Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss intensify attacks during hard-fought Tory leadership TV debate

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss trashed each other's economic plans as the blue-on-blue attacks intensified during their first head-to-head TV showdown last night. The debate began in what viewers at home called bizarre fashion - saying a camera zoom made both senior politicians resemble cardboard cut-outs.

Mr Sunak and Ms Truss also gave their views on levelling up - in the face of regional newspapers across the north west, including the Manchester Evening News, joining forces to urge Number 10: "Don't turn your back on the North.

Former chancellor Mr Sunak went on to claimed there was 'nothing Conservative' about Ms Truss's approach and it would give the party 'absolutely no chance' of winning the next election. Foreign Secretary Ms Truss in turn suggested her rival would lead the country into a recession and criticised him for increasing taxes to the “highest rate in 70 years”.

On China, Ms Truss accused her rival of “pushing for closer trade relationships” while Mr Sunak said “Liz has been on a journey” to get to a point where she opposes closer ties. Mr Sunak also sought to stress his decision to quit Mr Johnson’s government as a sign he acts according to his principles while Ms Truss stressed her loyalty to her current boss.

In a rare sign of harmony, both candidates said they would want the other to be involved in their government although allies of Ms Truss were reported to have said Mr Sunak had demonstrated “aggressive mansplaining and shouty private school behaviour” during the debate.

A snap poll by Opinium, based on a sample of 1,032 voters, found 39% believed Mr Sunak had performed best compared to 38% for Ms Truss. The studio audience in Stoke was made up entirely of people who voted Conservative at the last