Tory leadership contest: Boris Johnson agrees to TV debate under intense pressure from rivals, as Matt Hancock bows out of race

Health secretary’s move leaves just six candidates as Channel 4 head-to-head poised to happen without frontrunner

Matt Hancock withdraws from the race to be the next leader of the Conservative Party

Matt Hancock has dropped out of the Tory leadership race amid rumours the remaining contenders will unite to stop Boris Johnson becoming prime minister.

The health secretary announced his decision to withdraw hours after issuing a joint statement with Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Sajid Javid, and Rory Stewart to compel the frontrunner in taking part in a televised debate before the next vote.

Mr Johnson bowed to pressure to take part in the BBC debate on Tuesday but he signalled he would refuse to take part in the first clash, hosted by Channel 4 on Sunday.

See below for what was our live coverage.

Key Points

• Matt Hancock withdraws from Tory leadership race
• Chuka Umunna lands plum job as he moves to Lib Dems
• Johnson agrees to BBC TV debate amid pressure from rivals
• What would Churchill say? Jeremy Hunt taunts frontrunner
• Conservative Muslim forum chairman compares Johnson to Hitler

[14 June 2019 12:37 · Lizzy Buchan]

[14 June 2019 12:45 · Lizzy Buchan]

Chuka Umunna has landed the plum job of treasury and business spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats as the rivals to be the party's new leader hailed his arrival as a "major contribution".

It comes after the former Change UK MP joined Sir Vince Cable's unashamedly pro-EU party, claiming last night that Labour and the Tories were "committed to facilitating Brexit".

[14 June 2019 12:51 · Lizzy Buchan]

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said he was "having conversations" with other independent MPs about joining the party following Chuka Umunna's defection.

He said: "We are having conversations with the other independent MPs - they are making a decision based on their own personal circumstances and in their own time.

"But it's clear that we share values, objectives, with quite a few of them."

[14 June 2019 13:02 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson has given a rare interview to the BBC's World At One, which is airing now.

The leadership frontrunner has kept an exceptionally low profile since declaring his bid for the Tory crown.

[14 June 2019 13:09 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson says he disputes accusations of being quiet during the leadership contest.

'I've always been keen on TV debates and I'm quite bewildered by the conversations going on,' he says.

'My own observation is that in the past when you’ve had loads of candidates, it can be slightly cacophonous and I think the public have had quite a lot of blue on blue action frankly over the last three years.

“We don’t necessarily need a lot more of that and so what I think the best solution would be, would be to have a debate on what we all have to offer the country and the best time to do that I think would be after the second ballot on Tuesday and the best forum is the proposed BBC debate.

'I think that’s a good idea.'

He says he's had 'dozens and dozens of invitations' for hustings and debates.

[14 June 2019 13:12 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson says people will always try to find a way to trip him up or force him into a gaffe - but he won't change. 

'Sometimes I say things that cause a fluttering in the dovecots', he says but if it engages people then that is a good thing.

Both the Lib Dems and the Brexit Party are 'feasting mightily' on the failure by the political class to deliver Brexit, but he has a plan to deliver.

He does not rule out a no-deal Brexit but says he is clear that he wants to get a deal with the EU if it can be done.

He says it is 'perfectly realistic' that the UK can leave the EU with a deal on 31 October.

[14 June 2019 13:20 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson argues that there is an 'obvious' solution to the Brexit chaos, and suggests Tory MP Graham Brady's 'alternative arrangements' solution to a hard border with Ireland. This was backed in Commons but immediately dismissed by Brussels.

“I don’t share the deep pessimism about no-deal,” Johnson says, although he admits it would be challenging.

He says delaying Brexit risks doing terminal damage to trust in politics.

He adds "We have to get out by October 31 and I think it would be absolutely bizarre to signal at this stage that the UK government was willing once again to run up the white flag and delay yet again."

[14 June 2019 13:25 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson defends his record as foreign secretary - and points to his role in the expulsion of Russian diplomats after the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

[14 June 2019 13:26 · Lizzy Buchan]

Asked about his cocaine use, Boris Johnson said: "A single inconclusive event that took place when I was a teenager and which I have extensively described."

Asked if he had used the drug since then, he said: "No."

[14 June 2019 13:43 · Lizzy Buchan]

Confused about Boris Johnson's cocaine use? We've run the rule over his past statements: