UK’s next prime minister candidates will go head-to-head in TV debate

The final two Conservative prime minister candidates are set to go head-to-head in a televised battle.

All Tory leadership hopefuls will be invited to take part in the debate, broadcasted by the BBC.

So far 11 candidates have announced their intentions to run as not only the next Conservative leader, but also Britain’s prime minister after Theresa May steps down on June 7.

All candidates still in the race by mid-June will be invited to attend a hustings event.

Once votes are in and the list has been whittled down to the final two hopefuls, they will take part in a Question Time face off in front of an audience, hosted by Fiona Bruce.

They will also be asked to have a one-on-one interview with Andrew Neil in stand-alone programmes during Tory MPs’ voting period.

The programmed will be aired in June but dates and times are yet to be confirmed.

Plans were announced after Health Secretary Matt Hancock wrote to broadcasters on Tuesday asking them to host live debates.

He suggested the idea would be an opportunity for Tory voters and the public to ‘see how well the candidates stand up to the scrutiny of live, televised debates’.

The MP said he hoped it would encourage the public to put candidates in the hot seat to ‘hear about their ideas for the future’, rather than basing votes on an ‘internal-facing party conversation’.

Fran Unsworth, Director BBC News and Current Affairs, said: ‘The decision being made by Conservative Party members will profoundly affect us all, so it feels right that BBC audiences get a chance to see the candidates’ debate with each other, and that we scrutinise the various policy proposals they will be standing on’.

‘Our plans include bringing the final two candidates in front of the same Question Time audience on the same night to be quizzed by the public, as although the final say will fall to Conservative party members, it’s firmly in the public interest for audiences to question and hear from the next potential Prime Minister.’