I went to the Peoples' Vote Let Us Be Heard rally in Leeds yesterday. Over a thousand activists from the north of England packed the New Dock Hall and listened to passionate speeches from Hilary Benn, Mary Creagh, Phil Wilson, Alastair Campbell and Anna Soubry. Steve Cram hosted the event which marked the launch of fifteen rallies across the nation finishing with a march in London on October 12th. Footballers John Barnes and Peter Reid also spoke.
More than anything it showed support for a people's vote continues to grow and I'm convinced if we keep pushing, the calls for a new vote will eventually prove irresistible.
This was the scene outside more than half an hour before the start as we queued to get in.
These are ordinary people prepared to give up a Saturday, travel to Leeds from all over the north to hear the many compelling reasons why we should have a referendum on the final deal with remaining in the EU as an option. While this was taking place the two candidates in the Tory Leadership contest held the first of a series of hustings in Birmingham were BoJo declined to comment on the altercation at his girl friend's house in the early hours of Friday morning. He said he didn't think people wanted to hear about such things.
He faced some tough questions on it, refused to answer them and was roundly cheered in the room. The party members are willing to forgive him anything. To them he has some messianic quality that the rest of us can't see. However, some people will surely have changed their mind.
A new poll for the Mail on Sunday seems to show support for BoJo has slumped and among the voters he is now 3% behind Hunt. His support among Tory voters plummeted from a 27% lead to an 11% lead. If he thinks people don't want to hear about his behaviour at home he's dead wrong.
Johnson and Hunt faced question separately because BoJo refuses to debate head-to-head with Jeremy Hunt until after the party membership has voted. I assume this is for fear his lack of detailed knowledge about anything and everything will become clear. Hunt should continue to raise this and press for a proper debate, it's a strong point for him. If Johnson appears to be running scared of a pussycat like Jeremy Hunt what will he do as PM? Our 'saviour' is apparently cowering at the back.
Alan Duncan, BoJo's former junior minister at the FCO, said (HERE) he had shown a 'lack of discipline' throughout his career and now has a 'big question mark over his head'. You can say that again.
And don't forget this whole hustings thing has another couple of weeks to go! The only way his minders are going to get him through would be to bind and gag him. I can't see that happening so watch out for more gaffes.
