Young mum challenges Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tory spin during visit to Washington

Boris Johnson was taken to task over fake news by a young mum during a visit to Wearside.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) takes questions during a visit to Fergusons Transport in WashingtonPrime Minister Boris Johnson (right) takes questions during a visit to Fergusons Transport in Washington
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) takes questions during a visit to Fergusons Transport in Washington

Paige Hood, 25, challenged the Prime Minister during a session with employees at Ferguson's Transport in Washington.

She asked why the Tories needed to set up fake websites and paid for Google advertising to rank their own sites higher than Labour's.

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The Prime Minister admitted: "The short answer is, I haven't the foggiest idea.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson responds to Paige HoodPrime Minister Boris Johnson responds to Paige Hood
Prime Minister Boris Johnson responds to Paige Hood

He claimed: "A lot of this is, basically, kind of a media diversion,” but when it was pointed out that the questioner was a member of the public, said: "I'm very sorry you can't find that online but I'm sure it's there somewhere."

Afterwards Paige told reporters: "I don't understand how anyone is going to trust the Conservatives at all.

"I have a little boy, last week we were in A&E for five hours and we were sent away at first. By the time he got seen to his ear drum had nearly burst. There just wasn't enough staff on A&E, there isn't any of the time."

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Asked if she believed Mr Johnson's answer, she replied: "It's either that he doesn't know - and surely he should know what's going on in his own Government - or he knew about it and he lied again."

Paige Hood is surrounded by media after she challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Fergusons Transport in WashingtonPaige Hood is surrounded by media after she challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Fergusons Transport in Washington
Paige Hood is surrounded by media after she challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Fergusons Transport in Washington

It was a second uncomfortable moment of the tour, after Mr Johnson took a reporter's phone and put it in his pocket after refusing to look at a photo of a child who had to sleep on a hospital floor.The Prime Minister told workers: "This is a broken Parliament that will not allow the people of this country to have their voices heard.

"It will not allow the people of this country to express their will.”

While on Wearside Johnson also claimed Nissan’s supply chains would be protected under his deal.

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"As I say supply chains will be protected. And we will make sure that people will continue to invest in this country and they will,” he said."Word of the visit had been kept under wraps, but the PM was still greeted by a group of Labour activists, including Washington and Sunderland West candidate Sharon Hodgson.