Brexit news - live: Minister urges Tory leadership candidates to withdraw, as Conservative MP decries 'shambolic' contest'
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The race to succeed Theresa May as prime minister has been described as a "shambles", and is in danger of becoming a "tragic farce", according to a senior Tory.
With at least 13 candidates now in the Conservative leadership race, the former minister Ken Clarke said the party has "never seen such a crisis", and said there are too many contenders in the contest.
Echoing views of some of his colleagues in the party, the Tory MP said: "It is all a shambles and is in danger of becoming a rather tragic farce unless some order is brought into it. There is nothing I can do about that; the 1922 Committee perhaps should have tightened up the rules before we started."
It came as Donald Trump, the US president, arrived in the UK for an official state visit, and before even landing at Stansted Airport referred to the London mayor Sadiq Khan as a "stone cold loser".
President Trump in Britain for state visit: In pictures
Show all 40But cabinet minister James Brokenshire said those politicians boycotting Mr Trump's visit were "fundamentally mistaken".
"It's important that we engage seriously and sensibly with one of our closest allies," he said.
"People will have different views, and indeed that relationship allows us to have conversations on a range of different issues - I think the responsible thing to do is to actually engage with that process, to actually have that conversation.
"Those that are saying they don't want to see the president, I think that is fundamentally mistaken and is not in the best interests of our country or indeed, here in London, the best interests of our capital city."
This live blog has now closed, but you can read Monday's events below
On Brexit, she says "we have to out on 31 October" deal, or no deal.
Asked whether she could actually do this - given the opposition of parliament - Esther McVey says while people might try and frustrate the process, the she wouldn't be bringing back something to the House for people to amend.
Pressed on whether there would be any role for Nigel Farage in Brexit in her government, says she does not foresee a role for him.
Esther McVey is currently insisting what she is saying on LGBT lessons is "not controversial" - despite causing widespread controversy last week on the very subject.
"In terms of relationship education, are you backing parents who want to take their children out of those lessons because they don’t want children to know gay people exist?'
‘I say on this whether it’s age relevant I say it's down to the parents', she repeats.
Jeremy Hunt has praised Donald Trump's economic record and suggested he could introduce similar tax cuts for business if he becomes prime minister.
The foreign secretary, who is one of 12 candidates standing to succeed Theresa May, said the US president had delivered "double the GDP growth that we have" and said we would want to "look at" the Republican's policy of "big business cuts in tax".
Mr Trump arrived in the UK on Monday morning for a three-day state visit and was greeted at Stansted Airport by Mr Hunt and other dignitaries.
Cabinet minister and Theresa May ally James Brokenshire has insisted those politicians boycotting the US president's state visit are "fundamentally mistaken".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and Speaker John Bercow have all snubbed the Queen's invitation to a state banquet on Monday night.
Mr Brokenshire criticised those refusing to engage with Mr Trump, saying it was "not in the best interests of our country".
"It's important that we engage seriously and sensibly with one of our closest allies," he said.
"People will have different views, and indeed that relationship allows us to have conversations on a range of different issues - I think the responsible thing to do is to actually engage with that process, to actually have that conversation.
"Those that are saying they don't want to see the president, I think that is fundamentally mistaken and is not in the best interests of our country or indeed, here in London, the best interests of our capital city."
On the Conservative leadership race, Mr Brokenshire also appealed to the 13 contenders for some of them to consider pulling out of the race in order to "speed things up".
"There is a real sense of urgency when we look at the time period we have on the current extension over the Article 50 process," he said.
"We need to find a way to get on with this, to get a new leader in place quickly.
"That period of reflection is what some colleagues I hope will do, looking at their levels of support and just thinking, 'Is this the right thing to do at this time'."
According to the Press Association, the transport secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed this morning that he has no interesting in the leadership contest.
When asked what he thought of the contest as he opened a railway station in north London on Monday, he said: "I think we've got an excellent range of candidates.
"I would say that I rather agree with James Brokenshire today, and I hope those who are not really, numbers-wise, in the running, will think twice about whether they really want to go ahead with their candidacies.
"If you look at people who've got established campaigns, I think we've got some good candidates, and whoever takes over will do a good job for the country."
Boris Johnson has pledged to “significantly” increase the amount spent on every secondary school pupil to at least £5,000 if he becomes the next prime minister.
In his first major domestic policy proposal, the front-runner in the Tory leadership race said he wanted to “unleash” the talents of the nation by giving every child the same opportunity to “express their heaven-sent gifts”.
The former foreign secretary likened Britain to a “giant that is managing heroically to hop on one leg”, but said funding schools properly could enable the nation to take “gigantic strides”.
Theresa May will not hold private talks with Donald Trump during his state visit, but Downing Street has denied that the White House axed a meeting.
At least one cabinet minister will join “a delegation” that will meet with the White House team in No 10, alongside a “range of officials”, it has emerged.
The prime minister’s spokesman rejected a BBC report that White House removed a one-to-one meeting from a schedule it circulated – insisting there was “nothing unusual” about the set up.
Nigel Evans - a senior member of the Tories' 1922 committee of backbench MPs - says "we don't want what happened last time - a cosy chat".
He says the contest must not be a repeat of Theresa May versus Andrea Leadsom, and this time must go to the party membership for a vote in the final round.
Evans adds that there should be hustings around the UK with the final candidates, and televised debates.
Conservative leadership candidates have given their backing to Donald Trump and criticised Sadiq Khan following the latest row between the pair.
Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, said the London mayor was "churlish and childish", while Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, accused him of "virtue signalling".
The US president caused uproar by attacking Mr Khan on Twitter moments before landing in the UK for a three-day state visit.
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