One job. An hour of your questions from across the UK. How they answer tonight will help
decide
who becomes Our Next Prime Minister. Good evening. One of the men here on stage will become our next prime
minister. Tonight - for the very first time - we hear from all of them in a live televised debate. Dominic Raab
was eliminated just two hours ago and the rest, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid and Rory
Stewart, are all here. We have questions coming in from around the UK. My job will be to seek clarification -
and
direct answers where none are forthcoming. We'll hear views on their Brexit solutions - and on other issues that
deeply affect this country. The vast majority of us will not get a vote in this election for the next Tory
Leader.
But over the course of this hour we intend give you the chance to get to know them better - and test their
mettle
as a Prime Minister that must speak to and for the country. They have drawn lots for the order of seating this
evening and I will nudge them along if they take too much time. Let's go to our first question - Lee Ward in
Norwich. What is your question for the panel? Good evening. As a lifelong Conservative voter I voted for the Brexit Party in the recent
European elections. My question to you is can you guarantee you will be able to get your Brexit plant through
Parliament by the 31st of October? Can you guarantee Boris Johnson, you can get your Brexit plan to buy the 31st of October?
You are right to ask that question because we must come out on the 31st of October because
otherwise I fear we face a catastrophic loss of confidence and politics, we've already kick the can down the
road
twice and I think the British people are getting thoroughly fed up you voted remain or leave, the people were
asked a question and they returned a verdict and politicians said they were going to honour that verdict. Three
years later we have still failed to leave and unless we do it, unless we get out on October the 31st I think we
all start to pay a really serious price. Our party being the party that used to support is now on 17 points in
the
polls, the Labour Party doing better, politicians need to take the responsibility and act maturely and soberly
in
the interests of democracy and the electorate and get this thing done. Jeremy Hunt? It is an important question and if I got to the 31st October with no prospect of a deal to
take
a out of the EU than I would leave without a deal. If we were nearly there and there was a prospect than I would
take longer because the Conservative Party is the party of business, the party of the union, the party of hope
and
I would want to avoid the disruption of no deal, the risk of a general election to let in Jeremy Corbyn. But we
have got to resolve this and quickly because it is about trust of the British people and people like us, the
politicians, whether we do what we are told or whether we impose our will and we must not do that. So guarantee by October the 31st? Absolutely, I share your frustration and I was the first on this panel to argue that we should
leave the European Union and that is why I'm upset we have not left an angry that not everyone in the House of
Commons has honoured that referendum result. Because I started this I will finish it and make sure we leave the
European Union in good order. I think Jeremy has a fair point, if we are almost there and just need a couple of
days then who could object to get that over the line. We sometimes have extra time in a football match to slot
home the winner and my view is the important thing is to win for Britain and that means getting out and
honouring
the vote you gave and also making sure the case that I made in the referendum campaign and on which you were
good
enough to support, wins. Sajid Javid, is it fundamental that we leave by the 31st of October? It is and thank you for voting for us in the past and we need to win your vote back and that
means as a result of this historic vote, the biggest turnout we've ever seen in any election or in any
referendum,
it is essential that we act on those instructions. They were instructions from the British people, they are our
buses come at the British people, to us the politicians and so far we have failed to act on those instructions.
It
is fundamental that it has to be by October the 31st and I don't respectfully disagree with Jeremy and Michael
because we have to learn from my mistakes. One of the mistakes we made so far as having this kind of flexible
deadline and if you do not have a deadline you do not concentrate minds and that includes the minds of our
European friends and we've got to set the date. Rory Stewart on this now. We owe you a sense of urgency as you voted to leave the European Union and we need to leave as
quickly and efficiently as possible but we also owe you something else fundamental and that is our trust. We
need
to be honest with you about the difficulties. Unfortunately it is not going to be possible to negotiate a new
deal
with Union by the 31st of October and that is not just something that I feel, it is something Nigel Farage has
said and Steve Baker, a supporter of Boris Johnson says the same thing. If you try to negotiate a new deal we
would be stuck in the European Union for years to come, it would not just be a few weeks away from doing it on
October the 31st but they would hardly have begun. The second thing we are a Parliamentary democracy and the
only
door out is through Parliament. I would not waste time saying I would negotiate a new deal but I would say to
all
those people on the platform who floated, let's vote this through and get it done. That is the quickest legal
way
of doing that. We've heard from you all about taking responsibility and leaving in good order. Rory Stewart,
you are offering the same approach that failed three times for Theresa May. You want MPs to approve a deal that
has already been tested. We are in a room with a door and the door is called Parliament and I'm the only place here
trying to find the key to the door, everyone else is staring at the walls shouting belief in Britain. We have run into that door at three times already and we need a different route out. We cannot
just present the same cold porridge for a fourth time and ask people to say that that is what they want. We need
to have a different approach. Where I think you are realistic and correct is that if you have an arbitrary date
and we get so close to being able to get over the line I think the view that Boris and Sajid Javid articulated
to
just rip up all the progress we have made... It is not an arbitrary date, it is October the 31st. I argued we should leave at the earliest possible opportunity. Will that be 2019? Absolutely. I think we can do that because we can make progress and ensure we are in a
position
to leave. What I worry about with Boris, we fought together on the leave campaign, we both believe it in our
heart
but my worry is that Boris, forgot forgotten October the 31st and were so close to getting the deal over the
line,
would you at that point say Michael, were almost there... Can you give that guarantee of October the 31st? Michael was fighting to get out by the end of December and I think October the 31st is
eminently
feasible. Is that your guaranteed date? If we now say we have a deadline that is not a deadline and we allow October the 31st to come
and go as March and April came and went, I think the public would look upon us with increasing mystification.
And
we would continue to haemorrhage support. Can anyone on the stage guarantee to leave factor over the 31st, just raise your hand. If the only way that we could leave is without a deal then I would do that but what would you
say to a sheep farmer I met in Shropshire recently this business would be destroyed by 40% tariffs on lamb. If
you
are just before the 31st of October and there was a deal in sight and you gave up and said that no this is a
hard
deadline, he would look at you and say Boris, you have got your dream, but you have destroyed my dream which is
the family business. No one wants a disorderly no deal of that kind but it is important to prepare for that. I
congratulate what you and others have done to prepare for that and I think there is wide consensus that we must
get out on October the 31st and we must prepare for no deal. That is the way we will get the deal that we need
and the way to come out is not with a disorderly Brexit but with what everybody understands, taking the solution
of the Irish border issues, putting that into the implementation period. There is no solution without the backstop. Everyone understands the solution. You need to have a deadline, you absolutely need that because without that you will not focus
minds and anyone who has negotiate anything know that you need a deadline. In terms of what we can get through
that door what we can get through the door is what has already gone through the door, the Withdrawal Agreement
with the change to the backstop. This is the only available plan and it can be done. If you want to follow this debate including analysis from a political correspondence given see
all the latest on our life page. But our next Speaker is Carmela from Southampton. What is your question?
Evening. My question as a mother of three with a husband in the property industry, we have a
no
deal my husband could lose his job and my children could face an uncertain future. Why are you even
contemplating
a no-deal Brexit? Why, Michael Gove, are you even contemplating a no-deal Brexit? Because we've got to leave the European Union. We had 17.4 million people who voted to leave
and
we said as Parliament, it is your decision, we cannot have a situation where we say to all the people of this
country it is up to you yourselves to decide and we will follow through, I agree that a no-deal Brexit would
create some economic uncertainty. As Jeremy said in some parts of our country if we do not plan properly for
no-deal Brexit they will suffer but the absolutely, we need to ensure that we are ready for whatever comes and
prepared for whatever comes and above all that we make sure we put our democracy first. Carmela is worried about the future of her husband and his job and their children, you cannot
say anything to reassure her. I can say that of course there are challenges in no deal but we are a great country and we can
get through it and there are things we can do to ensure that outside of the EU we prosper. I suspect I'm one of
the few candidates and perhaps the only one who has explained how we can be more wealthy and more green and more
free outside the European Union with new trade deals and a transformed economy. Given that Parliament does not consent to no deal, how are you going to deliver no deal
against
the consent of Parliament because that is what you had to do, all of you, if you are leaving by the 31st of
October and leaving no deal on the table will someone tell me how you do that against the consent of Parliament.
It is important for Carmela to understand that none of us wants a no deal outcome, we do not
want a disorderly Brexit which is what you're talking about and that would be the kind of Brexit... Your words where it would be perfectly OK. It is however important to prepare for that eventuality, it is responsible to do that and
actually a great deal of work has been done to date. For hill farmers, to make sure of the right chains of
command
in Northern Ireland for the administration of hospitals and to prepare small businesses as well. We can prepare more, I think one fundamental mistake we made so far is not to prepare it well
enough and that is why we are in this mess today, you prepare for no deal precisely because you want to have a
deal. It is that preparation which focuses minds again because the EU does not want no deal either and the best
way to get a deal is to make sure you are prepared and to beat that responsible Prime Minister ready for all
possibilities. all possibilities. Let me answer the question, your husband is in the property business and will know the only
way
to get a deal in the property business is to hold on the table the ability to walk away from a deal if it is not
right. The truth is if you do what Rory Stewart is saying and take no deal off the table, what happens in that
situation is the worst thing for you and your family and children as we were still argue about Brexit in one
year
or more because we will not have left so the reason why we need no deal on the table is to make sure we get a
deal. But I think there's a difference here, it should only be a very last resort because families and
livelihoods
are at risk and as conservatives were the party of business and of the Union and we want to make absolutely sure
we protect those. Carmela, are you reassured by what you have heard? No, I am not. I'm really concerned about the future for my children. I have one that works in
the City, one is training to be a vet, and I have one going to university in September. I am worried about the
future and I am worried about my husband's job. Nobody can give a real answer to what will happen if we have a
no
deal. Carmela, thank you. You had the chance to reassure her. Nobody wants a disorderly Brexit of the kind you describe aren't the kind that you think
threatens your husband's job. We want to come out on terms that protects the UK and protects the EU as well.
Rory Stewart, briefly. If I was lucky enough to be your Prime Minister, I would commit that there would never be a no
deal. It is unnecessary, it is damaging and so unnecessary and damaging, as Jeremy has said, it is not even a
credible threat. Then you would have to be happy with no Brexit... Market is in Belfast. Panel, we are going our guest. ALL TALK AT ONCE A 550 page Deal... . Rory Stewart, we are trying to hear from Mark in Belfast. Thank you, Emily. I grew up during the Troubles and have seen how an open border on Ireland
can help. Can the candidates explain how they will solve the issue of the Irish border, a subject many people
here
see as Theresa May's downfall.May has tried to solve this one, trying to solve it for three years. And she couldn't. The
question
is, how will you? Not empty promises. Jeremy Hunt, you seem to think you have Angela Merkel and Emanuel Macron
on
speed dial. What are they saying? It's very straightforward. They are saying that the UK has the border with the Republic of
Ireland and its us that has to come forward with a solution that works. Everyone here would agree with you that
what we can't have is a return to border infrastructure on the island of Ireland, because that one is one of the
fundamental achievements of the Belfast agreement, the freeboard of that allowed people to move easily and
freely
from north to south allowing businesses to trade freely. You still haven't told us what they would agree to. What was problematic about the border was not that. What was problematic was the suggestion we
should be trapped in a customs union until the EU gave us permission for us to leave and that will never get
through Parliament. We have to find a way of showing we can keep that border open, keep what we call a soft
border, and I think through technology we can do that. But we have to do that in a way that does not trap us in
the customs union because leaving the EU is about regaining our sovereignty. You are talking about money, giving Ireland 500 million to help unlock the problem. I think money will help because the ultimate solution to keeping an open border... And can I
just say, as someone who is responsible for security and counterterrorism, that was a very hard-won peace on the
island Ireland, and we can't risk that in any way whatsoever. I will be 100% committed to the Good Friday
Agreement and keeping that open border. I have done the work on this and in my department today we have the
border
force who have looked at this, and it's perfectly possible to have an open border with two different customs
arrangements on either side of the border, using existing technology. It will take time to put that in place and
will cost money... . You would have the backstop until the technology is in place? A time limit on the backstop. You can't have a backstop that has a time limit, you have heard that from Ireland. Our parliament would not agree to a backstop that isn't time-limited. The current backstop
would
not be agreed to and the Irish understand that. They know there will have to be agreement on this. And the EU
have
also said that the backstop itself cannot be part of it under the EU's own laws. Leo Varadkar said this weekend that if we don't have a backstop there is no deal. I agree strongly with both Sajid and Jeremy. I remember what it was like during the Troubles.
Of
course I remember what that border was like. You compared it to the congestion charge between Islington and Westminster, that's how
seriously
you took it. Nobody wants to be seeing a return to infrastructure and a hard border and the UK Government
will never do that. What you can do, as Jeremy and Sajid have just said, you can solve the questions of how to
keep goods flowing across the border whilst the UK comes out of the EU as a whole. You could solve that issue
during the implementation period while we solve the free trade deal. You will not get an implementation period... Can you hear me? Why will they not sign up to that implantation period? I think there are several incentives. First of all, our EU friends now have 29 members of the
Brexit party in Strasbourg, not a wholly welcomed presence. Secondly, they have the incentive and solvent of £39
billion that they will get, and they want us out of the EU, and they want this done and they don't want a
disorderly Brexit. In the end, they are not going to want, for exactly the reason is that Rory and others have
given, they don't want it. Everyone else recognises it's a problem that needs solving. You don't. I don't at all. There should be an open border, as was agreed in the Good Friday Agreement.
When
I was in Londonderry, I saw directly that all the policies that all these gentlemen talk about, talking about
tariffs, at the centre of Boris's policy, is the agricultural policy. I'm sure you have been in Enniskillen like
me sitting with a sheep farmer, sending their sheep across the border to the Republic, and 80% of those sheep
are
processed in abattoirs in the Republic forced up what about the tariff arrangements for that? What will you do
with that? do with that? One second, Michael. He will change the subject, you will not answer about tariffs. The answer is there will be no tariffs and no quotas. Because what we want to do is get a
standstill in our current arrangements under Gatt 24 or whatever it happens to be until we have negotiated a
free
trade agreement. What Boris talks about... We come up with the facilitation is. Some people have said the backstop is catch 22. But the way we resolve it, the Northern
Ireland
peace process is much more than trade across the border. I have worked in Northern Ireland and know there are
several things we need to do. We need to get institutions up and running. The assembly has to return. We need to
give them a voice. The second thing is to recognise that there are delicate relationships on the border, between
Londonderry and Donegal, County Derry and Dundalk. We need to make sure communities get the support they need.
And
the third thing is to supercharge work on alternative arrangements. Sajid is correct, the EU has explicitly said
the backstop is only intended to be temporary, and the EU have also said they will work with us in order to make
sure we can... You have said you will personally lead the way, Michael Gove. And you oppose the Good Friday
Agreement, calling it a moral stain. I have incredibly good relations with the Irish government and indeed with politicians on both
sides of the sectarian divide. I have worked in Northern Ireland and yes, I was critical of Tony Blair because
of
the way he handled the peace process at certain points, but it is also the case that I have worked successfully
with the Irish agriculture Minister and Simon Coveney, the Deputy Prime Minister in the Republic of Ireland, in
a
constructive fashion. And it has been said by them that what we need to have is a comprehensive solution to
these
problems, and I have a plan. The others have observations, but I have a plan. Europe made it clear that the extension that Boris is talking about is conditional on the
withdrawal agreement. Europe has made it entirely clear in the last council, legally binding, that they would
not
be renegotiating between now and October 31. Every singer one of these people is not explaining how they will do
it. -- make every single one. We have heard from each of you... Mark in Belfast, did you hear that answered, that how?
Not really, no. There is a lot of fear in Northern Ireland about what will happen if we
crash
out without a deal. I was hoping for more and hopefully we'll get more in the next couple of weeks. We will leave Brexit and go to James in Oxford. Hello and good evening. I used to be a Conservative voter but I now consider myself without
a
party. I have reluctantly voted for the Brexit party. My question to all of you is what is your plan to lift the
tax burden on the working classes? What is your plan to lift the tax burden on the working classes, Sajid Javid, kick us off.
Given you have said you voted for the Brexit party, what that shows is that delivering Brexit
is
more than just leaving the EU. In some ways you would even argue that is the easy a bit. There are a lot of
frustrations and aspirations that went into that historic vote. I think that is one of them, there is too much
pressure on working people today, in cost of living, and including taxes. My priority in terms of tax cuts would
be tax cuts that would help working people the most. As a country I think we can afford that because over the
last
nine years, because of the hard work of the British people, we have dealt with it, that huge deficit that we
have
almost dealt with. So tax cuts for working classes and not the high earners? I would focus on tax cuts for working people through the basic rate of tax. Jeremy Hunt, you have talked about slashing corporation tax to 12.5%. Cuts to 13 billion to
businesses who have had their taxes cut virtually annually under your government already. Your priority is big
business. Not at all. Life is very expensive in the south-east of England and in a city like Oxford. The
cost of housing is extortionate. I absolutely think our Conservative mission, if I were Prime Minister, would be
to reduce the tax burden on the lowest paid. I have said I would like to see everyone in the country be able to
earn their first £1000 every month without any income tax or national insurance because that would lighten the
load. The question is how to get there. The way to do that and the way to afford tax cuts is to turbo-charge the
economy. I am someone who set up their own business. I think if we can bring down taxes on business, we can get
the growth rate up. If we had a growth rate closer to the American growth rate of 3%, rather than half that,
which
is where we are at the moment, we would have an extra £20 billion for tax cuts for people on low income and
public
services like the NHS, which I was lucky enough to be responsible for and I think that is a vision that can
bring
the country together. People accuse the Conservatives of being the party of the rich. We must never fall into
the
trap of talking about tax cuts for the rich. Boris Johnson, under proposed tax cuts by you, those earning £79,000 would not be considered
wealthy enough to pay the higher bracket of income tax. To get to James's point of what we can do to help the poorest in society for stop I was proud
as
Mayor of London to massively expand the London living wage. It put millions of pounds into the pockets of the
poorest. -- £79,000 does not put you in the highest bracket of tax. -- 79,000 does not put you. I also think we should lift the thresholds of national insurance for the low-paid. But I also
think it is relevant for us to have a debate on the threshold for the higher rate of taxation. It does seem to
me
to be very odd that in the Conservative Party, people should seriously question whether it is seriously right to
leave nurses, heads of maths department and police inspectors out of the top rate of tax was that I think it is
a
good thing to do. Is it clear in your mind that that tax cut would go ahead for higher earners? We would bring forward a package to help the poorest in society by lifting the shelf but I
think
it is sensible to have an ambition to raise the higher rate of tax for middle income earners. And we are taking
for definition by the way from Labour themselves. That is three times the average wage. Michael Gove, if you want to abolish VAT and replace
that
with a simpler sales tax? I'm the candidate in this race who is most prone working people and most pro the relief of
poverty and I have a detailed plan for that my dad was a small businessman who lost his business and my mum was
a
shop assistant so I know about working people facing difficult circumstances. I take advantage of leaving the EU
to be able to replace VAT with a more flexible sales tax and also reduce business rates for small businesses to
help those people who generally generate the jobs and investment we need to allow the economy to grow. The thing
I
would do is look at the interaction between universal credit and income tax to help the very poorest. I'm a fan
of
Boris in many ways but I think he makes one mistake on tax which is of the money that we have he is
concentrating
on cutting taxes for people to earn what MPs earn and what millionaires and and I think that is wrong. I went
into
politics to help the very poorest in our society and I think that is the in which we can show that we are
actually
a party that can take on Jeremy Corbyn. The other thing is we have not yet talked about Jeremy Corbyn on this
programme, I think we need to do that because Jeremy Corbyn is not interested in helping working people but
interested in standing up for the Iranian regime and not working classes in this country. I have a detailed plan
that will help working people and make sure the poorest in our society benefit. But if you're losing James to the Brexit party is aware, you will get James back again if you
say aye am Conservative but do not believe in tax cuts. I think the way to get everyone back and reunify the country is being honest and realistic and
what depresses me in this debate is I think everyone is promising things, promising a new deal from Brussels
that
they will not get, promising to get no deal through Parliament which they cannot do and they are now promising
all
of them together nearly £84 billion worth of tax cuts. I will be straight with people, I do not think this is
the
time to cut taxes. I'm not looking at promises for the next 15 days but the next 15 years and our country is
suffering huge pressure on public services and if I can deliver a good and pragmatic Brexit and it is a big if,
I
would be spending the money not on tax cuts but on investing in public services and I would not commit tax cuts
of
spending when we do not have the money. James, had they won you back? I think the only one to talk sense there was Jeremy Hunt and Rory, you are out of touch and
just did not answer my question, it is not about Brexit but about tax cuts. Clean out now in Tunbridge Wells. Good evening. Whilst all the Brexit things are going on many important issues are going
under
the radar so my question to you is I have fostered more than 100 children over 27 years, despite the support
from
my local authority I now struggle to get appropriate mental health services, special educational needs support
and
even doctor appointments, what are you going to do for vulnerable children? All of you and your pledge to reverse some of the cuts that Tina is talking about? Michael
Gove
you just called yourself the pro relief on poverty candidate so what would you say to that? I just want to say first of all thank you and I myself spent the first four months of my life
in
care and I was adopted by a wonderful mother and father and I know people like you who foster children who have
been through difficult times are the heroes of our society. I've outlined a plan to better help children who are
in care and at risk and to find people like you to give them a loving home. You're right that we have a problem
with mental health provision and a problem with support for children with special educational needs and that is
why I've said we need to increase the funding for education so we go back to the levels we had in the past where
every child has their funding protected in real terms but I have also outlined a detailed plan to target that
money on the very poorest children and those most in need. One of the things I will also do is to make sure for
people like yourself we look at how we can better financially support those making a commitment to vulnerable
children. What does that mean because you've all been part of a government but has cut the spending
power
of local councils by nearly 30% in real terms in the last decade, what would you reverse? One thing we would not reverse by the changes I made to make it easier for children to be
adopted. I would not reverse changes in education means more than 1.9 more children are in good or outstanding
schools. Let's hear from some of the other candidates. Would you reverse any of the cuts to services?
If we can deliver a sensible Brexit that unlocks opportunities for the economy. My difference
from the other candidates is if they were to get more money they would give it away in tax cuts and I think that
is the wrong thing to do in this country. We do not need more tax cuts if there is more money available we need
to
invest in our public services. I know I'm making myself unpopular because the gentleman who asked the question
wants me to promise something we cannot afford. If we had no-deal Brexit, sadly, it was the last gentleman, this
is one of the reasons that this debate is a bit unreal. The money you spend comes from your taxes and if you cut
taxes you have less money to spend. We cannot hear. Finish quickly. cannot hear. Finish quickly. On education we can do an enormous amount, and planning for the next 15 years we need to think
about ways that robotics will change the world of work. I do not think that we have grasped that. Over to Sajid Javid. I relied on public service my entire life, family did not have much and whether it is
educational health care, those were my lifelines. He voted for these cuts. When I ran the Department for local
government which increased spending part for local authorities and since then it has continued to increase. What
we need to do when I look ahead and if I was Prime Minister we need to reset spending in certain areas and I
think
local government is one and health has already been identified as one and the other one for me is education and
especially schools and colleges including special needs education. But how do we fund that is the question. It
is
easy to make pledges without having the funding. Tax cuts first can sometimes lead to more revenue if you get a
more dynamic economy, tax cuts have led to more revenue in the past. Secondly we can afford in the short term to
borrow more and we can do that because the work was done in the last few years has paid off. Jeremy Hunt, we had a lot of questions over the past few days about austerity and universal
credit, about food banks. 1.6 million food parcels handed out by the biggest food bank network, a record, two
and
if you accept a link between welfare cuts and poverty? I want to answer Tina directly, having been responsible for health and social care, some of
the
cuts in social care did go to five and I want to thank you to have helped 100 young people from very
disadvantaged
backgrounds into the world, you are one of the people who make our society work and a Conservative government
under me but I think under any of us must be there for people like you. So first of all I do think local
authorities need more money for social care systems but I also think we need better mental health provision. As
Health Secretary met with a young woman who had been cutting herself right up her arm, it was horrific and the
choices we leave it too late to intervene in mental health in these conditions then get trapped and it becomes
much harder to do something about it. Most importantly Michael did remarkable reforms in education. But the link between welfare cuts and poverty? Still too many children leave school unable to read or write properly and if you have nearly
25%
of primary school leavers unable to read, I want us to be the Conservative government that abolishes illiteracy
so
all the young people you look after it can look forward to their future. I agree strongly with what Jeremy has just said but we also need to invest much more in
education and there have I'm afraid being reductions in spending in real terms. And we need to be improving
mental
care systems. I believe that our care system is a disgrace, it is a scandal. It cannot be tinkered with
round
the edges, it is the great unfinished revolution in our society, we said up the NHS and we have not sorted out
social care. I would reach across parties, white papers, green papers, Royal commissions, we have not managed to
find properly, we will not do it through more tax cuts. To get more money for that, it is laid out in detail in
the end you what proposal, the question is how to fund it and the conversation with the Labour Party, because
we're not setting any red lines, the difference between me and the other candidates is I do not believe the way
to
negotiate is by setting red lines and making impossible promises on television. I believe we should sit down
with
the opposition and solve the great unfinished scandal in our society. It is a great thing to bring people together and we all want to do that. We have plans, white papers, green papers, the Royal Commission. Donna is in Bristol. What is your question? I am the imam of a mask and I see first-hand everyday impact of Islamophobic rhetoric on and
whether candidates agree that words have consequences? Boris Johnson, in the past you've said Muslim women who wear veils look like bank robbery
sport
letterboxes, to accept that your words have consequences? Of course and in so far as my words have given offence in the last 20 or 30 years when I have
been a journalist and people have taken words from my articles and escalated them, of course I'm sorry for any
offence caused. I would just say this, to a friend from Bristol, when my Muslim great-grandfather came to this
country in fear of his life in 1912, he did so because he knew that it was a place that was a beacon of
generosity
and openness and a willingness to welcome people from around the world. What would he then think of you using those words? I would ensure that that is the way our country acts and I may say in respect of what my
friend
over there says, Abdullah, of course I think my Muslim great-grandfather would have been astonished to have
found
that his great grandson had become Foreign Secretary, he would have been very proud and I think it would be seen
as a tribute to this country. You are frequently careless with your language, do you worry that you may do more harm than
good? We raise the issue of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and he said she was simply teaching people journalism as I
understand it, you know what that did to her jail sentence in a Tehran jail. I think it's very important that in this context we should pay tribute to the work not only of
the Foreign Office in doing what they can to get out difficult consular cases but in seeking to point the finger
either at me white anyone in the UK for the incarceration of anyone, and I have deepest sympathy for Nazanin
Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family but in pointing the finger at our side. Words have consequences? If you point
the
finger at the UK all you are doing is excavating those who are truly responsible and that is the Iranian
Revolutionary guard. That is the reality and people should realise what this regime is up to. That is where
responsibility lies. When Donald Trump tweets comments about Londonistan you say you don't like the language but
you
agree with the content? I said I agreed with the sentiment that Sadiq Khan has been a useless London Mayor when it
comes
to tackling knife crime but I totally disagree with his words and totally disagree with the racist rants of
Katie
Hopkins. I'm married to an emigrant, I have three half Chinese children and when they go to school they look
different to the other children and the best thing about this country is it does not matter at all, no one says
anything, where one of the most open and outward -looking and tolerant countries on the planet and we must do
everything we can to preserve and protect that particularly at the point of Brexit where people worry I think
Romney but they worry that somehow our culture might change. I think we have to show people the Brexit that the
Conservatives will deliver is a tolerant Brexit and will not put the shutters down and say foreigners not
welcome
but remain that brilliant welcoming country we have always been. Sajid Javid has said he would happily open up the Conservative Party to allegations of
Islamophobia. Would you like anyone else on this stage to commit to that? I would. Are we all good, guys? Let's have an external investigation? Excellent, they agree.
Can
I say a bit more than that? It is great we all agree on that. First of all, if I can say to Abdullah, my parents
were immigrants to our great country, and they also settled eventually in Bristol and I have many Muslim friends
and family in Bristol and around the UK. Abdullah is absolutely right to raise this and words absolutely have
consequences. Also behind it is an concern, and he is right to have that concern about growing anti-Muslim
hatred
in our country, certainly in the last few years in all parts of society, where ever it is, including political
parties, it must be absolutely rooted out. Today we are one of the most successful multiracial democracy is in
the
world, whatever your race or religious background, and that is what we have to remain. But we cannot be
complacent, we have to work hard. That also means, and you ask about Donald Trump, the US is our closest partner
and always will be, but because we are friends, we are critical friends, and when somebody says something wrong,
we should be brave enough to call it out. Rory, you said you were a diplomat when you are asked yesterday about the tweet. I feel strongly that the tweet, and anything you do as a foreign leader, should be something
you
are firm and strong on. But generally if you are the Prime Minister you have to do it in dignity and in private.
But if you were Prime Minister, would you call it out in public? I think Donald Trump is an extraordinary phenomenon. If you were Prime Minister, would you call it out? Sajid, I think there is a difficult balance here. Well... Let me finish. I would firstly say to Abdullah that I am very proud, very proud to have you in
this country. And I am also very disturbed that everyone around this stage, like me, says nice things, but
unfortunately in this country there is more and more evidence of people saying, doing and thinking things about
Muslims that are completely unacceptable and nothing to do with our culture and traditions, and unfortunately
the
same thing seems to be happening about people who speak about Jewish people. The former chairman of your party expressed unease about things you have said about Muslims.
Last night, an elected Conservative Muslim in the European Parliament did endorse me on the
basis I was the candidate best placed to bring people together. Abdullah is right, words have consequences.
Islamophobia and hatred against people based on their background and faith is repugnant. We should call it out.
I
have no hesitation in saying that some of the things Donald Trump has said, no word leader has said. We should
also have no hesitation to say that some of the things Jeremy Corbyn has said about British Jewish citizens is
disgusting. The fact he said that British Jewish citizens need to discover a sense of irony. We should be clear,
if there are Islamophobes in the Conservative Party, and yes, there are, we should root them out. But we cannot
have somebody who wants to be Prime Minister of the country, indulging in the anti-Semitic hate speech that
Jeremy
Corbyn has indulged in. We need to call it out. We go to Glasgow next, Erin is 15. I would like to ask, would you promise the environment would be your top priority if
elected,
and would you commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2025? You have all agreed to 2050. A show of hands, who will commit to doing whatever is asked of
you,
to bring it down to 2025. I am putting the environment at the centre of my programme. That was Erin's first demand, and
I
will do that. If you are happy for me to reply, I think we absolutely want to put climate and the
environment
at the heart of everything we do. My first act as secretary of state at the Department for International
affairs,
I wanted to double the amount we spend on that. The 2050 target is the most ambitious target so far set by any
advanced industrial economy. We will host the climate summit. This country can take the lead on technology. We
have fantastic resources in the North Sea. I would like to make us the leader in the world on driving green and
environmental change, but we also have to do it in a way... Greta Thunberg said the house is on fire. First of all, thank you for your activism and helping to raise consciousness of this issue. I
praise these people, even though I think folk should be in school, I praise you for going on the climate strike
for raising awareness. I met Greta Thunberg and as Environment Secretary I have introduced a 25 year environment
plan to help increase the amount of energy generated by renewable sources and also restore habitats, the trees
and
forests that act as carbon sinks, to rid air of pollution that is choking young people. And also rid the seas of
plastic, which is a scourge. As Environment Secretary, I have one of the best jobs in the world because I can do
everything I can in order to make sure your generation get a cleaner and greener planet. Boris Johnson, you could now as Prime Minister, as it were, stop Heathrow expansion. Would
you?
I continue to have grave reservations about Heathrow runway three, not just... Would you get in front of the bulldozers? Not just from air quality but also noise pollution. I will continue to use all the instruments
that Michael has rightly identified to reduce CO2. When I was Mayor of London... To go back to Heathrow expansion, this would be a pressing issue if you were Prime Minister.
I still have grave concerns about the air quality impacts and the noise pollution impact. As
you
know, court cases are now proceeding and as Prime Minister I would follow those very closely indeed. In reducing
CO2, look what we did in London, the population increased by 200,000, GDP over about eight years going up by
about
10% and we cut CO2 emissions by 14%. And we did that through technology. That is what you can do. is what you
can
do. Jeremy Hunt. 2025? The question is not whether we are doing something, but whether we are doing enough. I think
it's a fundamental matter of trust between teenagers and all of us here in our 40s and 50s as to whether young
people can actually trust the next generation. They say, we will be around in 50 years' time, we don't know if
you
are, but will the planet to be there, and will you look after the planet properly. She will be 40 by the time we reach 2050. I will certainly commit to the net zero by 2050. 25? What about 2025? It is good of Erin to challenge us to be ambitious. We may well be the first country in the
world to commit to net zero by 2050 and we do need to do more. I am so pleased you raised this, Erin. I know you are 15, but my 16-year-old daughter has
asked
me about this so often, asking if I was Prime Minister what I would do about it. You are right to challenge us
about it. We have done quite a few things and Michael and others over the last few years, but nowhere near
enough
and we absolutely need to become carbon neutral. Everyone understands it will take some time but we have to be a
lot more ambitious especially in terms of renewable energy and in terms of helping people to buy electric cars
and
charge them. So we can be ambitious and at the same time we have to create many more jobs and be world leader.
Who has impressed you the most, Erin? To be honest, none of you have impressed me in the way I was looking for. Climate change is
an
issue of today, not tomorrow, and we need to take drastic and critical action and I don't think any of you are
willing to offer that. So thank you. Let's go to our last question. Our man in London will talk to us now. In the event you become Prime Minister, you will only be voted on by Parliamentary
colleagues
and 100,000 Conservative Party members. You will have no mandate from the people. In the event you become Prime
Minister, when will you do the right thing and call a general election? I don't think the Labour Party particularly wants a general election and I don't think anyone
sensible in the House of Commons wants us to go to the country immediately. We had a general election in 2015
and
in 2017 with a referendum in between. It is the arrogance, Boris Johnson, that is what you said when Gordon Brown became Prime
Minister. That gets me. Gordon Brown is unelected as Prime Minister. Let's have an election without delay. Why
does the same not apply to you? He was not taking over in the context of a national political crisis in which we have to get
Brexit right. When we do that, when we have it done, I think then we have the opportunity as Conservatives to
bring our country together, to do fantastic things with infrastructure and education, with the environment, and
with technology, to unite our society. And that will deal with many of the emotions that Brexit has produced.
We promised to deliver Brexit the last time we went before the British people. It was a sacred
promise and it's very important we deliver that. And we must do what we must first. No general election until we regain trust and start to listen to people and started to take
action. Until we have started to show we believe in this country and can make it much better. That sounds like fear. There is so much more to do, cracking on and delivering Brexit, and use the opportunity of
leaving the EU to transform our country for the better. I have a detailed plan on how we can make sure we help
the
very poorest in our society, a detailed plan to increase economic growth, and a detailed plan to bring together
those parts of the country that have been overlooked and undervalued, many of which voted to leave. We can do
all
that and then have a general election and we can say to Jeremy Corbyn, you discredited Marxist, get back in the
dustbin of history where you belong. This is a change in Prime Minister, a critical time in our country and perhaps one of the
greatest challenges we have faced in a generation. I think the most important thing is, when we get a new Prime
Minister, whoever it is on this stage, we commit now to unite behind that individual and deliver Brexit before
there is a general election. And we will end on that note. And by the 31st of October! We have run out of time. Sadly that brings us to the end of our hour. My thanks to all those
who
asked their questions tonight and the many, many more who sent in their thoughts on email. The candidates face
the
next round of elimination tomorrow and we should have the final two by the end of the week. Thank you to all the
candidates for participating tonight, And thank you for watching. Coverage continues on the BBC News Channel, 5
Live and on local radio across England. And I'll be back with the Newsnight. Very good night. Thank you for
watching.