Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt admit Tories will be destroyed if they call a snap election before Brexit

THE Tories will collapse if Britain ends up holding a snap election before Brexit, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt both warned today.

Both candidates to be PM ruled out calling an early General Election as they clashed for the last time at a debate hosted by The Sun and talkRADIO.

It came as the two Tory rivals appeared to kiss and make up, cracking a string of gags in front of an audience of Sun readers at our London HQ.

In a revealing clash:

• The pair disagreed over whether to cut the number of immigrants to Britain
• They both hit out at Donald Trump for tweeting that four non-white US politicians should leave the country
• BoJo refused to reveal if he’ll bring girlfriend Carrie to No10 with him
• He insisted only a true believer can deliver Brexit and convince the EU he’s serious
• Mr Hunt appeared to offer Mr Johnson the job of Chancellor
• Both candidates committed to including at least one woman in their top team

Asked by host Tom Newton Dunn if he’d rule out a snap election, Mr Johnson replied: “Absolutely.”

He added: “I think it would be the height of folly. I think the people of this country are utterly fed up with politicians coming back to them offering referendums or elections.”

Mr Hunt tore into his rival for rigidly sticking to the October 31 Brexit deadline – warning it could backfire spectacularly.

He said: “We have got to be very careful. If we get this wrong we will trip ourselves into an accidental General Election long before October 31.

“And we might well give the keys to Downing Street to somebody who will never deliver Brexit. And that will be the biggest betrayal.”

The pair both admitted that getting a change to the Irish backstop would not be enough to save Theresa May’s doomed Brexit deal.

Mr Hunt said: “I don’t believe a time limit will do the trick. We have got to find a new way.

“But the thing we must do is give a cast iron commitment to the Republic of Ireland that we will not have border infrastructure.”

BoJo added: “I’m not attracted to time limits or unilateral escape hatches.”

JABS AND JOKES

The two men, who have been running an increasingly bitter campaign, took several personal jabs at each other during the debate.

Boris took aim at Mr Hunt’s admission that he would consider delaying Brexit by a few weeks in order to finalise a deal.

He blasted: “I’m just anxious that we don’t send out a signal to the rest of the Eu that we’re willing to contemplate another delay.

“I think it’s absolutely absurd – we said on March 29 we were going to delay until April 8, there turned out to be a delay of another six months, I’m hearing that Jeremy might delay for a few days.

“Well how many days? Is that three days, is that six days? You’ve said you’d be prepared to wait until Christmas, which Christmas is it?”

In his own swipe at his rival, Mr Hunt said: “Boris will put a smile on your face and he does it better than anyone.

“But if you want the detailed delivery of Brexit you have got to have a plan….People want calm leadership and delivery.”

But often it was better-natured than previous encounters as the pair joked together.

When the pair agreed that the backstop was not needed to protect the Irish borde, Mr Johnson said: “I like the way Jeremy is talking now, this new spirit of optimism!”

Mr Hunt joked, “Join my cabinet!” – prompting the reply from BoJo: “I wouldn’t be so impertinent as to use this opportunity to lobby you for a job.”

Just a week before one of them will be crowned the next leader and PM, Boris was seen travelling from his Westminster office to Sun HQ at London Bridge.

The 90-minute-long showdown is taking place at the News Building, where both candidates were grilled by Political Editor Tom Newton Dunn.

He pressed them to answer Sun readers’ tough questions on what they will do if they are to lead Britain through Brexit and beyond.

The debate was broadcast live on The Sun Online and across our social media channels as well as TalkRADIO.

You can watch and keep up with all the action on our live-stream and live-blog here.