Tory leadership debate – live: Johnson refuses to say whether he would resign if Brexit deadline is missed as he flounders over US diplomatic row

The first question after the interval sees the candidates asked why their personal qualities mean they should be prime minister.

Boris Johnson says he can unite the Tories and the country, pointing out that he won two elections as London mayor and helped Leave to win in the 2016 referendum.

Jeremy Hunt says he is prepared to do the unpopular and stand up to people, as he did to Donald Trump today. He gets a big round of applause for saying the US president's comments were "unacceptable".

Johnson is asked whether he agrees that the comments were wrong. He refuses to do so, going off on a tangent about the importance of the UK-US relationship, before sort of admitting that Trump should not have said what he did.

The candidates are now rowing over the future of Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to the US.

Hunt promises to keep Sir Kim in post "until he is due to retire" and challenges Johnson to say the same. Johnson says he would not be "presumptuous" enough to assume he will be in a position to take that decision.

Boris Johnson: "We've had a bellyful of defeatism"

Jeremy Hunt attacks Boris Johnson over his promise to cut taxes for higher earners, saying it sends "the wrong message about our party"

Johnson says he would prioritise tax cuts for lower-paid people. He asks Hunt if he supports people on "moderate, middle incomes" paying the higher rate of tax. 

Hunt says his priority is people on low incomes. He says:

"I have spent my life trying to persuade people that we are not the party of the rich, we are party of everyone."

The candidates are asked about scrapping the ban on abortion in Northern Ireland. Hunt says yes, but Johnson says it should be a matter for the people of Northern Ireland.

We're onto the last question, which is about the qualities the candidates admire in each other.

Boris Johnson struggles to answer. He eventually says: "I greatly admire his ability to change his mind and campaign for Brexit now."

Hunt gives an equally petty answer, sarcastically saying he admires Johnson"s ability to answer a question.

It's been a much feistier debate than many expected, and ends on a bitter note, as Johnson says the country has had enough of the "managerialism" that Hunt embodies.

The pair make their usual closing statements, with both saying they are the most likely to deliver Brexit, and that is it. Analysis to follow.

Snap analysis: The debate was more heated than many people expected it to be, with both candidates landing several punches.

Jeremy Hunt landed the most blows and pushed his rival well on several areas, including whether he would resign if he failed to deliver Brexit by 31 October, and whether he would rule out proroguing parliament. Johnson seemed evasive throughout, and Hunt leapt on it.

The current frontrunner also became increasingly rattled, frequently shouting over his rival and the moderator, Julie Etchingham.

Hunt, calm and assured, appeared the most statesmanlike, and had some good lines on Mr Johnson's trustworthiness and the detail of his promises. He accused him of a lack of leadership and prioritising tax cuts for wealthy people, and suggested that Johnson was making empty promises and failing to provide enough detail. It was a clear strategy to suggest that his rival is unfit to be prime minister. 

But Johnson had some good barbs of his own, quickly turning Hunt's points about realism into accusations of negativity. He was also quick to point out that his rival was not a "true" Brexiteer, and accuse him of opportunism.

Johnson's responses will go down well with the people who matter in this contest: Tory members. He accused his rival of "defeatism" and "managerialism" and offered a much more upbeat message, particularly on Brexit. That is what the party faithful want to hear.

While Hunt offered realism and seriousness, the accusation that he is overly negative could prove effective. Many people may not fully buy into Johnson's promises but voters are known to love a positive message.

The debate is unlikely to change the outcome of the contest, and the surprising level of bitterness between the two candidates could prove the most significant takeaway. If Boris Johnson does become prime minister, will Mr Hunt's aggression tonight cost him his cabinet job? We'll find out in a few weeks' times. 

Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson clash: "You haven't answered any of my questions", says Hunt

Boris Johnson refuses to promise to keep Kim Darroch as US ambassador

Matt Hancock, who is backing Boris Johnson, has a dig at Jeremy Hunt's accusation that Johnson is "peddling optimism"...