Viewers who have enjoyed Tory leadership challengers tearing strips off each other live on TV will be disappointed as the third televised debate has been cancelled. Sky News said the two leading candidates to be the next Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister - Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss - have said they do not want to take part.
There has been concern in the Tory party about so-called blue-on-blue attacks proving damaging to the Conservative Party. Debates have already been held on Channel 4 last Friday and on ITV on Sunday and a third was due to be held on Tuesday.
In a statement, Sky News said the debate has been cancelled: "Two of the three candidates currently leading in the MPs ballots - Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss - have confirmed to Sky News that they do not want to take part.
"Conservative MPs are said to be concerned about the damage the debates are doing to the image of the Conservative Party, exposing disagreements and splits within the party. Both are very welcome to taking part in future Sky News televised debates.
"Sky News has campaigned for an independent commission to organise the running of TV debates between leaders of Britain’s main parties. Sky News and other broadcasters worked successfully together on televised leadership debates ahead of the 2010 general election."
The other challengers at the moment are Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat. One will today be eliminated from the contest as MPs cast their votes in the third round to find a replacement for Boris Johnson.
