Sky News has cancelled its Conservative leadership debate after Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss pulled out from the event.

The debate was due to be hosted by Kay Burley tomorrow evening.

Conservative MPs are said to be concerned about the damage the debates are doing to the image of the party, exposing disagreements and splits.

Mr Sunak and Ms Truss engaged in bad-tempered exchanges as the five remaining Conservative leadership rivals faced off in the second televised debate on ITV last night.

One more PM hopeful is set to be eliminated today when Tory MPs cast their votes in the third round of the leadership battle.

There will be successive rounds of voting by MPs this week until only two contenders remain.

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