, Mr Hunt said the Tories shouldn't ignore the "crocodile lurking under the water" of British politics, "which is Labour".
Tory MPs whittled an initial list of 10 candidates down to two through several rounds of voting. He described Labour's leadership as "the most dangerous, ruthless, anti-western, anti-British, hard left cabal".
Referring to himself he said: "This Jeremy is going to win the argument for enterprise, aspiration, true social justice."
Mr Hunt called on Mr Johnson to take part in a TV debate at the start of the contest - rather than after Tory members begin to cast their votes.
In a letter to his rival he said plans for a televised Conservative leadership debate on July 9, three days after postal voting began, would do democracy "a deep dis-service" if candidates "hid away" while members voted.
He wrote: "My challenge to you is this: lets have live televised debates right at the start of the contest and specifically at least two in the next two weeks before members receive their ballot papers."
Mr Johnson's campaign has so far not responded to Mr Hunt's challenge.
Party members will receive their papers between 6-8 July, with the new leader expected to be announced in the week beginning 22 July.
Tory MPs have whittled an initial list of 10 candidates down to two after 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. Mr Hunt received 77 votes and Michael Gove was knocked out with 75.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 votes 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.
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 cast 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.
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 Metropolitan Police said "there was no cause for police action". A spokesman for Mr Johnson declined to comment.The Metropolitan Police said "there was no cause for police action". A spokesman for Mr Johnson declined to comment.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, said "reliability and honesty" is important when it comes to the candidates' character.
He said: "I think they matter in one's private and personal life, and also they matter in one's public life.
"People are going to have to weigh that up in respect of either of these two candidates."
Mr Hunt endured a difficult day on the campaign trail on Friday when an inquiry was told 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 was told he had failed to keep his promise to a man with terminal cancer during his time as health secretary.
The man's widow said Mr Hunt had failed to deliver on a pledge to "sort out" a financial settlement for victims of the infected blood scandal.The man's widow said Mr Hunt had failed to deliver on a pledge to "sort out" a financial settlement for victims of the infected blood scandal.
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.
Mr Hunt's spokesman said he had pushed for the inquiry.Mr Hunt's spokesman said he had pushed for the inquiry.