Tory leadership debate - live: Boris Johnson challenged on ‘letterbox’ comments, as candidates quizzed on Brexit, tax cuts and climate change
Follow the latest updates from Westminster
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The remaining Tory leadership candidates have clashed over Brexit, tax cuts and public spending during a heated televised debate that saw Boris Johnson go head-to-head with his rivals for the first time.
The five contenders put forward different plans on Brexit, with Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt saying they would be willing to delay Britain's departure from the EU in order to secure a deal, while Mr Johnson and Sajid Javid said they would not. Rory Stewart promised never to allow a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Stewart also attacked his rivals for making promises he said they could not deliver, including on tax cuts. But they returned fire, with Mr Gove pushing him on his plan for public services.
Mr Johnson apologised for the offence caused by his previous comments about Muslim women but insisted they had been unfairly “escalated”, while Mr Hunt defended saying he agreed with the “sentiment” of Donald Trump's tweets about Sadiq Khan.
The debate followed the second round of voting by Tory MPs, which resulted in Dominic Raab being eliminated after failing to meet the threshold of 33 votes. Mr Johnson maintained a huge lead and Mr Stewart also increased his support, but Mr Javid only narrowly scraped through to Wednesday's third round.
See how the day unfolded below:
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Rory Stewart has posted this video immediately after tonight's debate...
Boris Johnson did not leave the BBC through the main entrance after the debate ended tonight, instead departing through a back door. He did not answer when asked how he thought the debate went.
Michael Gove – who called Jeremy Corbyn a “discredited Marxist” shortly before the debate ended tonight – has also posted a video claiming he “really enjoyed” the grueling discussion.
The imam who asked Tory leadership candidates about Islamophobia has tweeted about his disappointment with their “deluded” responses.
As part of a longer thread, Abdullah Patel tweeted: “What I got as a response was nothing short of disappointing and deluded. Boris Johnson forgot my name, spoke about his G grandfather and about Iran.
“Gove used the opportunity to have a dig at Jeremy Corbyn ... Jeremy Hunt used the chance to speak about how he can't be racist because he has an immigrant wife, and Rory Stewart forgot that this is also OUR country.
“The only positive from the debate was Sajid Javid making them all commit to an independent investigation into... Islamophobia in the Conservatives.”
Rory Stewart has admitted to being “lacklustre” at tonight’s debate. “You’re right. I didn’t find that format really worked for me and I am going to have to learn how I flourish in a strange format of alternative reality,” he told BBC Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt.
He also said he took of his tie during the debate because he felt “strange” on the bar stools that he and the other contenders were “moving off into an alternative reality”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments