Boris Johnson finally broke his silence on his row with Carrie Symonds – as he kissed a puppy out campaigning yesterday.
The Tory leadership favourite has dodged questions for over a week about the fracas that exploded when he spilt wine on her sofa.
But when a fan teased him by telling him to lay off the red wine, he joked: “It is important not to spill a drop!”
Mr Johnson, 55, was speaking to 75 Tory members at the Westmorland Agricultural Society, near Kendal, Cumbria, where he posed for pictures with cattle and kissed a Patterdale terrier.
He also addressed concerns that leaving the EU with no deal would destroy thousands of livelihoods by making British farming exports unviable.
Mr Johnson said: “I do not want there to be a no deal outcome. Instead I will be negotiating a procurement zone and tariff free area with Europe.
“Farmers should be assured that we will support the rural community, with price support, efficiency payments, whatever.”
Mr Johnson hinted he was confident of winning the Tory crown when reminded he had promised to come to the Westmorland Show in September.
The ex-Foreign Secretary looked sheepish and said: “Oops, I think I might be a bit busy then.”
Ben Berry, a councillor, said: “He faced some tough questions. I will be voting for him.
