Scots Tory MP denies Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are 'complete fruit loops'

The battle to become the next Tory leader has lurched to the Right after James Cleverly crashed out.

A Scottish Conservative MP has denied his party's two leadership candidates are "fruit loops".

Andrew Bowie spoke out after it was announced yesterday the next Leader of the Opposition will be either Robert Jenrick or Kemi Badenoch.

Both contenders are viewed as being on the Right and have a reputation for making controversial statements on immigration and workers' rights.

Jenrick has campaigned for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, while Badenoch has questioned whether maternity pay for women is too generous.

Bowie, the Shadow Veterans' Minister, made the boast after Badenoch and Jenrick made the run-off at the expense of James Cleverly.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, presenter Matt Chorley said he was "inundated" with responses from listeners after the result was announced. One asked “When will the Tories stop picking leaders who are complete fruit loops?”

Chorley asked Bowie, who is backing Badenoch: “Just to confirm, Andrew, you don’t think either of them are fruit loops?”

The West Aberdeenshire MP replied: “No, absolutely not. I can categorically confirm I do not think the candidates are fruit loops.”

Meanwhile, a second Scots Tory denied that Jenrick and Badenoch were on the "extreme right" of the party.

John Cooper, the new MP for Dumfries and Galloway, insisted a lot of voters were "very concerned" about immigration.

He was read a list of comments from listeners on BBC Radio 5 which branded the pair "two right-wingers", "complete fruit loops", and "utterly unelectable".

The MP responded: "You'll be unsurprised to hear I don't agree with that at all. This narrative that Kemi and Rob are both extreme right is nonsense. We're looking for common ground. A lot of people are very concerned about immigration, but it's not an obsession."

Conservative party members will be given the final vote on who should replace Rishi Sunak as leader, with a winner being declared on November 2.

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