Tory leadership debate: Johnson rules out general election before Brexit, as he and Hunt attack Corbyn over 'antisemitism'

The latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Boris Johnson 'absolutely' rules out holding a general election before Britain has left the EU, saying: 'It would be the height of folly'

The two candidates vying to be the next Tory party leader both ruled out a general election before delivering Brexit, and joined the prime minister in condemning Donald Trump's "totally unacceptable" tweets.

Speaking at what was expected to be the last live debate of the leadership contest on Monday evening, Boris Johnson said "we will have an election at some stage in 2022".

His rival Jeremy Hunt said he agreed with prime minister Theresa May in condemning Mr Trump after the president told US congresswomen to “go back” to the “broken and crime-infested places from which they came”.

Mr Johnson added that the language used by the US president was “totally unacceptable”.

However neither politician would go as far as to call the comments racist.

Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson was warned that suggestions he could strike an early US trade deal in October would be a "breach" of EU law.

International trade secretary Liam Fox dismissed reports that the Tory frontrunner could broker a deal with Washington as soon as the UK leaves the EU on 31 October, saying it was impossible to negotiate anything in earnest until after Brexit.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• Theresa May condemns Trump over 'completely unacceptable' racist tweet
• Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt go head to head for final Tory leadership debate
• Labour faces fresh recriminations over antisemitism row
• ... but party receives poll boost after shift in Brexit stance
• Incoming EU chief open to extending Brexit talks beyond October
• Boris Johnson says he would rule out general election before delivering Brexit
• Johnson and Hunt condemn Trump's 'totally unacceptable' tweets

[15 July 2019 20:11 · Chiara.Giordano]

Both candidates ruled out backing the US in any war against Iran at this moment in time.

[15 July 2019 20:23 · Chiara.Giordano]

Mr Johnson says: "What we must do is build much more good quality homes for part-buy part-rent so young people have the possibility of owning a share."

[15 July 2019 20:24 · Chiara.Giordano]

The candidates are now being quizzed on what they would do to help young people get on the housing ladder.

Jeremy Hunt reminisces about how it felt to buy his own property at the age of 29.

He says he has a "right to own" plan which would help give people land that has planning permission for them to build on it.

[15 July 2019 20:25 · Chiara.Giordano]

Asked whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is antisemitic, Mr Hunt says "unfortunately he may be", while Mr Johnson says "he is effectively culpable of that".

[15 July 2019 20:26 · Chiara.Giordano]

Both candidates say they would give England cricketer Ben Stokes a knighthood.

[15 July 2019 20:30 · Chiara.Giordano]

Giving his closing statement, Jeremy Hunt says he thinks "we can do better" and pledges to "unite our party and to unite our country".

[15 July 2019 20:31 · Chiara.Giordano]

Mr Johnson says he wants to end the "defeatism that has engulfed so many of us" with a "new can-do spirit".

He added: "We need now to get on with it, and to believe in Britain."

[15 July 2019 20:34 · Chiara.Giordano]

That's the end of the leadership debate and the candidates are now off to have a pint at the pub together.

[15 July 2019 21:10 · Chiara.Giordano]

John McDonnell has said he is “tremendously pleased” Labour is committed to a second referendum in which it will “campaign to remain” in the EU.

The shadow chancellor said the position reflected the increasing level of awareness of the impact of Brexit on the economy and jobs.

In a statement read in his absence at a pro-second referendum meeting in Parliament, he warned that Boris Johnson, the frontrunner in the Tory leadership race, is “willing to tip our country into the disaster of no deal”.