Tory leadership debate - as it happened: Johnson criticised for TV debate absence as rival hits out at 'competition of machismo'

Frontrunner stays away as rivals face questions live on Channel 4

Conservative leadership bid: Results of first ballot

Conservative leadership favourite Boris Johnson was taunted by rival Jeremy Hunt after failing to appear for a live televised debate.

Mr Hunt and fellow contenders Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart faced questions from host Krishnan Guru-Murthy and a studio audience in the 90-minute Channel 4 broadcast on Sunday evening.

Channel 4 installed an empty podium on the stage in place of Mr Johnson, who declined the invitation.

During the debate, Mr Hunt asked: “Where is Boris? If his team won’t allow him out with five fairly friendly colleagues, how is is he going to deal with 27 European countries?”

The programme also saw some tense exchanges over Mr Raab’s insistence that suspending parliament to force through Brexit should remain on the table.

“I don’t think it is likely but it is not illegal,” he said.

International development secretary Mr Stewart warned shutting down parliament would “undemocratic” and “deeply disturbing”, while Mr Javid likened the strategy to that of a “dictator”.

Here’s how we covered the debate as it happened.

[16 June 2019 20:00 · Chris Baynes]

It's time for closing pitches from each of the candidates.

First up is Gove, who says he has shown as environment secretary and justice secretary that he is ready to unite and lead.

Hunt claims for the second time tonight that Labour wants to turn the UK into Venezuela, but he can unlock Britain's potential.

Stewart promises a leadership founded on "honesty and trust", and says he will not make pledges he cannot keep.

Javid says the Tory party needs to show it "does not just tolerate modern Britain, we embrace it". He is the man for that job, he adds.

Raab says under his leadership the UK would be a fairer society in which everyone has a chance to shine.

[16 June 2019 20:01 · Chris Baynes]

And that is that. The candidates share handshakes as the debate comes to a close.

[16 June 2019 20:10 · Chris Baynes]

My colleague Zamira Rahim has picked up a rather unusual Brexit analogy used by Rory Stewart during that debate: 

[16 June 2019 20:14 · Chris Baynes]

Tory MP Nicholas Soames is not biting his tongue on Boris Johnson's no-show:

[16 June 2019 20:21 · Chris Baynes]

Tory party members, who will be balloted on the final two leadership candidates after they have been whittled down by MPs, will have been won over by Rory Stewart's performance tonight, believes justice secretary David Gauke:

[16 June 2019 20:29 · Chris Baynes]

Jeremy Hunt was the only leadership contender to take aim at absentee Boris Johnson during that debate. My colleague Zamira Rahim has the full story on that:

[16 June 2019 20:50 · Chris Baynes]

Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt has praised Jeremy Hunt's performance in the debate as "statesman-like".

Mordaunt, who voted Leave in 2016, said she believed Remain-voting Hunt was the candidate to unite the country.

She said: "He understands just as there are costs to a hard WTO Brexit, there are costs to not delivering Brexit.

"We don't need a Remainer, we don't need a Leaver, we need a democrat."

On Hunt's previous long-running dispute with junior doctors, Mordaunt added: "He dealt with [the health brief] with incredible compassion and empathy.

"I think he has a good track record, but it was a good moment when he talked about what he learned from that.

"Experience matters in situations like this."

[16 June 2019 21:05 · Chris Baynes]

The Sun political editor's take:

[16 June 2019 21:20 · Chris Baynes]

No prizes for guessing how the man in the back row feels about Britain leaving the EU:

[16 June 2019 21:35 · Chris Baynes]

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins, who attended the debate in support of Sajid Javid, has said she believes the home secretary to be "change candidate."

On Javid's admission he can be stubborn, Atkins said: "In a prime minister we have to have a sense of will when it comes to Brexit, but we need someone who also has the intellect and flexibility to adapt to situations as they arise.

"A little bit of stubbornness is a good thing."

On Boris Johnson avoiding the debate, Atkins added: "It's a shame that Boris didn't feel like he could join everybody else in talking about their ideas, we have to have a good race to show the public the mettle of the people we are considering as our leader."