Rory Stewart has criticised Boris Johnson over his claims that Britain could leave the EU without a deal

Rory Stewart has launched a fierce attack on Boris Johnson over his claims that Britain could leave the EU without a deal, saying: “I don’t believe it’s patriotic to bullshit.”

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Tory leadership candidate declared: “I don’t believe it’s Conservative to bullshit. I don’t believe it’s democratic to bullshit. Believing in something is no excuse if it’s nonsense.” He added: “He [Johnson] is not my country. He’s not my conservatism.”

Stewart, 46, the international development secretary, backs a deal with Brussels and refused to say if he would serve in a government led by Dominic Raab. He said his problem was the “principle” of no-deal rather than the personalities backing it.

Stewart has already ruled out serving in