Conservative leader Boris Johnson has been challenged to justify Government spending cuts, when he appears on a head-to-head TV debate with Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday night.

Laura Pidcock, a member of Labour’s Shadow Cabinet and the party’s candidate for North West Durham, said Mr Johnson gave the impression that the Government’s record was nothing to do with him, when in fact he had been a supporter of the Tory-led administration that has been in power since 2010.

She was speaking in the run-up to Monday night’s election debate, hosted by presenter Julie Etchingham, to be broadcast on ITV from 8pm on Tuesday.

Setting out the three questions Mr Johnson should answer, she sad: “ Boris Johnson has been part of the Government of austerity. The main issue for people on the doorstep is that things have got worse over the past 10 years.

“As somebody who has voted to make their communities worse, how is he not going to deliver more pain, misery and suffering?

“Secondly, how would he change Britain’s course on climate change, when the Tories have made no announcements recognising that we are in climate breakdown and we can do something about it.”

She said the third issue Mr Johnson should address is historic sexual and physical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. The Prime Minister angered some people when he suggested investigating historic abuse was a waste of money.

She said: “There were hundreds if not thousands of victims at Medomsley. What would he say to people who were boys and young men at the time?”

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn

Boris Johnson is presenting himself as a fresh face rather than the incumbent, and sometimes appears to attack the record of recent governments almost as if he had been on the opposition benches.

For example, speaking on Monday to business leaders at the CBI, he highlighted regional inequalities.

Mr Johnson said: “If the potential is enormous then so is the injustice. Some regions that are now 50 per cent less productive than London.”

And he told his audience: “There are some parts of the country where people lives are a decade shorter than elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Guy Opperman said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn should be forced to reveal whether he supports Brexit or not.

Labour has set out plans to negotiate a new Brexit deal with the EU before holding a referendum on whether the UK should go ahead with Brexit or cancel it. Mr Corbyn has so far refused to say whether he personally believes the country would be better off leaving with such a deal or staying in the EU.

Mr Opperman, Conservative candidate for Hexham, said: “Every voter in the North of England wnats to know hwat his position is on Brexit. Does he support it, or is he against it?

“If he does not come up with a view and show leadership then he will continue to struggle.

“Is he the Jeremy Corbyn of the London Islington crowd, who are completely comitted to remain, or is he the Jeremy Corbyn that is commited to leave? Nobody knows.”

The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have lost a High Court challenge against ITV over its decision to exclude their party leaders from the television debate, and will therefore not take part.

It means a head-to-head debate between Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn will be aired on ITV on Tuesday at 8pm.

Sky will host a three-way debate including Mr Johnson, Mr Corbyn and Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson on November 28.

The next day, the BBC will host a seven-way debate in Cardiff on November 29, between leaders or senior figures from the seven major GB political parties.

The broadcaster will then host a “prime ministerial debate” on December 6 from Southampton between Mr Corbyn and Mr Johnson.