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Boris Johnson suffered an embarrassing on-air meltdown after being asked basic questions about the Queen's Speech.

During an excruciating, car crash interview with BBC Radio 4's Eddie Mair, Johnson was unable to explain how his party's plan helps deal with "burning injustices" in the UK.

And several times he struggled to answer one very simple question: "What's the point of the Prime Minister?"

The bumbling foreign secretary was asked how Theresa May's policy document would help deal with racial disparity in how people are treated by the criminal justice system.

He said: "Well there are measures, I believe in the bill on the courts which I think is supposed to address some of those issues.

In the background, a shuffling of papers was audible.

(Image: REUTERS)

"And I think that one thing in particular that we’re looking at is…um…measures to…hang on a second.

"There are all sorts of measures that we want to take to ensure that we do not discriminate against everybody and… er…I think you’ll find that the Prime Minister has been strong on that in her response particularly to the attack in Finsbury."

Eventually, Mair helped him out, explaining the Speech pledged a "race disparity audit", to be published later in the year.

He flailed for answers on how the Queen's Speech would help resolve other "burning injustices" outlined by Mrs May - including home ownership and access to universities for white working class boys.

(Image: AFP)

At one point, Boris complained he wanted to answer the previous question before moving on to the next.

Mair retorted: "It's not a Two Ronnies sketch. You can't just answer the question before last."

Mair asked what the point of the Prime Minsiter is when she can't solve the "burning injustices" she's so concerned about, and she can't even deliver the manifesto promises people voted for.

After failing to answer the question on four occasions, he finally settled on: "The point of the Prime Minister is to lead the country, to give a ...er... lead on these key issues ...and to take this Queen's Speech through.

"And she will, and she will do a great job."

He went on to say the British people have "pretty much had enough of elections."

The online reaction to Boris' brain fade interview has not been kind - with some comparing it unfavourably to Diane Abbott's interview on LBC ahead of the election.

Ms Abbott later blamed her interview performance, which became a target of personal attacks from the Tories during the campaign, on Type 2 Diabetes, which she said she had not been managing well enough.

Moments before he went on Radio 4, a woman shouted "everyone hates you" at Boris during a TV interview.