Boris Johnson has told a Conservative Friends of Israel dinner that in the event of a no-confidence vote in the government, Tory MPs would back a no-deal Brexit to avoid the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister. 

The Tory leadership favourite made his claim as he spoke to around 80 CFI supporters at a dinner at a Whitehall hotel in central London on Tuesday evening.

A CFI source told the JC the event had "been in the diary" for months. 

A planned Sky News debate with leadership rival Jeremy Hunt, who is also set to address a seperate CFI event,  had been called off on Tuesday after Mr Johnson said he would not take part.

Instead Mr Johnson delivered a 20 minute speech to the gathering in front of leading CFI figures such as honorary president Lord Polak, chairman Andrew Heller, and parliamentary chair Stephen Crabb.

But it was during a 40 minute long question and answer session that he gave his thoughts on the possibility a government led by himself collapsing if he delivered a no deal Brexit.

Reports have suggested up to 15 Tories would be willing to bring down the government to stop Mr Johnson's 'crazy no deal.'

Mr Johnson also indicated that he had no desire to call a general election if he negotiated his way through Brexit.

One diner said: "Boris suggested we had just had a succession of elections and seemed to think he could muddle through to 2021."

At one stage Mr Johnson seemed to suggest negotiations were on-going behind the scenes with those in other political parties wishing to deliver the withdrawal agreement.

On other topics, Mr Johnson attacked the "Hamas and Hezbollah supporting" Mr Corbyn.

He also pledged to support continued funding of Holocaust education and also gave his support for the planned Holocaust Memorial near Parliament.

Asked for his thoughts on President Trump's 'deal of the century' peace plan to end the Israel/Palestine conflict, Mr Johnson said he believed it had "potential."

One guest later told the JC: "At the start of the night I was having massive concerns at Boris becoming PM.

"By the end of the night I thought I had witnessed him at his brilliant best."

Boris has been a long-standing supporter of CFI and has spoken at events in the past.