Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Underdog savages Bojo over his record
BORIS Johnson was left bruised by underdog Jeremy Hunt in their only TV showdown – by repeated taunts that he was untrustworthy.
Facing off for the first time in the Tory leadership contest – after Mr Johnson repeatedly chickened out – they sparred on the Brexit deadline, tax cuts, US president Donald Trump and their own records in office.
Mr Hunt goaded the Tory favourite throughout for failure to honour promises, telling the audience: “I only make promises I can keep.”
Neither man was prepared to give an example of a character trait he admired in his rival – with Johnson praising only Hunt’s ability to change his mind on Brexit.
In turn, the Foreign Secretary cited Mr Johnson’s inability to answer a question. “It’s a brilliant quality for a politician,” he said, chiding: “Maybe not a Prime Minister though.”
During the hour-long ITV debate, the pair also clashed over the October 31 Brexit deadline.
Mr Hunt taunted his rival, who previously claimed he would meet the date “do or die”, saying: “It’s not do or die is it? It’s ‘Boris in No10’.” He also challenged whether Mr
Johnson would resign as PM if he failed to meet the date.
But Mr Johnson dodged answering, and hit back: “I don’t want to hold out to the
EU the prospect that they might encourage my resignation.”
Risking alienating the Tory grassroots who pick the next PM, Mr Hunt blasted his opponent’s plan to raise the tax threshold for middle incomes – slashing taxes for those who pocket up to £80,000 a year. “It was a mistake – tax cuts for the rich,” he warned. “We’re not the party of the rich, we are the party of everyone – that is the wrong signal.” Mr Johnson insisted: “My programme is for a wide-ranging package starting with people on low or modest incomes.”