TORY leadership contender Rory Stewart has said he could not serve in a government led by Boris Johnson pushing a no-deal Brexit agenda.

The International Development Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I could not serve in a government whose policy was to push this country into a no-deal Brexit.

"I could not serve with Boris Johnson."

Stewart said: "I spoke to Boris, I suppose, about two weeks ago about this and I thought at the time he had assured me that he wouldn't push for a no-deal Brexit.

"So, we had a conversation about 20, 25 minutes and I left the room reassured by him that he wouldn't do this.

"But, it now seems that he is coming out for a no-deal Brexit."

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has refused to rule himself out as a Tory leadership candidate.

Asked if he would stand, Fox told the BBC: "Well, I don't think it's likely to happen, but, as you say, it's an unusual contest."

Fox said: "It is best for us to leave with an agreement.

"But, I think that it is possible, and probably increasingly likely now, that we could leave without a deal because I think there's a limited patience from the European Union with Britain's constant delay."

Asked if Labour would force a Commons no confidence vote in the new prime minister when they take office, shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Today programme: "Yes.

"Because we believe any incoming prime minister in these circumstance should go to the country anyway and seek a mandate."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is the latest Cabinet minister to declare he will stand for the Tory leadership.

He told the BBC: "Yes. I'm going to run to be the next prime minister."

Hancock said he would take a different approach to try and get Commons support for a Brexit deal than the one Theresa May used.

He said: "She didn't start by levelling with people about the trade-offs.

"I think it is much, much easier to bring people together behind a proposal if you are straightforward in advance."

Hancock said: "Some of my contenders may say that if they don't get their preferred option, whether it be no deal or something else, then they'll have a general election.

"I put it to you that would be a disaster for the country and it would risk Corbyn by Christmas."

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd told the BBC: "I would be very concerned about somebody who is too enthusiastic about no deal.

"It is very important that whoever takes this on looks for a solution and tries to work to find where the majority of the House (of Commons) is."

Tory leadership contender Matt Hancock has tweeted: "We need a leader for the future, not just for now. That's why I'm running to be Prime Minister."