Boris Johnson keeps his cool to fend off debate attacks over creaking NHS and burka comment controversy

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BORIS Johnson kept his cool under fire over the creaking NHS and his controversial comment on burkas.

The PM was also cheered loudly when he promised to get Brexit done as he told the audience: I want next year to be a fantastic year.

Boris Johnson kept his cool under fire during the Question Time leaders’ debate

There were accusations that Fiona Bruce went harder on Mr Johnson… she and the audience interrupted the PM 45 times while Mr Corbyn was only stopped speaking 11 times, Ms Sturgeon 15 and Ms Swinson 17 times.

Mr Johnson did come under fire for supposedly trying to duck scrutiny with his suspension of Parliament and decision to so far hold only one press conference in the election campaign. He also got a grilling on the importance of the PM always to tell the truth.

Some laughed when he replied: It is absolutely vital.

But in a bid to turn the argument, Mr Johnson insisted trust was fundamental to this election yet it had been corroded by MPs failure to deliver Brexit.

To cheers, Mr Johnson said: I want next year to be a fantastic year for our country and we need to get Brexit done to do it. Picking up on the repetitive soundbite, show host Fiona Bruce teased Boris to say: Ah there we are, it took about three minutes for you to get that one out.

‘I DEFEND MY RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT’

One audience member demanded Boris apologise for provocative comments as a newspaper columnist before he became PM, from dubbing Muslim women in Islamic dress letterboxes to calling gay people bumboys.

Mr Johnson said: Ive genuinely intended never to cause pain to anybody.

If you go through all my articles with a fine-toothed comb, no doubt you will find stuff that can be made to seem offensive.

I defend my right to speak out, and Ive always stood up for gender equality. To the charge of ducking out of criticism, the PM hit back: Why am I avoiding scrutiny? Well here I am, Im quite happy to be scrutinised.

But he struggled to explain why an allegedly damaging report by MPs about Russias influence on Britains democracy had been sat on by Downing Street.

Mr Johnson was hit by questions about the NHS but said he was committed to building new hospitals something he can only do because the economy has grown since Labour left office.

After the debate he tweeted: We will get Brexit done, invest in our NHS, schools and police, and cut taxes for you and your family. Lets unleash Britains potential.

There were accusations last night Bruce went harder on Mr Johnson than the other leaders. She and the audience interrupted the PM 45 times in total, while Mr Corbyn was only stopped speaking 11 times, Ms Sturgeon 15 times and Ms Swinson 17 times.

VERDICT: Forced on ropes several times but not afraid to be combative. Gratifyingly, he dumped most of his tedious campaign soundbites. 4/5

Corbyn also came under fire for his manifesto and Brexit dithering