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Boris Johnson in regional daily interview U-turn after critical editorial

Boris Johnson has conducted an interview with a regional daily after after it criticised him for backing out on a promise to speak to one of its journalists.

The Yorkshire Post hit out at the would-be Prime Minister earlier this week after he cancelled a planned interview with its Westminster correspondent Liz Bates.

But the criticism appears to have sparked a U-turn from Mr Johnson, with Liz posting on Twitter this morning that she had spoken to him yesterday, on the eve of the Yorkshire Tory leadership hustings which take place today.

The full interview, in which Mr Johnson pointedly refuses to answer a question about fox hunting, is now due to appear in tomorrow’s paper.

So far in the campaign, the Tory leadership frontrunner has shunned a Sky News debate with his rival Jeremy Hunt and declined to be interviewed on Radio Four’s Today Programme.

Former London Mayor Mr Johnson also failed to respond to the Power Up The North campaign for investment in the North of England when it was launched by 33 regional news titles, including the Leeds-based Post, last month.

Mr Hunt undertook what the Post editorial described as a “thoughtful” interview with the newspaper on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt confirmed in his interview with the Post that a Cabinet minister would – under his leadership – have specific responsibility for the Northern Powerhouse.

 

A story about the snub appeared on yesterday's front page

A story about the snub appeared on yesterday’s front page

Discussing Mr Johnson’s original interview cancellation, editor James Mitchinson posted on Twitter on Wednesday: “It is with regret that I have to inform the people of Yorkshire and the North that Boris Johnson has reneged on his promise to be interviewed by Liz Bates for The Yorkshire Post.

“This comes after he declined to acknowledge our Power Up The North campaign. ”

A Post editorial published that evening read: “If Boris Johnson is not prepared to set out his vision for the North when he is fighting for every vote during the Tory leadership campaign, how can be trusted to put the region first if he becomes Prime Minister later this month?

“This question – already a recurring theme during the campaign – takes on added significance after the former Mayor of London cancelled the interview he promised The Yorkshire Post prior to the York hustings.

“Though this, in itself, is not unusual, it should be noted that Mr Johnson also chose not to respond to the Power Up The North campaign when it was launched by 33 publications, including this newspaper, last month.

“His aides said it would not be possible for any article to be signed off by the ex-Foreign Secretary who, nevertheless, remains a prolific wordsmith for the Daily Telegraph with his lucrative column. This was on the same day that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was asked for his policy prospectus after citing the campaign at Prime Minister’s Questions. He did so within 48 hours.”

The editorial went on: “Our invitation to Mr Johnson is still open. Our intentions have not changed. It is to scrutinise the man who wants to be PM on his proposed approach to Yorkshire so voters do not have to take it on trust from supportive MPs who might be after a job, or preferment, in a Johnson-led government.

“Given this, Tory members – the people entrusted with choosing our next Prime Minister – should draw their own conclusions on behalf of the 15 million people living in the North whose future prospects do depend on the decisions that the next occupant of 10 Downing Street will take.”

The Post carried a story about the snub on its front page yesterday, with Environment Minister Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, telling the paper: “If he doesn’t have time to talk to the Yorkshire Post how can he commit to giving the time needed to deliver for Yorkshire as Prime Minister? What has Boris got to hide?”

HTFP has approached Mr Johnson for a comment.

3 comments

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  • July 5, 2019 at 9:07 am
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    He probably looked at the Mon – Fri ABC figures and thought ‘what’s the point?’

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  • July 5, 2019 at 9:18 am
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    did everyone a favour then. he certainly doesn’t need the local paper with its shrunken sales. Got the Torygraph to spread his propaganda nationally

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  • July 5, 2019 at 11:12 am
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    Boris seems to be of the Trump ilk in that he has been proven to have a ambiguous relationship with the truth and a bad relationship with the media. How do we know we can trust him to do the best for Britain if he won’t talk to the media for fear of putting his foot in it? I’m not sure why he seems to have so much support in Westminster unless they are looking out for their cabinet jobs post appointment. That’s a bit cynical so I imagine he must be doing some great work behind the scenes, eh?

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