David Cameron's former mentor challenges PM to a TV debate on Brexit
DAVID Cameron has been challenged to a live TV Brexit debate by his former guru Steve Hilton.
David Cameron has been challenged by his former guru, Steve Hilton
In a major blow to Mr Cameron and the Remain camp, Mr Hilton, the former Number 10 director of strategy, is officially joining the Vote Leave campaign as a spokesman.
The academic, who last week said voters were being treated like "simpletons", has challenged the Prime Minister to a face-to-face debate on the EU ahead of the referendum on June 23.
Mr Hilton, who helped Mr Cameron become Tory leader and enter Downing Street, attacked his former friend’s reluctance to face any challenger as “bad for democracy”.
Steve Hilton was one of the people who helped Mr Cameron into Downing Street
It’s about giving people a real choice
Mr Hilton, who left Downing Street to work in the US in 2012, will return to Britain to bolster the Leave campaign in the final run up to the vote this month.
Mr Hilton, who has lectured at the respected Stanford University and written a book attacking big government since leaving the UK, said debates were important to give voters “real choice”.
The Californian-based Briton said watching the US presidential election campaign, in which potential Democratic and Republican candidates are tested in multiple live debates has helped him realise how important such showpiece events are.
He even offered to step into the fray himself, saying he would be “delighted” to go head-to-head with Mr Cameron, who he has known since they were both in their 20s.
Mr Cameron was made to sweat as he was questioned by the public
His intervention is likely to anger the Prime Minister, who has already been abandoned by key allies, such as Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Boris Johnson.
Mr Hilton told The Sun: “It’s about giving people a real choice. Not to do that is wrong and bad for democracy.
“Living in the United States, it has been striking how important debates have been in the presidential primary process.
“They have really got the national debate going as well as thoroughly tested the candidates.
“I think it’s thoroughly wrong the leading players in this aren’t facing each other.”
Express EU debate
But he is not expecting Mr Cameron to take up the challenge – as he is too arrogant.
Mr Hilton said: “I can’t see it happening in a million years, as he would probably laugh at the notion, and say who the hell am I to debate a sitting Prime Minister.”
David Cameron faced questions from the audience and Sky News’ political editor Faisal Islam on Thursday.
But he refused to face either Mr Gove or Mr Johnson as he feared a “blue-on-blue” conflict.
Instead, Mr Gove faced the same live grilling on Friday.
Electors got the chance to see a REAL live debate – with Leave and Remain campaigners facing each other – in the live Express.co.uk referendum debate on Friday afternoon.
Brexit campaigners Ukip leader Nigel Farage, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg and Labour's Kate Hoey faced off against EU-backers Labour MPs Chuka Umunna and Siobhain McDonagh and Innocent Smoothies co-founder Richard Reed.
A full replay of the EU debate is available here.