Tory leadership hopefuls can stop Boris Johnson becoming PM – but only if they work together

There is no time to waste if a credible candidate is to gain traction. After Sunday’s debate, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid should exchange notes so they can direct their fire on the frontrunner rather than each other

“The Boris operation shows that its biggest weakness is the candidate,” the campaign manager of a rival candidate told me. At first glance, it is an odd argument to make after Boris Johnson’s powerful performance in the first round of the Conservatives’ leadership election. But it’s right.

Johnson has bowed to pressure to take part in next Tuesday’s BBC TV debate with rival candidates, but while claiming he is “very keen” on such events, is still refusing to join Sunday’s Channel 4 debate.

In his first broadcast interview since March, he told Radio 4 this lunchtime he wanted to limit “blue-on-blue action”. He insisted he had done newspaper interviews; in fact, he has done only one since Theresa May announced her departure. He deflected criticism of his record as foreign secretary by pointing to his time as London mayor. In an olive branch to Tory doubters, he promised he would similarly have a “great team” around him in Downing Street. (Subtext: good advisers will stop me messing up).