Boris Johnson leadership bid in disarray as debate cancelled over no-show and Tory MPs threaten to collapse his government - as it happened

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Conservative leadership bid: Results of fifth ballot

Jeremy Hunt warned that a government led by Boris Johnson could "collapse immediately" due to a fragile coalition of people supporting his leadership.

The remarks from the foreign secretary came as he accused his rival in the race to succeed Theresa May of cowardice for "pathetically" avoiding questioning and trying to "slink through the back door" of No 10.

Mr Johnson was also warned by Tobias Ellwood, a defence minister, that around a dozen Conservative MPs would vote against his government if he pushed for a no-deal Brexit - risking a general election.

As it happened...

Key Points

• Tory leadership debate cancelled because Johnson refuses to take part
• Hunt warns a Johnson government could rapidly collapse over Brexit decisions
• ... as he says frontrunner must answer questions on altercation with his girlfriend
• Dozen Tory MPs could risk general election to stop no-deal Brexit

[24 June 2019 11:00 · Richard Williams]

In further evidence of Johnson's worsening prospects in his efforts to become PM, the odds on Jeremy Hunt taking over from Theresa May appear to be shortening...

[24 June 2019 11:18 · Ashley Cowburn]

The Conservatives are under fire for a shock plan that would allow the new prime minister to “chicken out” of putting their Brexit plan to the House of Commons until the autumn, writes deputy political editor Rob Merrick.

Opposition MPs spoke out after aides to Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were told the winner of the Tory leadership race would not move into No 10 on Tuesday 23 July, as widely expected.

Instead, Theresa May proposes to make a final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions the following day before resigning – just one day before MPs depart for their long summer recess on 25 July, they were reportedly told.

Read more here

[24 June 2019 11:33 · Ashley Cowburn]

The family of John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, has just issued a statement on his behalf on Twitter. They say he was taken to hospital on Friday after suffering a stroke.

[24 June 2019 11:40 · Ashley Cowburn]

Responding to the Sky News' announcement that it has cancelled a Tory leadership debate, a spokesman for Jeremy Hunt's campaign said: "Whoever wants to be prime minister must face up now to the intense scrutiny that comes with the job, anything less is deeply disrespectful to our members.

"Trying to duck debates and run down the clock until after postal ballots have been returned is just cynical and complacent.

"Boris Johnson must stop trying to slink into No 10 through the back door and come clean about his programme for Government."

[24 June 2019 11:53 · Ashley Cowburn]

Proposed technological solutions to avoid a hard Irish border after Brexit will not succeed in the absence of consent from populations in both the Republic and the North, a former shadow Northern Ireland secretary has warned.

A new independent report claims that “alternative arrangements” based on existing technologies could be in place within three years to keep the border open and do away with the need for the controversial backstop.

The interim report, co-chaired by Conservative MPs Nicky Morgan and Greg Hands, says that there is no need for the kind of futuristic high-tech systems branded “unicorns” by critics.

[24 June 2019 12:06 · Benjamin Kentish]

Full story: John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, has been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke.

[24 June 2019 12:22 · Benjamin Kentish]

Britain's next prime minister will be announced on 23 July - before parliament's summer break, according to The Sun's Tom Newton-Dunn...

[24 June 2019 12:41 · Benjamin Kentish]

  ↵Jeremy Corbyn has responded to the news that John Prescott is in hospital after suffering a stroke:

[24 June 2019 12:55 · Benjamin Kentish]

Editorial: Three years on, the only route out of the Brexit chaos is through the people

[24 June 2019 13:10 · Benjamin Kentish]

Nigel Farage has claimed it was "appalling" that the argument between Boris Johnson and his partner, Carrie Symonds, that dominated the headlines over the weekend was recorded and shared with the media - but insisted the row was now a matter of public interest,

The Brexit Party leader said:

 "Is it a matter of public record and public interest? Yes, it is, because the police were called, it's as simple as that.

I'm actually astonished that he didn't say police were called, in my view, maliciously by a neighbour looking to cause problems.

I think that actually might have ended the story."