Tory leadership candidates unable to say Boris Johnson is 'honest' in televised debate

The five remaining candidates - Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat - lock the horns in a debate on Channel 4 ahead of 'swinging the voters as race for number 10 heats up

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Tom Tugendhat refuses to say that Boris Johnson is honest

Tory MPs hoping to take over from Boris Johnson failed on live TV when asked if the current Prime Minister was honest, as they clashed in an often tense debate.

The five remaining leadership candidates, who locked horns during a Channel 4 stampede in front of ‘swing’ voters, were quizzed on a range of issues, including Mr Johnson’s conduct.< /p>

In a damning moment, not a single member of the public raised their hand when asked by host Krishnan Guru-Murthy if he trusted politicians - underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the victor .

And just three said the government was doing enough to tackle the cost-of-living crisis as the candidates clashed over economic policies - Rishi Sunak likening Liz Truss' plans to a "fairy tale ".

Only 10 audience members raised their hands when asked if they were more likely to vote Conservative after hearing their answers.

Click here to read the main policies of the five candidates

Asked about the Prime Minister's honesty, Kemi Badenoch replied, "Sometimes", while Tom Tugendhat shook his head.

Penny Mordaunt, who declined to answer a yes or no, said, "There were some very serious issues and I think he paid the price."

Former Chancellor Mr Sunak - who resigned just two days before the Prime Minister was expelled - said: "I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt for as long as possible and I finally concluded that I couldn't, and that's why I quit...I quit for many reasons, but trust and honesty was one of them."

And Ms Truss said 'he himself made it very clear that he had made mistakes in government', but she took his explanation for misrepresentations on partygate' at the foot of the letter".

Tom Tugendhat admitted that a "fresh start" was needed, saying: "Trust in our party has collapsed, we know we need a fresh start."