Summary

  • Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson go head-to-head for the first time on TV

  • Britain's Next Prime Minister: The ITV Debate began at 20:00 BST

  • It is taking place in front of a studio audience of 200 people

  • The winner of the leadership contest and next PM to be revealed on 23 July

  1. Thanks for joining uspublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    That's the end of our live coverage from this evening's TV head-to-head.

    Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt clashed on a number of key issues and, when asked, each appeared to struggle to praise their rival.

    Among some of those key disputes were:

    Brexit

    • Mr Hunt pressed his rival on whether he would quit if he failed to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October.
    • In response, Mr Johnson said it was clear his rival was "not absolutely committed" to the deadline himself, calling him "defeatist".

    Would they suspend Parliament?

    • The pair also disagreed over whether they might be prepared to suspend Parliament to force through a no-deal exit - so-called prorogation.
    • While Mr Hunt categorically ruled this out, Mr Johnson said he would "not take anything off the table".

    UK ambassador row

    • Mr Hunt said he would, if he became PM, not be forced into recalling the Sir Kim Darroch early.
    • Mr Johnson declined to comment on the row, only asking Mr Hunt to rule out "extending his term out of sympathy".

    A reminder that Tory members have begun voting, with the winner and next PM to be revealed on 23 July.

    It will be the first time a sitting prime minister has been chosen by party members.

  2. Hunt backer: 'He landed powerful blows' on rivalpublished at 22:02 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    A former Tory MP and private secretary to Mr Hunt has said his man "landed some really powerful blows" on his rival.

    Speaking after the debate, Rob Wilson said: "I don't think there was a knockout but it came close on a couple of times because clearly Boris wasn't across the detail and relied too often on laughter and bluster which exactly confirmed what Jeremy Hunt has been saying through the campaign."

    Mr Wilson added that he thought it was "too early" to say who would win the leadership race.

  3. Watch: Rivals trade blows over Brexit and Trumppublished at 21:46 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Media caption,

    Tory leadership TV debate: Johnson v Hunt on Brexit date

    Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson duked it out on a range of topics tonight.

    Here is how their answers to questions over the biggest topics - Brexit and the diplomatic row with US President Donald Trump - compared.

  4. Two men, two messagespublished at 21:35 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Vicki Young
    Chief Political Correspondent

    Both men went in with a clear idea of what they wanted to get across.

    Boris Johnson says Brexit has been handled badly up until now by someone who didn't really believe in it.

    Jeremy Hunt's message is that optimism isn't enough, you need realism too, to get this thing over the line.

  5. Johnson 'probably' next PMpublished at 21:32 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    ITV political editor Robert Peston says it was a "great debate" but may not have changed the result.

    Speaking on ITV's live Twitter broadcast, he said that although it may have swayed some Tory members, most may have already cast their vote.

    He said: "Truthfully, I think Boris Johnson's probably won it".

    Here's a reminder from one Tory MP - in case you're one of the 160,000 or so who can vote but still haven't had your ballot paper.

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  6. How did Tory members in Scotland react?published at 21:23 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  7. When's the next TV hustings?published at 21:23 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Andrew Neil will interview both candidates on BBC One on Friday.

    Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson will feature two consecutive interviews of half an hour each from 19:00 BST.

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  8. Split decision for Susanna Reidpublished at 21:22 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  9. Reality Check: the £39bn divorce billpublished at 21:15 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Reality Check

    Mr Johnson tells the TV audience that if the UK leaves with no deal, it will have £39bn to spend, "which would be very helpful in lubricating the consequences of a no-deal Brexit".

    The UK has agreed to pay the EU a settlement - widely estimated as £39bn - as it leaves. The so-called "divorce bill".

    Not paying the bill would not necessarily be illegal - although it would be open to legal challenge. But it would risk souring relations when it comes to future trade.

    The EU has said it will not open talks on the future relationship until the agreement over the money has been settled.

  10. Johnson has 'can-do attitude'published at 21:12 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Boris Johnson supporter Jason McCartney, who lost his seat in 2017, argues for his man in the so-called "spin room" after the debate.

    On the issue of tax cuts, he insists Mr Johnson "really understands" that the government needs to help the less well-off and proved that with some of the things he did as London mayor.

    Mr McCartney says his candidate is the only one vowing to end the Brexit uncertainty by 31 October - and has the "can-do attitude" to achieve it.

  11. 'It's not a general election Mr Hunt'published at 21:11 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  12. Hunt 'crisper' but did Johnson do enough?published at 21:08 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  13. Who won the debate?published at 21:06 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    The verdict from political journalists

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  14. Key points from the debatepublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  15. The Brexit 'hamster wheel of doom'published at 21:04 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Political journalists respond to Johnson's phrase...

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  16. Reality Check: creating 1,000 jobs a day?published at 21:03 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Reality Check

    Jeremy Hunt saying: "We've created 1000 jobs a day for every single day we've been in office, which is something we can be very proud of."
  17. Hunt lands blows, but will it matter?published at 21:02 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  18. Johnson's 'weak dodge' on ambassador rowpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

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  19. No hard feelings?published at 21:00 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson shake handsImage source, ITV

    Despite the many jibes made towards each other, the men shake hands at the end. Maybe there's no hard feelings after all.

  20. Final pitches from Hunt and Johnsonpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 9 July 2019

    Mr Hunt says: "Boris promised money for the NHS - I delivered it.

    "I only keep promises I can keep and our country deserves no less."

    That's a thinly veiled reference to the infamous Brexit bus and the £350m a week for the NHS promise made by Leave supporters.

    Mr Johnson says the "only way to get this country off the hamster wheel of doom" is to "get Brexit delivered", fight crime and get rid of the "defeatism".

    He says he has "the energy and credentials for the job".

    And with that the debate is over and the two men shake hands as the credits roll.