ITV EU debate: Boris Johnson is 'only interested in No 10', says Amber Rudd

Hatty Collier10 June 2016
WEST END FINAL

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Boris Johnson has come under fierce attack from a Conservative colleague for putting himself at the head of the Leave campaign in order to further his ambition to be the next prime minister.

In the latest setpiece television debate on ITV1, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd launched a series of attacks on the former London mayor of accusing him of peddling "misinformation".

In heated exchanges, Mr Johnson argued that a vote to leave the EU would enable Britain to take back £10 billion a year which could help ease the pressures on the NHS caused by "uncontrolled immigration".

Right from the outset, Ms Amber - who was arguing for Remain alongside Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Labour's Angela Eagle - was determined to take the offensive accusing the Leave campaign of talking "nonsense".

In the opening clash on immigration numbers, she turned on Mr Johnson, saying: "I fear that the only number that Boris is interested in is the one that says No 10."

Left to right: Leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon, Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd
ITV/PA Wire

Mr Johnson argued that he was backing Leave because David Cameron had failed to secure the changes which would have enabled him to meet his commitment to cut net migration to below 100,000 in his EU re-negotiation.

"That did not happen in the re-negotiation. We didn't get anything of the kind," he said.

"There has got to be democratic consent for the scale of the flows that we are seeing." he said.

Left to right: Energy Minister and Vote Leave Supporter Andrea Leadsom, Labour Vote Leave campaigner Gisela Stuart and Boris Johnson
ITV/PA Wire

During the debate, Mr Johnson said Britain would "prosper as never before" if it voted to leave the European Union on June 23.

In his opening statement, Mr Johnson said a Leave vote would allow the UK to "take back control" of its money, immigration, trade and democracy.

And he rejected the warnings of the Remain camp - including former prime ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair who combined earlier in the day to say Brexit would risk the Northern Ireland peace process and the unity of the UK.

"To the prophets of doom, I say they were wrong in the past and they are wrong today," said the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP.

"Let us believe in ourselves, let's take back control, let's speak up for all the people around the EU who are looking to us to speak for democracy. Take back control on June 23 and we will prosper as never before."

Mr Johnson came under further attack over Vote Leave's controversial campaign claim - emblazoned across his battle bus - that withdrawal from the EU would release £350 million-a-week which the UK sends to Brussels.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is a scandal that is still emblazoned across the campaign bus because it's an absolute whopper."

In another attack on her Conservative colleague, Ms Rudd described the campaign claim as “pure fantasy”.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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