Brexit debate challenge put to David Cameron

David Cameron was challenged to a debate by senior pro-Brexit Tories after he accused them of lying to voters about the risks of leaving the EU.

Vote Leave said a hastily-arranged press conference by the prime minister betrayed “panic” in the Remain camp and suggested he was “too chicken” to take on opponents directly.

In a joint statement, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson said the public “deserve the chance to hear these issues debated face-to-face between the prime minister and a spokesman for Vote Leave so they can judge for themselves which is the safer choice”.