Johnson bid to overturn EU ‘lies’ case
think he would do a very good job.”
But, quizzed on his view of contender Michael Gove, who secured the first UK interview with the newly elected president in Trump Tower, Trump couldn’t place him.
“I don’t know Michael,” he said.
After days of speculation Johnson opted not to meet Trump, in favour of a Tory leadership hustings with MPs. The pair had a “friendly and productive” 20-minute call on Monday night.
A source said: “Trump called Boris and offered a one-to-one meeting. Boris thanked him but declined the invitation as he has to focus on a hustings event happening at the same time. He said he looked forward to catching up at a later date.”
Fellow candidate Rory Stewart mockingly offered to exchange slots.
He said: “Very happy to swap s so he can go and see Donald Trump – have a great meeting. My slot was at 6 on Monday and you’re welcome to it.”
The president is understood to be meeting Hunt in Portsmouth today.
A source close to Environment Secretary Gove claimed Trump’s team asked for a meeting at the State banquet on Monday night.
They said: “Nothing has been fixed yet.”
Yesterday, there was outrage as the first event to help pick the next Prime Minister took place behind closed doors.
May finally steps down as leader of the party on Friday, and candidates started making their pitches to “One Nation” centrist Tory MPs. Johnson warned them they were facing a crisis which could mean the “extinction of this great party”.
He ruled out a snap election, but said: “We must get ready to beat Jeremy Corbyn and put Farage back in his box.
He added: “I believe I am best placed to lift this party, beat Jeremy Corbyn and excite people about conservative values.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid won applause for saying he would not enter into an agreement with the Brexit Party.
He said: “We will not beat the Brexit Party by becoming the Brexit Party.”
Javid, who would be the first British Asian PM, added: “If we don’t look like change, voters will go for change in the form of Corbyn.” Andrea Leadsom also spoke. Dominic Raab, Hunt, Gove and Matt Hancock take part today.
Two candidates – Brexit Minister James Cleverly and Housing Minister Kit Malthouse – quit as the party changed rules to quickly knock out no-hopers.
Candidates will now need the backing of 16 MPs in the first ballot and then 32 MPs in the second in order to progress.
The first ballot is on Thursday, June 13 with further votes on June 18, 19 and 20.
Once MPs have chosen the final two, the 150,000 members will choose the new leader in a postal vote through July.
Last night, Downing Street sources suggested the US delegation tipped off the PM that Trump was planning to meet her would-be successors. BORIS Johnson’s bid to have a private prosecution against him overturned is set to be heard in a London court on Friday.
Campaigner Marcus Ball, 29, has accused the former foreign secretary of lying during the Brexit referendum campaign over the amount of Britain’s contribution to the EU.
Lawyers for Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed Theresa May, are expected to argue the summons issued to him was unlawful.
Ball told ITV News his “primary objective has always been to stop lying in politics” – not derailing Brexit.