More than 70 moderate Conservative MPs have written to both leadership contenders expressing concern over "unachievable promises" being made during the campaign, hours ahead of a hustings event.

The letter, given to The Times and signed by former ministers Sir Nicholas Soames and Nicky Morgan on behalf of the "One Nation Caucus" of MPs, demands more detail on how both men intend to handle a no-deal Brexit.

Candidates Boris Johnson has said he would ensure Brexit happens on 31 October "do or die", with Justice Secretary David Gauke accusing the frontrunner of giving no "clear explanation" of how he will secure a new withdrawal agreement with Brussels and get Britain out of the EU in under four months.

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt has admitted "if we are close to getting a deal and it will take a few more weeks, then so be it". The foreign secretary also said earlier this week that if he became prime minister he would decide at the end of September whether to continue Brexit talks with Brussels or go for a no-deal withdrawal option.

It comes as Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson speak at a Hustings event in Darlington, in the north east of England, on Friday morning and are due to speak at a second in Perth, Scotland.


During the Darlington event, Mr Johnson repeated his sentiment that no-deal planning needed to be stepped back up after preparations "slid off" following the previous 29 March deadline.

In their letter, the One Nation Tories also ask Mr Johnson and Mr Hunt to rule out any deals with the Brexit Party and to commit to not proroguing parliament, which would see it discontinued but not dissolved, to force through no-deal.

We are also deeply concerned by the rhetoric being used and the unachievable promises being made by both candidates.



Now is the time for more detail and clear answers and we hope that both candidates respond with the upmost urgency to!#OneNationConservatives want answers now! pic.twitter.com/UnHF6Dujai — One Nation Conservatives (@OneNationCons) July 5, 2019

The group calls for more information on tariff schedules, mitigation plans and contingency arrangements for a no-deal exit from the EU.

They also ask for details of any "emergency no-deal Budget" and clarifications around what the two men plan to do about the Irish border.

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Earlier this month, Mr Johnson argued the border deadlock could be resolved as part of a wider trade deal after the UK leaves the EU on 31 October.

Pressed by Sky News on how he could do that when there would be no implementation period in a no-deal scenario, he simply said he would not impose checks but call for "a standstill".

Mr Hunt said there was never going to be a deal to leave the EU with the backstop so "it has to change or has to go".

He added: "But both sides agree that if technology can do this, it's the way forward.

Image: Former minister Nicky Morgan added her signature to the letter

"I believe it is and I don't actually believe it needs new technology. I believe we can do it with the technology we have."

Mr Hunt believes there is a technological solution but the EU does not, whereas Mr Johnson believes the border can be resolved later but the EU does not.

The two are competing for the votes of 180,000 Conservative Party members, with the winner announced on 23 July.