Leadership debate: Jeremy Paxman tells Theresa May Brussels negotiators will think she's a 'blowhard'

The veteran newsman's comment was applauded by the audience although some of them looked shocked

Theresa May was described as a "blowhard who collapses at the first sign of gunfire," by Jeremy Paxman during the leadership debate.

The veteran newsman suggested that the prime minister had proposed an increase in National Insurance contributions for the self employed, only to back down within a week.

After Ms May accepted the point, Mr Paxman said: "What one's bound to say and if I was sitting in Brussels and I was looking at you as the person I had to negotiate with, I'd think, she's blowhard who collapses at the first sign of gunfire."

His comment was applauded by the Channel 4 audience, some of whom looked shocked at the harsh nature of it.

Ms May insisted she had got what she wanted on other negotiations in Europe.

"What the people in Brussels look at is the record that I had of negotiating with them in Brussels and delivering for this country on a number of iss

ues on justice and home affairs which people said we were never going to get."

Mr Paxman went on to point out that Ms May had also changed her mind on an early election.

Ms May agreed but said that her hand was forced because other parties had made it clear that they would oppose Brexit.

She had earlier been repeatedly asked about whether she thought Brexit was a bad idea. Mr Paxman put it to her that "Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, Andrea Leadsom, got it right and you got it wrong."

As Ms May started to answer, Mr Paxman asked whether she still thought it was a "duff idea".

Ms May said she still thought we could get it right.