The former Brexit secretary told BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg TV debates will cut through the “froth and frenzy” of the Tory leadership race as he went through the first round of the contest. In a message to frontrunner Boris Johnson who is yet to confirm whether he will participate to Channel 4 News debate on Sunday, Mr Raab questioned whether candidates failing to turn up to the debate would be able to take the heat of the “glare of the lights in Brussels”. 

He said: “There are a lot of candidates with a lot to offer. We’re right at the beginning of this race.

“We haven’t really tested the visions, the ideas and the policies of all of the candidates.

“And I think the debates coming up, first one on Sunday evening, are a great opportunity to test the views, the visions and the policies that we’re all taking about.

“So I’m looking forward to that. And I think there are many slips between a cup and a lip.”

I’m looking forward to that and I think there’s many slips between a cup and a lip

Dominic Raab

Asked what failing to turn up to the TV debates would say about some of the candidates, he replied: “Look, if you can’t hold your nerve and take the heat of a leadership contest, what chance under the glare of the lights in Brussels?”

The former foreign secretary comfortably won the first round of the leadership contest with 114 votes. 

In a joint statement, Brandon Lewis, Dame Cheryl Gillan and Andrew Sharpe said: “Following the completion of the first parliamentary ballot today, further ballots are scheduled for 18th, 19th and 20th June. The remaining candidates will need at least 33 votes to proceed in the next ballot.

“Once the parliamentary process is completed, CCHQ will assume responsibility for the administration of hustings and the vote of the Conservative Party membership. The Rt Hon Dame Cheryl Gillan DBE MP and Charles Walker OBE MP will be the returning officers for the membership vote.

“There will be 16 leadership hustings hosted in every region and nation of the UK. The first hustings will take place in Birmingham on Saturday 22nd June. The final hustings will take place in London in the week commencing 15th July. There will also be an opportunity for the public to question the final two candidates online during the hustings period.

“Conservative Party members should receive postal ballots between 6th to 8th July. The result of the ballot will be announced in the week commencing 22nd July.

“The campaign spending limit for each candidate is £150,000, commencing from 7th June.”

Source: Read Full Article