Boris Johnson is favourite to take over from Theresa May as Conservative Party leader and delivered a stunning reply at Tory party hustings. Mr Johnson, who has said the UK must leave the EU by the end of October this year “do or die”, predicted a return of “optimism” and the disappearance of “gloom” over the next year with him at the helm. The former foreign secretary also delivered a sharp reply to the host – which left the audience in stitches.

Asked about what the country would be like in 12-months time, Mr Johnson said: “If I am elected, and I hope I am, I think our country will have pitch-forked off the incubus of Brexit. We will have got it done.

“We will be set fair on a programme of boosting education around the country. Of making rapid strides in improving our transport infrastructure, another year down rolling our full-fibre broadband and we will be bringing our country together.

“I hope very much that we will be powerfully and convincingly articulating a Conservative mission to our country and Conservative values.

“If we recover our voice and our confidence we can make the moral base for Conservatism and the Conservative Party.

I’m sorry, wasn’t that obvious?

Boris Johnson

“If you support local creation. If you support business. That is the way to pay for fantastic infrastructure, great public services, amazing NHS and everything else that makes our country wonderful. It is a balance.”

He added: “I think in 12 months time, miraculously the gloom will have in lifted, optimism will have returned and we will have got a great Brexit deal and be negotiating free trade deals, above all, with our European Union friends and partners but with the rest of the world as well. I think we will all be much better.”

Asked whether he would still be Prime Minister in 12-months time, the Conservative Party leadership contender delivered an epic reply.

He said: “I’m sorry, wasn’t that obvious?”

The remark sparked huge laughter and applause from the audience.

Mr Johnson continued: “Yes, I should perhaps have said, for the absence of doubt, all those things would be with me as leader.”

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also spoke to the Darlington audience shortly after at the Conservative Party hustings.

Mr Hunt admitted the Government was “behind” on no deal preparations but insisted the UK is prepared to cut ties with the bloc.

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He said: “We got a bit behind a year ago, I think there have been some very impressive efforts in Government to raise our preparedness.

“I think things have been turned around since then, and we are in much better shape in terms of Government preparedness.”

Earlier this week Mr Hunt toughened his stance on leaving the European Union at the end of October.

Mr Hunt said that if he becomes Prime Minister he will decide on September 30 whether there is a realistic chance of getting a Brexit deal through the Commons.

The Foreign Secretary said if he did not think there was sufficient movement from the EU by that date he would increase efforts to cope with a no deal exit.

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