PM Johnson draws ire for ducking TV grilling

London, December 6

Boris Johnson came under fire on Friday for failing to face one of Britain's top political interviewers as he prepared for a final head-to-head debate with the main opposition leader before next week's election.

Four other major party leaders have subjected themselves to an uncomfortable grilling from the BBC's Andrew Neil but the Prime Minister has so far declined to do so.

The spat comes before the second and final televised showdown between Conservative party leader Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, of the main opposition Labour party. Neil, a former editor of the Sunday Times, said he wanted to put questions of trust to Johnson.

After quizzing Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage on Thursday night, Neil told viewers the series of 30-minute leaders' interviews was done "on your behalf to scrutinise and hold to account those who would govern us. That is democracy. — AFP