Sky News has cancelled the third scheduled TV debate in the Conservative Party leadership race for the next UK Prime Minister after Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss pulled out of the event following a bruising set of exchanges in the first two debates, The Guardian reported.

“Two of the three candidates currently leading in the MPs’ ballots – Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss – have confirmed to Sky News that they do not want to take part,” the broadcaster announced in a statement.

“Conservative MPs are said to be concerned about the damage the debates are doing to the image of the Conservative party, exposing disagreements and splits within the party.”

The decision came hours before the third round of voting by Tory MPs, with the backbencher Tom Tugendhat predicted to be the latest candidate eliminated, reducing the field to four.