The Tory leadership race has heated up with contender Rory Stewart launching an attack on rival Boris Johnson.

The international development secretary said he could not serve under a government led by Mr Johnson over his supprort of a no-deal Brexit if further talks with the EU fail.

The swipe came as Labour insisted it would force a commons vote of no confidence in the new prime minister as soon as possible.

As Tory tensions rose, Mr Stewart told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme a no-deal exit would be ‘damaging and dishonest’.

He said: ‘I could not serve in a government whose policy was to push this country into a no-deal Brexit. I could not serve with Boris Johnson.

‘I spoke to Boris, I suppose, about two weeks ago about this and I thought at the time he had assured me that he wouldn’t push for a no-deal Brexit.

‘So, we had a conversation about 20, 25 minutes and I left the room reassured by him that he wouldn’t do this.

‘But, it now seems that he is coming out for a no-deal Brexit.’

Mr Stewart said there was no majority in the Commons for a no deal, adding: ‘I think it would be a huge mistake. Damaging, unnecessary and I think also dishonest’.

Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson, the bookies’ favourite to replace Theresa May, said he is willing to back a no deal departure to ensure the UK leaves the EU on October 31.

Mr Hancock, 40, announced he was running for the leadership this morning because the party needed to look to the future and attract younger voters.

If chosen as party leader he says he would take a different approach to try and get Commons support for a Brexit deal.

He said: ‘She didn’t start by levelling with people about the trade-offs. I think it is much, much easier to bring people together behind a proposal if you are straightforward in advance.’

Warning against an early eletion, the MP for West Suffolk said: ‘Some of my contenders may say that if they don’t get their preferred option, whether it be no deal or something else, then they’ll have a general election.

‘I put it to you that would be a disaster for the country and it would risk Corbyn by Christmas.’

Shaddow Chancellor told the Today programme Labour would force Commons no confidence vote against Mrs May’s replacement.

He explained: ‘Because we believe any incoming prime minister in these circumstance should go to the country anyway and seek a mandate.’

Mr McDonnell said that Labour needed to have a new ‘conversation’ about the way forward on Brexit.

Refusing to rule himself out as a leadership candidate, international trade secretary Liam Fox told the BBC: ‘Well, I don’t think it’s likely to happen, but, as you say, it’s an unusual contest.’

He said it would be best for the UK to leave the EU with an agreement but conceded a no deal exit was ‘incresingly likely now’.

He added: ‘I think there’s a limited patience from the European Union with Britain’s constant delay.’

Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, who has said she will not stand for the top job said: ‘I would be very concerned about somebody who is too enthusiastic about no deal.

‘It is very important that whoever takes this on looks for a solution and tries to work to find where the majority of the House (of Commons) is.’

Several Tories are understood to be considering a bid with five confirming their leadership ambitions as of this morning.

Whoever is elected by the Conservative Party’s 124,000 members will automatically take over as prime minister.

The party expects this to happen at the end of July after Mrs May finally laid out a timetable for her departure from Downing Street after weeks of pressure.

The timetable for the contest will see nominations close in the week of June 10, with MPs involved in a series of votes to whittle down a crowded field to two final contenders.

Tory party members will then decide who wins the run-off.

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