Boris Johnson to appear on ITV's This Morning amid pressure to face Andrew Neil
Boris Johnson will hold a sit down TV interview amid pressure for him to face a grilling from Andrew Neil.
The Prime Minister will face Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, an ITV source has told Buzzfeed News.
With the election entering its final phases, Mr Johnson has faced calls to be interviewed by the forensic Andrew Neil, who subjected Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon to intense interviews last week.
Mr Johnson is the only major party leader not to set a debate with the tough journalist.
But he will sit down on the ITV show at a date yet to be confirmed.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have already interviewed Mr Corbyn, in which he said he was “very sorry” about the issue of anti-semitism in his party.
Labour's @JeremyCorbyn joined @schofe and @Hollywills on the show today, and after a grilling he apologised for the anti-Semitism issue that has dogged his party - while insisting it's not an issue that affects Labour alone. pic.twitter.com/ml5d9jrjKn
— This Morning 🎄 (@thismorning) December 3, 2019
Mr Neil’s interview with Mr Corbyn saw the Labour leader taken to task over antisemitism and his tax and spending plans.
The gruelling half hour, which was branded a “car crash” interview on social media, was broadcast last week.
Afterward, it emerged that the BBC had not yet finalised a date for Mr Neil’s interview with Mr Johnson, despite already broadcasting Mr Corbyn’s.
A petition on Change.org calling on the BBC to film an interview with Andrew Neil and Boris Johnson but it cannot compel the corporation to do anything.
Nicola Sturgeon also faced Mr Neil and was challenged over the SNP’s record as government in Scotland.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson will face Mr Neil tomorrow while Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage will be interviewed on Thursday.
Boris Johnson has been accused of “running scared” from Andrew Neil by Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery, though Buzzfeed reports that Conservative sources say dicussions for the Prime Minister to appear continue.
Last week, a BBC spokeswoman also said talks were ongoing over a date.
The BBC did not allow Mr Johnson to appear on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday unless he accepted an interview with Mr Neil but that decision was changed after the London Bridge attack.
