Has he got Boris licked? Jeremy Hunt tucks into ice cream on campaign trail

An increasingly bullish Jeremy Hunt was joined by wife Lucia on the campaign trail today - as polls suggested he is gaining ground.

The would-be PM has been enjoying the sunshine in Bournemouth as he prepares for another hustings showdown with rival Boris Johnson. 

The frantic pace the self-confessed 'underdog' has set in the battle for the keys to Downing Street seems to be delivering results. Polls today found he had improved his standing among voters and Tory supporters - although he is still lagging with party members. 

Despite the positive signs, Mr Hunt's other half looked less than impressed with his technique as he risked guzzling down his cone in front of photographers. 

Mr Hunt has been running a high-energy campaign as he tries to overhaul Mr Johnson's advantage in the contest.

Jeremy Hunt tucked into an early-morning ice cream today as wife Lucia joined him on the Tory leadership campaign trail in Bournemouth (pictured)

Jeremy Hunt tucked into an early-morning ice cream today as wife Lucia joined him on the Tory leadership campaign trail in Bournemouth (pictured)

Mr and Mrs Hunt looked to be having a good time as they soaked up the sunshine on the beach

Mr and Mrs Hunt looked to be having a good time as they soaked up the sunshine on the beach

An Ipsos Mori poll today suggested Mr Hunt is gaining ground on Mr Johnson on who the public think would make a good PM - although he still seems to be some way behind among the Tory members who will decide the winner

He has travelled around 2,000 miles in the past week and made a slew of TV appearances, while relentlessly trolling his competitor about his unwillingness to face scrutiny. 

An Ipsos Mori poll for the Standard today found Mr Hunt is regarded as having what it takes to become a good PM by 31 per cent of the public - while 42 per cent said the opposite.

Mr Johnson's net rating was considerably worse on 34 per cent positive and 53 per cent negative. 

But the bookies' favourite has the advantage among Tory supporters, with 59 per cent thinking he has what it takes, compared to 53 per cent for Mr Hunt.

Remainer MPs launch latest attempt to stop No Deal Brexit

Remainer MPs led by Tory Dominic Grieve and Labour's Dama Margaret Beckett have launched a new bid to stop the UK from ever leaving the EU without a deal. 

They have tabled an amendment, set to be voted on next week, which would stop a number of Whitehall departments from being given funding unless MPs have either agreed to a Brexit deal or agreed to the UK leaving the bloc without a deal. 

Effectively, it would give MPs a veto over No Deal and the final say on how the UK leaves the bloc. 

However, using departmental funding as leverage is likely to make some potential backers of the amendment queasy and may stop them from backing it.

MPs have already demonstrated that there is an anti-No Deal majority in the House of Commons, having previously won votes attempting to rule out such a split from the EU. 

But the latest move is more aggressive than previous attempts and opinion is divided over whether enough Tory MPs will be willing to rebel to get it over the line.

If they do then it could represent a major headache for Boris Johnson if he is the next PM. 

He has not ruled out suspending Parliament to stop MPs thwarting No Deal. 

But if he tried to ignore the latest amendment, should it pass, it would likely spark a constitutional crisis.  

And Mr Johnson appears to be the overwhelming choice of party members, whose votes will decide the contest. 

The latest grass-roots ConservativeHome survey found he was backed by 65 per cent, and Mr Hunt 30 per cent - although he does seem to have gained some ground since the campaign kicked off for real. 

In the equivalent poll last week, which featured the last four contenders including Sajid Javid and Michael Gove, Mr Hunt scored just 11 per cent. 

But he has now risen 19 points. 

Mr Johnson today tried to get his faltering campaign back on track by insisting anyone who serves in his Cabinet must vow to force Brexit through by Halloween.

The Tory front runner has said cutting ties with the EU by October 31 will be 'do or die', and made clear every minister must be 'reconciled' to leaving without an agreement if necessary.

The stark warning came amid confusion over whether Mr Johnson would be willing to suspend Parliament in order to stop MPs blocking No Deal. 

Mr Johnson dodged when asked whether he would use the explosive tactic last night, but his close ally Liz Truss then insisted he had ruled it out. 

The huge obstacles Mr Johnson faces have also been underlined by the

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