Boris Johnson says David Cameron would look ‘wet’ and ‘wimpy’ not to debate EU referendum

'Put it this way. I think I'd look a bit of a wimp if I said no. For me to recuse myself from the debates would be wet'

Boris Johnson has made clear he wants to debate the PM head-to-head (Getty)

Boris Johnson has launched a veiled attack on David Cameron, claiming it would look “wet” and “wimpy” not to participate in a live head-to-head debate on the European Union with a Tory colleague.

The Prime Minister and Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, will be among leading political figures quizzed about their campaign for the EU referendum in a series of live television debates.

But Mr Cameron has reportedly refused to take part in any head-to-head joust with a Eurosceptic colleague – ruling out the prospect of a live verbal exchange with the former mayor of London.

According to the Daily Telegraph, a Number 10 source said: “This is not simply an argument in the Conservative Party. The Stronger In campaign is a broad coalition of many political parties. We want to demonstrate the breadth of the debate rather than focus on a narrow issue in the Tory Party.”

Asked by the Spectator whether he would be happy to debate the Prime Minister on TV, Mr Johnson replied: “Put it this way. I think I'd look a bit of a wimp if I said no. For me to recuse myself from the debates would be wet.”

He added: “What I’ve said is — you point me and I’ll march, I’ll do whatever I’m told to do… Somehow or other, we’ve got to have debates and they have to elucidate the issues to the public.

“I wouldn’t do it with any great joy because I don’t want to be opposing my Prime Minister.”

It appears to be the second personal attack on the Prime Minister this week. On Wednesday Mr Johnson, speaking about Mr Cameron's campaign to remain in the EU, added: "I think all this talk of World War Three and bubonic plague is demented, frankly."

Mr Cameron, who wants Britain to remain in the EU, will face questions from Sky News political editor Faisal Islam during an hour-long programme at 8pm on June 2, three weeks before the vote on June 23. The studio audience will also have the chance to question the Prime Minister over his stance and why Britain should remain in the EU.

A later programme, also on Sky News, will see questions posed to Mr Gove, who is among those spearheading the Vote Leave campaign.

Mr Cameron and Ukip leader Nigel Farage will also take part in a live EU referendum event on ITV.

To be broadcast at 9pm on June 7, the two party leaders will take questions from a studio audience during the hour-long programme, hosted by Julie Etchingham, with Mr Farage, who has campaigned for Britain to leave the EU for more than 20 years, taking questions first.

ITV will also host a two-hour referendum debate on June 9, airing at 8pm, though political figures from both sides of the Brexit argument have yet to be announced.

John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "We are delighted that the key protagonists on both sides of the debate have chosen Sky News as the first place to face journalistic and public scrutiny of their arguments."

Michael Jermey, ITV's director of news and current affairs, said: "People will be able to hear leading politicians on both sides of the debate put forward their arguments in the same place and in the same programme.

Additional reporting by PA