and a visiting professor at kings college. thank you very much for being with us. >> good morning. >> so why did boris johnson deny an opportunity to not only confront his rivals but explain himself and be part of this televised debate and will that work for him or against him do you think? >> well, because he's the front-runner, it's never in the front-runner's interest to take part in tv debates because the risk is all on the downside. and i think he just about got away with it. there were, as we saw, jeremy hunt had that sarcastic reference to his absence and other candidates addressed that empty lectern, but, you know, he got away with not being the big issue of the debate. the candidates did actually spend all their time proclaim their own virtues and explaining how they would solve brexit. and boris johnson is going to do it again this morning. he's not going to turn up to be grilled by westminster