Tory leadership race: Jeremy Hunt slams BBC TV debate offer as an ‘absolute joke’

Tory leadership finalist Jeremy Hunt has slammed the BBC for offering to stage a TV debate just a week before voting ends.
REUTERS
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Jeremy Hunt has slammed the BBC for offering to stage a head-to-head TV debate with his Tory leadership rival Boris Johnson days after most party members will have cast their votes.

The Foreign Secretary said he had been invited to take part in a debate on July 16, by which time around 90 per cent of the party membership would have cast their votes, he estimated.

"Absolute joke to give the appearance of a debate whilst knowing it can have ZERO influence on campaign. Also very disrespectful to members and the public," he tweeted on Tuesday.

Mr Hunt went on to accuse the corporation of "caving in" to pressure from Mr Johnson's spin doctor Sir Lynton Crosby.

"Other broadcasters had the courage to empty-chair no-shows. What happened to scrutiny without fear or favour at the BBC?" he added.

"Beeb journalists will be deeply uncomfortable at this caving to Lynton Crosby. Come on BBC - this is for OUR PRIME MINISTER!"

Mr Hunt has repeatedly criticised his rival for avoiding live head-to-heads with him, including refusing to take part in a proposed showdown on Sky News.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on June 24, he said: “It is very disrespectful to say you are not going to appear on any head-to-head debates in the two weeks before they have actually voted.

“If you are saying the only debates I will do is after people have voted, it’s not showing respect. People need to know what we are going to do.”

Mr Johnson has so far agreed to take part in only one televised debate with Mr Hunt, which will air on ITV on July 9.

There is concern within the Hunt camp that by this time it will be too late.

On July 6 voting will open up to the Conservative Party's 160,000 members to choose their preferred winner.

Members will receive their postal ballots between 6-8 July, with the final deadline falling on the week ending Sunday July 21.

Jeremy Hunt has criticised rival Boris Johnson for not facing him in more televised debates.
REUTERS

Loyalists to the foreign secretary fear that the proposed BBC debate, just a week before the final result is announced, would have very little impact on the final results.

The BBC responded to Mr Hunts concern by saying it was keen to host a special Question Time debate with the two candidates, for which it had been trying to agree a date.

"Both candidates have already taken part in the first BBC debate, both have been interviewed by our political editor, and both have agreed in principle to participate in a Question Time special," a spokesman said.

"We don't think it's reasonable to empty chair people who have already participated in interviews and debates and have agreed to take part again.

"Clearly any date needs to fit in with the candidates' existing commitments such as hustings and other TV appearances. July 16 is before the last Conservative hustings and the voting will still be open.

"But, crucially, our debate is about the next prime minister and we think it's important both candidates speak to the whole of the UK, as well as the members of the Conservative Party."

The spokesman said they had also invited both candidates to be interviewed consecutively by Andrew Neil for a BBC One special.

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