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Boris Johnson could be EMPTY-CHAIRED if he refuses to turn up to the first Tory leadership TV debate, it's reported.

The frontrunner to be our next Prime Minister still hasn't confirmed whether he'll appear in the Channel 4 News debate on Sunday night.

His team are still in talks with the programme - but it's understood they prefer the idea a face-to-face format once just two candidates remain.

Now a Channel 4 insider has thrown down the gauntlet, telling The Sun: "There will be lecterns there for all of them.

“And we’ll keep one there for those who don’t bother to turn up so everyone can see the space.”

Mr Johnson faced shouts of "what are you afraid of?" after he waffled through just six press questions yesterday.

And today a rival threw down a fresh challenge after he failed to rule out SHUTTING Parliament to guarantee a No Deal Brexit .

(Image: AFP/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

Mr Johnson told MPs he was “strongly not attracted” to proroguing Parliament just before October 31 - ensuring MPs couldn't vote to block No Deal.

But importantly he has not publicly ruled it out.

Responding to the comment, sources close to Mr Johnson did not rule out proroguing Parliament either.

Instead they referred to his previous comment saying: “I am instinctively averse to such arcane procedures".

Tory leadership rival Rory Stewart fumed to the Mirror: "It would be terrible if he didn’t take part.

"I want to go up against him.

"We deserve to know - is he going to prorogue parliament?

(Image: REUTERS)

"I think I am the candidate that’s best placed to beat him, and in order to do that I need to be able to appear in public with him."

Mr Johnson's rivals largely appear to be up for the Channel 4 debate - the first in a string of TV shows with others planned by Sky News, ITV and the BBC.

Sources close to both Matt Hancock and Michael Gove confirmed they'd take part in the Channel 4 debate. Jeremy Hunt's team did not return a request for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Channel 4 debate said: “We’re still actively engaged with all the candidates and hope that all those who remain in the contest after the first round of voting are able to take part."