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Johnson's domestic dispute fuels debate in Britain over his PM credentials

News Service
15:38 - 23/06/2019 Sunday
Update: 15:39 - 23/06/2019 Sunday
REUTERS
Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, drinks water as he attends a hustings event in Birmingham, Britain, June 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Boris Johnson, a leadership candidate for Britain's Conservative Party, drinks water as he attends a hustings event in Birmingham, Britain, June 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

LOUD ALTERCATION

Polling for the Mail on Sunday newspaper showed Johnson was seen as the best prime minister by 36% of all voters on Thursday, while Jeremy Hunt was supported by 28%.

But Johnson had lost the lead on Saturday, with 32% supporting Hunt and 29% Johnson.

Among Conservative voters, Johnson's lead fell from 55% to 45%, while Hunt's standing rose from 28% to 34%, the polls conducted by Survation showed.

Police were called to an address in south London where Johnson is living with girlfriend Carrie Symonds in the early hours of Friday morning after neighbours heard a loud altercation. Johnson, 55, is currently divorcing his second wife.

All occupants of the address were spoken to and were all safe and well, police said in a statement.

Johnson supporters have said the action of a neighbour in releasing a recording of the row to the Guardian newspaper was politically motivated.

Neighbour Tom Penn, 29, said in a statement he had called the police because he was "frightened and concerned for the welfare of those involved".

"Once clear that no one was harmed, I contacted the Guardian, as I felt it was of important public interest," he said. "I believe it is reasonable for someone who is likely to become our next prime minister to be held accountable for all of their words, actions and behaviours."

Penn said voted to remain the European Union three years ago, but that was the extent of his involvement in politics.

Johnson, who has a leading Brexit campaigner in the 2016 referendum, on Saturday reiterated his desire to leave the European Union in October with or without a deal.

Hunt, who backed Remain in the referendum, said he would take the country out of the EU without a deal on Oct. 31 if the EU had not showed it was willing to renegotiate the Brexit deal.

#Boris Johnson
#Britain
#Brexit
5 years ago