UK Tories warned not to crown Boris Johnson without a fight

16/6/2019 19:42

        Candidates seeking to beat favorite Boris Johnson and become Britain's next prime minister warned the Conservative Party needs a real leadership contest, not just a coronation for the flamboyant front-runner.
        
        Johnson, a former foreign secretary who has run a deliberately low-profile leadership campaign, was accused of trying to avoid scrutiny after he refused to take part in a televised debate Sunday night among the six candidates still in the race.
        
        An instantly recognizable figure, famous for his Latin quips and unruly blond hair, Johnson is admired by many Conservatives for his ability to energize voters. But others mistrust him for his long record of misleading and false statements, verbal blunders and erratic performance in high office.
        
        International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, one of the contenders, said there was "a problem of trust" with Johnson.