With just a day of campaigning to go before voters go to the polls, the mayor of London accused his predecessor of unleashing “project hate” in a desperate bid to win over voters by stirring up fears about immigration.
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During the two-hour debate, bookmaker William Hill twice shortened its odds for the 37-year-old Edinburgh MSP to become the next leader of the UK Conservatives; reducing them from 33/1 to 25/1 and then to 16/1.
Boris Johnson was accused of pedalling “project hate” by Saddiq Khan, the man who succeeded him as London Mayor, while Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused fellowTory Andrea Leadsom of lying about how many rules and regulations come from Brussels.
Based in the UK, Larry is passionate about all things news and technology related. Speaking after the debate, Remain audience member Jason Tay, 23, conceded that Vote Leave had received the audience’s most enthusiastic response, which he credits to Johnson’s “natural charm”. “We do not need unelected, bureaucratic European leaders to tell us what our workers rights can be”.
She joined Khan in piling into her opponents on immigration, saying Brexit was not a silver bullet and that even Johnson had called for an “amnesty for illegal immigrants, never mind the legal ones”.
Leadsom attacked the Brussels “gravy train” which she said controlled 60% of United Kingdom laws and regulations.
He also accused the Conservative MP of telling lies and scaring people, and brandished a “Vote Leave” leaflet which had warned that “majority-Muslim” Turkey could join the European Union.
Stuart said the United Kingdom government was actively trying to “accelerate” Turkish membership. She said Turkey “is not going to happen, it is simply not on the cards”.
Leadsom said the Bank of England had said uncontrolled immigration put “downward pressure” on wages.
“How is that making our own decisions?” she asked. He admitted the campaign had been “difficult” for the Tories, and said he would “accept the verdict of the British people” on Friday.
In a separate interview with the Guardian, Cameron attacked Johnson and the other Tories involved in the “Leave” campaign for concentrating on immigration. “You deserve the truth – you deserve the truth”.
Mr Johnson said the home secretary was unable to deport serious criminals because of European laws, saying it was “absolutely fantastic how the remain side have the cheek to tell us we improve our security by staying in this organisation”.
There will be contributions by campaigners from other political parties, business and journalism on a second, smaller stage.
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Also on the second panel were former Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King, who was backing remaining in the European Union, and founder and chairman of Wetherspoons Tim Martin, who wanted the United Kingdom to leave.
