Boris Johnson says gaffes are a GOOD thing

Boris Johnson claimed his ‘gaffes’ are a good thing today – and said he would be much richer if he wasn’t a politician.

At the latest hustings in Darlington, the Tory leadership front runner admitted his loose-talking style had sometimes landed him in trouble and required apologies.

But he said quite often a ‘gaffe’ was actually a result of telling the ‘unvarnished’ truth about issues.

Mr Johnson was also challenged about what he had sacrificed for the good of the country.

Despite having earned large sums from corporate speeches and newspaper columns while an MP, Mr Johnson – who is in the throes of divorcing his second wife – said: ‘It is absolutely possible to make more money by not being in full time politics.’ 

He added: ‘You have to make sacrifices sometimes and that is the right thing to do. 

‘Being a full-time politician means that I won’t be able, for instance, to rapidly complete a book on Shakespeare that I have in preparation.’ 

Mr Johnson also dismissed a row about whether Theresa May tried to stop him seeing highly classified documents while he was foreign secretary. 

Referring to the reports, Mr Johnson told the hustings: ‘It’s not true. 

‘But, I obviously can’t comment any further on intelligence matters.’ 

Pressed again, Mr Johnson said: ‘I am sure that the Prime Minister would not comment on intelligence matters either so I am extremely dubious about the provenance of this story. 

‘It’s not true and I don’t comment on intelligence matters.’ 

The battle for the keys to Downing Street is heating up with less than three weeks to go until the new PM is named.

Mr Johnson is the clear favourite over Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt, having promised that he will ensure the UK leaves the EU at the end of October ‘come what may’. 

Sources close to rival Jeremy Hunt (pictured in Darlington ahead of the hustings today) accused Mr Johnson today of ‘measuring the curtains’ for No10

With some party members already having received their postal ballot papers, Mr Johnson has insisted he is ‘fighting for every vote’.

However, he is believed to have held a series of meetings with potential ministers in his top team, including long-term rival Michael Gove and Sajid Javid.

Sources close to rival Mr Hunt accused Mr Johnson today of ‘measuring the curtains’ for No10. 

‘This is yet more evidence of a complacent campaign that members increasingly feel is taking them for granted,’ the source said. 

Mr Johnson dismissed warnings by senior ministers that Parliament will find a way to block a no- deal Brexit as a ‘red herring’. 

Chancellor Philip Hammond, Justice Secretary David Gauke and ex-minister Sam Gyimah have said MPs will not allow Britain to leave the EU without an agreement with Brussels. 

Mr Johnson said: ‘I think this is all a bit of a red herring. We are facing an existential crisis as a party and indeed as a political class. 

‘It was a clear, clear majority for Leave. Now we are at a state where MPs seem still to be refusing to enact the mandate of the people. That is why our great party is languishing in the polls. 

‘If we get on and do Brexit we will spike the guns of both the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party who are prospering at our expense because of our failure to get this done. 

‘I hope that Philip and Sam and all the other friends that you mentioned can see that.’ 

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner ridiculed Mr Johnson over his response to the question about what he had sacrificed for the country. 

‘Boris Johnson was asked when he’s set aside “self interest” for the national good. He could only think of where he was making less money than he could have if he weren’t an MP&progress on his book about Shakespeare being slower than he would have liked!’ she tweeted.