Thread by @thepatrickdaly

Rory Stewart the first to face the #lobbyhustings this morning. Taking the approach to passing the withdrawal agreement that Theresa May failed to. Feels composed but not rehearsed

He defends idea of a Citizens Assembly to solve Brexit if he can't get WA through Parliament on first time of asking. Says wouldn't accept proposals that couldn't get past MPs. Says: 'I don't expect them to come up with a unicorn...we have 4 other candidates selling unicorns'

Stewart rules out holding an election before 2022 if becomes PM - says election would be 'catastrophic, divisive & a really dumb thing to do'. Says would put all energy into 'turning this country around' #lobbyhustings

Sajid Javid second up at the #lobbyhustings. Asked him how he wins remain cities like Bristol - the place he grew up - being pro-Brexit. Says he's the candidate who would have broadest appeal to win disaffected Labour, Lib Dem & other dissefected voters if becomes PM

Saying that, Javid says he would still vote to leave if there was another referendum. 'Look at the uncertainty it is causing..we have to put an end to this debate', says the Home Secretary #lobbyhustings

Javid mentions his Bristol upbringing again in relation to drug consumption rooms. Says he would be 'hesitant' to bring them in as remembers growing up in Stapleton Road which was 'centre of local drug trade'. Adds: 'They (drugs) are a huge cancer on our society' #lobbyhustings

Jeremy Hunt is third up in the #lobbyhustings. Says no deal better than not leaving - 'The democratic risk of no Brexit is greater than the economic risk of no deal'

Hunt says he would vote to leave in 2nd ref - 'The reason I voted remain was, like many people, I was worried about the short term economic impact. That turned out to be not like what people predicted' #lobbyhustings

Dominic Raab is 4th up at #lobbyhustings. Says approach to Brexit would be trying to get 'Malthouse Compromise' through (i.e. alternative arrangements on Irish border) & if unsuccessful, go for no-deal

Raab says his support is growing: 'YouGov polling out today shows I'm the only candidate that can beat Boris when it comes to the final two.' Says 'quietly confident' of getting through 2nd round tomorrow #lobbyhustings

Raab says he would bring about an early budget if becomes PM with 'range of measures to boost biz' but says not sure that means further corporation tax cuts yet. 'I want to send the clearest possible message to business that we will back them through Brexit' #lobbyhustings

It's telling that there's one candidate that the rivals have attacked - and it's not Boris. Javid criticised Rory Stewart for appealing to Labour rather than Tory voters, while Raab just weighed in on his Citizens Assembly idea #lobbyhustings #scaredofRory

Michael Gove is our fifth #lobbyhustings candidate. Asked about the backstop, says he'll be looking to put a 'full stop' on it by working up alternative arrangements which could prevent backstop being used or limit how long it's in place for

Gove tells me as the son of a fishing merchant, he wants to have an independent fishing policy in place by Jan 2021 & wants to look into ways of inshore & wider fleet to have access to 'bounty' that being outside CFP would provide #lobbyhustings

He's asked about how to bridge North/South divide & Gove says big issue is 'world of work is changing' with growth of AI. Says would make training opportunities more available if PM #lobbyhustings

Gove on his perceived lack of 'star appeal' with voters - refers back to the leave campaign, saying: 'I have led & taken on the arguments at the heart of a national campaign & succeeded' #lobbyhustings

And that's it for today. You'll notice that there was no sixth candidate - Boris Johnson refused to accept the Lobby's invitation. Yes, that's right - the favourite to be the next PM wanted to avoid facing the nation's media #lobbyhustings

Here's my scorecard (1/2) for the #lobbyhustings
1. Rory Stewart - 8/10. Refreshingly different but blathered on how would vote in 2nd ref
2. Sajid Javid - 6/10. Solid but felt rehearsed.& lacked policy conviction
3. Jeremy Hunt - 5/10. Feels statesman like but wooden performance

Scorecard cont. (2/2)
4. Dominic Raab - 7/10. Sure of himself & seemed more composed than on C4. Got bogged down in 'prorogue parliament' option
5. Michael Gove - 6/10. Witty & easily the most humorous performance but evaded a number of questions. Strong on Brexit credentials