Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are fighting it out to become Tory leader (Image: Getty Images)

       Conservative leadership contender Robert Jenrick has accused rival Kemi Badenoch of showing “disrespect” to voters by not debating him head-to-head.

       The former immigration minister says the next leader of the Tory party must be a strong debater. The next leader of the opposition will have to face Sir Keir Starmer each week at Prime Minister’s Questions.

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       The two candidates took part in a GB News event last week but did not debate directly. A BBC Question Time special is not expected to go ahead, it is reported, after Ms Badenoch declined to take part.

       Mr Jenrick said: “I will debate Kemi anytime, anywhere. I have agreed to debate after debate.

       “Unfortunately, my opponent has declined. I think that is disrespectful to the members of our party and to the general public.

       “We are applying for a serious job as leader of the opposition and as a future prime minister of this country. If you want that job, you have to be able to debate head to head.”

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       A debate would likely feature Mr Jenrick challenging Ms Badenoch on whether she would commit to taking the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights in order to remove people who do not have a right to live in the country.

       He said: “Platitudes are not enough. I offer a credible plan today – not the vague promise of one tomorrow. No candidate is worthy of your vote if they can’t give you a clear plan as to how they would fix immigration today.”

       A sticking point is that candidates are required to not participate in televised hustings unless these are arranged by the party chairman. According to the BBC, the Tories have stipulated that the studio audience must consist of Tory members but the broadcaster proposed that half of those present would be people with “a variety of political sentiments and voting history”.

       A spokesman for Ms Badenoch’s campaign said: “Every candidate in this leadership contest agreed at the outset to rules that clearly state we will not participate in debates that haven’t been sanctioned by the party chairman. What is actually disrespectful is to consistently undermine the rules that Robert Jenrick himself agreed to back in July.”

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       Robert Jenrick launches new attacks on Kemi Badenoch - but it risks Tory split

       213 Comments

       Jacob Rees-Mogg reveals who he is backing to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader

       121 Comments

       Keir Starmer signs UK up for eight more years of migrant crossings with ￡521m contract

       1419 Comments

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       243 Comments

       GB News debate: How to watch Tory leadership clash and what time it starts

       15 Comments

       Tories rewrite party rules to make it more difficult for MPs to axe new leader

       51 Comments

       Keir Starmer's first 100 days have been appalling - but Tories could still LOSE in 2029

       164 Comments

       I'm a Tory and one promise is the key difference between Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch

       857 Comments

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       213 Comments

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       121 Comments

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       1419 Comments

       Robert Jenrick vows to 'kick 1m illegal migrants out' - in hardline Tory leadership pledge

       243 Comments

       GB News debate: How to watch Tory leadership clash and what time it starts

       15 Comments

       Tories rewrite party rules to make it more difficult for MPs to axe new leader

       51 Comments

       Keir Starmer's first 100 days have been appalling - but Tories could still LOSE in 2029

       164 Comments

       I'm a Tory and one promise is the key difference between Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch

       857 Comments

       Why Nigel Farage could be rubbing hands with glee despite James Clevery lossing Tory race

       68 Comments

       Keir Starmer blasted as shock new asylum figure prompts 'open door' warning

       178 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick offer best chance of Tory revival

       44 Comments

       Nigel Farage gives verdict on Tory leader as he sets out 'real reason' for shock result

       163 Comments

       Bookies have worked out winner of Tory leadership contest - it'll come as a huge surprise

       62 Comments

       Nick Ferrari warns Tories risk 'drifting into political irrelevance' with major shift

       17 Comments

       Keir Starmer will lose majority if one Tory leadership candidate wins: POLL

       297 Comments

       Fury as Tory MP claims Kemi Badenoch too ‘preoccupied with her children'

       68 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch issues eight-word warning to Robert Jenrick as Tory leadership race hots up

       129 Comments

       Nigel Farage's Reform UK claims it now has more members than the Conservatives

       138 Comments

       Top pollster John Curtice gives gloomy verdict on Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick

       234 Comments

       Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'

       1742 Comments

       Robert Jenrick launches new attacks on Kemi Badenoch - but it risks Tory split

       213 Comments

       Jacob Rees-Mogg reveals who he is backing to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader

       121 Comments

       Keir Starmer signs UK up for eight more years of migrant crossings with ￡521m contract

       1419 Comments

       Robert Jenrick vows to 'kick 1m illegal migrants out' - in hardline Tory leadership pledge

       243 Comments

       GB News debate: How to watch Tory leadership clash and what time it starts

       15 Comments

       Tories rewrite party rules to make it more difficult for MPs to axe new leader

       51 Comments

       Keir Starmer's first 100 days have been appalling - but Tories could still LOSE in 2029

       164 Comments

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       Mr Jenrick argues that winning the public’s trust on immigration is key to the future of his party.

       “I’m running to be Prime Minister of the country and that’s why our party needs to get serious on immigration so we can win back the voters we lost to Reform, as well as the voters we’ve lost to the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats, and get back into contention,” he said.

       “If we don’t have a path to do that, then we’re never going to be in government again and we consign this country to a decade of Labour rule.”