Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak debate scrapped after host Kate McCann faints

The latest Tory leadership debate between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss has been cancelled after the presenter fainted on air.

The Sun and TalkTV debate, hosted by journalist Kate McCann, abruptly halted around halfway through after a loud crash was heard.

TalkTV said McCann was "fine" but the channel had been given medical advice not to continue.

"We apologise to our viewers and listeners," the channel added.

The leadership candidates tweeted that they were relieved to hear McCann was fine, and indicated they would be happy to stage a rematch.

The TalkTV presenter had been due to co-host the debate alongside The Sun's political editor Harry Cole, but he pulled out after testing positive for Covid.

Before it was halted, the latest televised debate between the two candidates had been covering tax, the state of the NHS and rising living costs.

They had been about to begin a section on the UK's support for Ukraine when the debate went off air.

The candidates displayed a more conciliatory tone, in contrast to the fierce clashes that had marked Monday's debate on BBC One.

Ms Truss repeated her charge that the former chancellor had been "morally wrong" to put up National Insurance.

She added that economic growth was "anaemic" and his plan to raise corporation tax next year would tip the UK economy into recession.

But Mr Sunak responded that the NI hike had been a "brave decision" to raise money for the NHS, and it was "entirely reasonable" to ask bigger companies to pay more to repair the public finances in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

In a pointed rejoinder, he said: "What's morally wrong is asking our children and grandchildren to pick up the tab for the bills that we are not prepared to meet."