Jeremy Hunt has attacked Boris Johnson for refusing to take part in Channel 4’s Conservative leadership debate.

“Where is Boris?” Mr Hunt asked the room during the debate.

“If Boris team won’t let him out to debate five pretty friendly colleagues, how will he get on with 27 EU countries?”

The foreign secretary had been asked how he could seriously contemplate a no-deal Brexit.

“[Mr Johnson] should be here to answer that question,” he said, before discussing his views on no deal.

Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Show all 5 1 /5 Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by Nigel Farage on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this statement by former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message to the EU on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter Cliffs of Dover lit up in Brexit protest Campaign group Led By Donkeys projected this message on the Cliffs of Dover on the evening of April 4 @ByDonkeys / Twitter

Mr Johnson is widely considered the front runner in the race to replace Theresa May but was the only candidate who refused to participate in Sunday’s debate.

The former foreign secretary is also yet to confirm his participation in hustings with political journalists on Monday.

Channel 4 has placed an empty podium in the debate room to mark Mr Johnson’s absence.

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