Tory leadership contest: Boris Johnson promises to cut taxes and boost school spending
The former foreign secretary launches his campaign with a social media video aimed at touting his electoral appeal to voters.
Monday 3 June 2019 20:29, UK
Boris Johnson has pledged to cut taxes and boost school spending as part of his leadership campaign launch.
The former foreign secretary pledged to "significantly" boost the amount of money spent on each secondary school pupil to at least £5,000 if he wins the race to succeed Theresa May.
A video published to launch the "Back Boris" campaign confirmed he would take the UK out of the EU "deal or no-deal" on 31 October.
And in a bid at winning over the vital support of Tory MPs, whose votes he needs to progress to a run-off ballot of members, Mr Johnson showed off his electability at a general election.
He called for "more police out there" and suggested he would "cut some taxes" for people to get "more money in" to fund the plans.
"Now is the time to unite our society and unite our country," the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP said in the video.
"Now is the time for us to believe in ourselves and what we can do."
Eagle-eyed Twitter users noticed the campaign account was registered back in 2008, the same year Mr Johnson ran for mayor of London.
Other candidates also jockeying for attention include Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who has pledged freedom of movement for NHS doctors and nurses, and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, who has called for two million homes to be built in the next five years and an end to hospital car parking charges.
It comes as Tory no-hopers were told to pull out of the leadership race to avoid weeks of "navel-gazing" by a senior minister.
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire told colleagues to "think carefully" about the race dubbed the Grand National of political contests.
"If you already know it's going to be a bit of a struggle to get over the first fence let alone Becher's Brook ahead, then maybe you should pull up," he cautioned.
"There is no embarrassment in that."
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There are 13 candidates who have declared they will run in the race due to officially open on 7 June, when Mrs May will stand down as Tory leader.