Robert Jenrick's brutal dig at Kemi Badenoch as Tory leadership race gets messy

Robert Jenrick said the Tories need a leader who doesn't 'get drawn down rabbit holes' and spend time doing 'battle on Twitter' in a barbed jibe at rival Kemi Badenoch

Robert Jenrick has delivered a savage dig at Kemi Badenoch - saying the Tories need a leader who doesn't get "drawn down rabbit holes" or spend time doing "battle on Twitter".

The leadership hopeful told an audience the parties need "a serious plan, not needless drama" as he claimed he could bring years of feuding to an end. It comes after Ms Badenoch became embroiled in a number of high profile spats with figures including Dr Who star David Tennant and fellow Tory Suella Braverman.

Mr Jenrick made the remarks amid a fallout after he and fellow hard-right contender Ms Badenoch made the final two in the battle to replace Rishi Sunak. He denied accusations of "shenanegans" after favourite James Cleverly was dumped out of the race on Wednesday. Pitching himself to supporters, he said the public needs to see the Tories have "serious answers".

Mr Jenrick went on: "They need to see that we are laser focused on what they really care about, not getting drawn down rabbit holes." And in another barbed reference to his competitor he said: "We exist to serve our country in government, not to do battle on Twitter."

The final two will go head-to-head in the final stretch of the elongated leadership battle. Party members - who previously inflicted Liz Truss on the country - will have the final say, with the winner announced on November 2.

Mr Jenrick attempted to sidestep a question on whether Ms Badenoch is an unserious candidate, saying: "I think the whole party has been characterised by disunity by petty squabbling and by differences that need to end.

"That is what the public are expecting from us right now. So if I'm lucky enough to lead the party, that is what I want. I want to heal the party."

Mr Cleverly's shock exit sparked suspicions of badly-executed tactical voting, with the Shadow Home Secretary's fans trying to secure an easier contest for their favourite. Mr Jenrick said: "There are always horse trading in these things, but I think in the privacy of the ballot box, my colleagues in Parliament chose me."

Pressed again on whether he'd had a hand in any "shenanegans" he said: "We worked relentlessly to persuade colleagues, to get the greatest number of supporters we could in Parliament. And I think you would have seen in the way that I've conducted myself over the summer, that we've worked hard."

If he is to succeed, Mr Jenrick will need to convince members that he can credibly take on Nigel Farage's Reform UK and win voters back. Last week Mr Farage accused him of being "a man that believed in nothing" pitching himself as "the great hardliner". The Reform UK leader claimed Mr Jenrick was acting "for political gain and not out of conviction".

Quizzed on whether he is a genuine right-winger, having previously been an ally of Mr Sunak, he said: "I know my values haven't changed. What has changed is the exposure to the reality on the ground."

Ms Badenoch has called on Tory members to "go bold" and back her, also claiming she could unite the party. She has previously been involved in high-profile public spats with journalists, Dr Who star David Tennant and former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton.