TORY Party leadership contender Mel Stride has said there will be “no deals” with Nigel Farage if he is elected as leader.

The Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary also hit out at Farage for his comments following the recent stabbing attack in Southport.

Stride told GB News: “Is it helpful when you’ve got police officers going out there, risking their lives in a rioting situation, to be questioning whether they’re being truthful with the public?

“For example, it’s likely to lead to more police officers ending up getting in more trouble than they would otherwise, so it’s not responsible.”

In a discussion with GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope for the latest edition of Chopper’s Political Podcast, he also ruled out working with Farage if he is elected leader of the Conservative Party.

Asked if he would allow him to join the Conservative Party, Stride said: “No. No, I’ve made that very clear.

“No deals with Nigel Farage. Nigel Farage wants to destroy the Conservative Party.”

Stride’s comments mean that all six potential successors to Rishi Sunak have said they would not engage with Farage.

This is in contrast to Sunak who has previously said that the party was a broad church and he would allow Farage to join the party if he wanted to.