Downing Street has slapped down Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope after he claimed Kemi Badenoch is “preoccupied with her children”. Weighing in on the Conservative Party leadership race in a television interview, the MP for Christchurch had claimed it was impossible to be an opposition leader while spending “all your time” with your family.

The claims have been condemned, with Alexa Knight, director of England at the Mental Health Foundation charity, telling the Independent: “The pamphlet’s statement that there is no conceivable explanation for the growth of people out of work experiencing mental health problems is wrong.”

Ruth Davidson said Kemi Badenoch "clearly thinks she is winning" as she is doing very little media compared with her rival Robert Jenrick.

The Conservative Party leadership contest seems to have been heavily focused on immigration and human rights law. These are certainly vital matters for our democracy and security. I think both candidates understand the need to bring down the current unsustainable levels of migration and to take back control of our borders.