MEMBERS of the audience at the Conservative Party hustings in Leeds clapped and cheered for Boris Johnson to be on the ballot against Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss in the contest to be the next Tory leader and prime minister.
The former chancellor was also asked by a member of the audience why he had "stabbed" Boris Johnson "in the back".
Hosting the first of 12 hustings – with the Scottish leg taking place in Perth – LBC presenter Nick Ferrari referenced reports that around 14,000 members of the Conservative Party wanted Johnson’s name on the ballot.
The bid to keep Johnson in power is backed by Vote Leave co-founder and billionaire Lord Cruddas of Shoreditch, who was ennobled by Johnson and has given millions to the Tory party in donations.
Ferrari said: “It’s reported around 14,000 members of the Conservative Party want [Boris Johnson’s] name back on the ballot…”
He then had to pause for claps and cheers from the audience, before asking Sunak what he would say to them.
The leadership candidate replied: “I’d say to them that I think close to 60 people resigned in Parliament and it’s incumbent on the Prime Minister to have the confidence of the parliamentary party, and that wasn’t there at the end.
“So whether he’s on the ballot or not, ultimately you need to be able to command the confidence of your MPs in Parliament, and we got to a point where close to 60 of them had resigned from Government.”
It came after audience member Matthew from West Yorkshire confronted Sunak on his resignation.
He said: “Rishi Sunak, you’re a good salesman and you have many strong attributes, but many people continue to support Boris Johnson who has delivered consistently through treacherous waters and many people unfortunately see that you’ve stabbed him in the back.
“He is a man who made you a senior politician, and so people don’t want to see that in Number 10.
“You’re going to have to take the party and the country through another General Election, and I’m not quite sure entirely which planet you’re on, David Davis neither.
“How do you expect to take the party through the next General Election based upon those actions?”
Sunak replied: “Thank you, Matthew, for asking the question.
“Why did I resign? It was a very difficult decision, it wasn’t one I took lightly, and you’re right, I’m very grateful to the PM for giving me the job of chancellor.
“But as you also saw over the past two and a half years, I gave my everything to that job and I’m proud of my record as chancellor delivering for this country, delivering for all of you.
“I was also proud to be part of his government that achieved many things and as I said previously I do believe he was the only person who could have broken the Brexit gridlock and delivered that election victory.
“But for me personally, it got to the point where I had a significant difference of opinion with him on how to handle the economic challenges that are ahead of us.”
A poll published earlier this week found that nearly half of Tory voters do not want Boris Johnson to resign.
