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Tory leadership: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt face members at party hustings - live news Boris Johnson refuses to rule out proroguing parliament to stop MPs blocking no-deal Brexit - live news
(32 minutes later)
Last night Liz Truss, the chief secretary to the Treasury and probably the most senior of the many proxies that Boris Johnson’s campaign team has been sending out to do interviews on his behalf, told Newsnight that Johnson was definitely ruling out proroguing parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit
Emily: He’s [Mr Johnson] definitely ruling out proroguing or suspending parliament?Liz Truss: “That’s right”Tory MP Liz Truss says Boris Johnson does not want to use “archaic manoeuvres” and has been “extremely clear” that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October#newsnight pic.twitter.com/qy63AIWATr
Only - Johnson is not ruling it out. This is what he said when he was asked categorically if he was willing to rule out proroguing parliament for this purpose. (See 7.52pm.) He replied:
I’m not attracted to the idea of a no-deal exit from the EU but, you know, I think it would be absolutely folly to rule it out. I think it’s an essential tool of our negotiation.
I don’t envisage the circumstances in which it will be necessary to prorogue parliament, nor am I attracted to that expedient.
This is a good example of how the Johnson camp has been delivering different messages to different audiences - and how he is managing to attract the support of Tory leavers like Steve Bakers and Tory remainers like George Osborne.
Q: What do you think the impact of the green economy on the economy?Q: What do you think the impact of the green economy on the economy?
Hunt says he is about to say something unpopular; he thinks we need to dig up the roads, so that we can install ultra-fast broadband.Hunt says he is about to say something unpopular; he thinks we need to dig up the roads, so that we can install ultra-fast broadband.
But at the same time the government could install electric car charging points.But at the same time the government could install electric car charging points.
The Conservatives are practical, he says - doers and not just talkers.The Conservatives are practical, he says - doers and not just talkers.
And that’s it.And that’s it.
I will post reaction and a summary soon.I will post reaction and a summary soon.
Q: What would you do to encourage more diversity in higher education?Q: What would you do to encourage more diversity in higher education?
Hunt says some degrees are good, some aren’t. There are degrees that cost £50,000, but that don’t give young people back the earning power they need.Hunt says some degrees are good, some aren’t. There are degrees that cost £50,000, but that don’t give young people back the earning power they need.
He says in Switzerland and Germany every young person gets a qualification that will get them a decent job.He says in Switzerland and Germany every young person gets a qualification that will get them a decent job.
This is something that requires huge reform. The Conservatives should be the party that provides ladders of opportunity. Whether people climb those ladders is up to them.This is something that requires huge reform. The Conservatives should be the party that provides ladders of opportunity. Whether people climb those ladders is up to them.
Q: How would you improve intra and intercity travel?Q: How would you improve intra and intercity travel?
Hunt says he will say something unpopular with some Tories:Hunt says he will say something unpopular with some Tories:
I will deliver HS2.I will deliver HS2.
He can understand why some people might not want it. But, at the time of Brexit, the UK has to show confidence.He can understand why some people might not want it. But, at the time of Brexit, the UK has to show confidence.
He says he lived in Japan for two years. They launched their first high-speed rail in 1964.He says he lived in Japan for two years. They launched their first high-speed rail in 1964.
And he says the Tories have to show they can spread prosperity. Projects like HS2 are seen as proof of the Tories’ commitment to the whole country.And he says the Tories have to show they can spread prosperity. Projects like HS2 are seen as proof of the Tories’ commitment to the whole country.
Q: The NHS has taken on the status of a national religion, and is often said to be beyond sensible management. Do you agree? And do you agree that people should take more responsibility for their health?Q: The NHS has taken on the status of a national religion, and is often said to be beyond sensible management. Do you agree? And do you agree that people should take more responsibility for their health?
Hunt says the NHS cannot do everything. But he is proud of it, and he wants it to go on doing everything it currently does. He says it is very important to know that, if people need healthcare, they can get it for free.Hunt says the NHS cannot do everything. But he is proud of it, and he wants it to go on doing everything it currently does. He says it is very important to know that, if people need healthcare, they can get it for free.
He says personal responsibility is important.He says personal responsibility is important.
But he compares it to other health systems around the world.But he compares it to other health systems around the world.
He says he would like the NHS in a decade’s time to have the best cancer survival rates in Europe. He knows that can be achieved.He says he would like the NHS in a decade’s time to have the best cancer survival rates in Europe. He knows that can be achieved.
Q: So what role does personal responsibility play?Q: So what role does personal responsibility play?
Hunt says he does not favour rationing services.Hunt says he does not favour rationing services.
But there is a big role for personal responsibility. He launched a childhood obesity strategy involving parents.But there is a big role for personal responsibility. He launched a childhood obesity strategy involving parents.
Q: Would you use our nuclear deterrent in extreme circumstances?Q: Would you use our nuclear deterrent in extreme circumstances?
Hunt says his father, in his last job, was responsible for the nuclear deterrent. They thought about this a lot in his family. If you have a deterrent that you are not willing to use, it is not a deterrent. The lesson from this is that you have to be strong to be safe.Hunt says his father, in his last job, was responsible for the nuclear deterrent. They thought about this a lot in his family. If you have a deterrent that you are not willing to use, it is not a deterrent. The lesson from this is that you have to be strong to be safe.
Q: [From a police and crime commissioner candidate] Will you increase police funding?Q: [From a police and crime commissioner candidate] Will you increase police funding?
Hunt says the government had to cut spending to get the budget under control. It was right to do that. But in two areas the cuts went too far - in social care, and in policing, where there has been a delayed impact. Crime falls for a while when you cut police numbers, but then goes up.Hunt says the government had to cut spending to get the budget under control. It was right to do that. But in two areas the cuts went too far - in social care, and in policing, where there has been a delayed impact. Crime falls for a while when you cut police numbers, but then goes up.
Q: What about stop and search?Q: What about stop and search?
Hunt says he agrees with Sajid Javid and Boris Johnson about the need for stop and search.Hunt says he agrees with Sajid Javid and Boris Johnson about the need for stop and search.
Q: You need all available talen in your Brexit negotiating team. Would you include Nigel Farage?Q: You need all available talen in your Brexit negotiating team. Would you include Nigel Farage?
No, says Hunt - to applause.No, says Hunt - to applause.
He says Farage does not want a deal. But Hunt says he does want a deal. It won’t be easy, “but we Conservatives have done more difficult things in the past”.He says Farage does not want a deal. But Hunt says he does want a deal. It won’t be easy, “but we Conservatives have done more difficult things in the past”.
Q: So how will you deal with the Brexit party?Q: So how will you deal with the Brexit party?
Hunt replies:Hunt replies:
There is only one way to deal with the Brexit party. And that is to Brexit.There is only one way to deal with the Brexit party. And that is to Brexit.
He says the Conservative party has always been best when it has had radical reformers and one nation Conservatives in it at the same time.He says the Conservative party has always been best when it has had radical reformers and one nation Conservatives in it at the same time.
He says it is “dangerous” to label people as remainers or leavers. He voted remain, but he wants to deliver Brexit.He says it is “dangerous” to label people as remainers or leavers. He voted remain, but he wants to deliver Brexit.
Someone from the audience is shouting a question about no-deal. (We can’t hear from the live feed, because he does not have a microphone.)Someone from the audience is shouting a question about no-deal. (We can’t hear from the live feed, because he does not have a microphone.)
Hunt says he would expect all his ministers to follow cabinet policy.Hunt says he would expect all his ministers to follow cabinet policy.
Q: What would you do about student debt? The interest rates bear no relationship to what the government pays?Q: What would you do about student debt? The interest rates bear no relationship to what the government pays?
Hunt says the system feels unfair. The government ends up paying a large sum.Hunt says the system feels unfair. The government ends up paying a large sum.
He says cutting student loan interest rates to about 3% would cost about £1.3bn. That sounds like a lot of money. But unless the government acts on this, Jeremy Corbyn could win an election.He says cutting student loan interest rates to about 3% would cost about £1.3bn. That sounds like a lot of money. But unless the government acts on this, Jeremy Corbyn could win an election.
Q: Will you have a policy equivalent to Thatcher’s right to buy scheme. How about exempting homes worth less than £1m from stamp duty?Q: Will you have a policy equivalent to Thatcher’s right to buy scheme. How about exempting homes worth less than £1m from stamp duty?
Hunt says he has a plan called right to own. It would help 1.5m young people buy homes.Hunt says he has a plan called right to own. It would help 1.5m young people buy homes.
Hunt is now taking questions from the audience.Hunt is now taking questions from the audience.
Q: What would your first three piece of legislation be?Q: What would your first three piece of legislation be?
Hunt says first he would pass a no-deal bill to prepare the UK for no-deal. We will have to expand capacity at ports like Dover.Hunt says first he would pass a no-deal bill to prepare the UK for no-deal. We will have to expand capacity at ports like Dover.
Second, he would have a budget, so those tax cuts happen straight away.Second, he would have a budget, so those tax cuts happen straight away.
Third, he has said he would abolish illiteracy. Nearly a third of primary school pupils not able to read or write to the appropriate level.Third, he has said he would abolish illiteracy. Nearly a third of primary school pupils not able to read or write to the appropriate level.
Q: Would you spend more on this?Q: Would you spend more on this?
Yes, says Hunt.Yes, says Hunt.
But he says it is not just about spending.But he says it is not just about spending.
He says he would make extra spending conditional on reform.He says he would make extra spending conditional on reform.
Q: You are going to spend £15bn more on defence. How much would you spend on education.Q: You are going to spend £15bn more on defence. How much would you spend on education.
Hunt says he would keep reducing debt over the economic cycle.Hunt says he would keep reducing debt over the economic cycle.