Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn were interviewed by Neil on Monday and Tuesday respectively this week, with the Labour leader suffering a rough ride over his party’s record on anti-Semitism and its tax and spending plans.
It is understood that the BBC had planned a third special interview with Neil on Wednesday night, which was mysteriously cancelled and replaced with his regular show featuring multiple guests.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage will face Neil next week.
Labour party chair Ian Lavery accused Johnson of “running scared” from Neil.
“Boris Johnson backed out of a head-to-head debate with Jeremy Corbyn on Sunday, he is refusing to take part in the party leaders’ climate crisis debate tomorrow and now this,” he said.
“He’s running scared because every time he is confronted with the impact of nine years of austerity, the cost of living crisis and over his plans to sell out our NHS, the more he is exposed.”
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