Politics LIVE: Tory hopeful Tom Tugendhat vows to ‘bring in the Navy’ to tackle small boats – ‘Fight it like slavery’

Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat has vowed to bring in the Royal Navy to deal with the migrant crisis after it helped stop the slave trade.

The former Security Minister claimed the UK’s security “demands the same level of commitment” the Royal Navy showed “in the fight against slavery almost 200 years ago”.

During a speech delivered to a Conservative association in West London, Tugendhat said: “Our national security today demands the same level of commitment the Royal Navy’s West Africa Squadron showed in the fight against slavery almost 200 years ago.

“The tools have changed but the focus remains – human trafficking is evil and we must be serious and invest in long-term commitments, not Labour’s short-term sticking plasters.”

He added: “The UK must show the same determination and commitment to fighting this evil trade as we did in fighting slavery. We need to see our military engaged in fighting this threat.”

The Tory leadership race will enter its next stage next week, with candidates soon facing a series of votes after the summer recess.

Conservative MPs will cut down candidates from six to four, with just two being put forward to members following the party’s upcoming conference in Birmingham.

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Scottish Tory urges party against lurching to right to win over Reform UK voters

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has urged Tory colleagues against lurching to the right to win back Reform UK voters.

Fraser, who was speaking after an opinion poll suggested the Tories risk losing seats to Reform UK, cautioned against trying to “embrace the Farage agenda”.

He said: “There is no doubt that the rise in the Reform vote presents a challenge to the Scottish Conservatives, although it would be wrong to assume that all their votes come from us.

“It would be unwise, in my view, to embrace the Farage agenda in response, as that risks losing more moderate voters.

“In my experience many Reform voters are disillusioned former Conservatives who just expect us to have honesty and integrity and deliver on our promises.

“The key to winning them back is to demonstrate as a party that we are listening to their concerns and are willing to change, not carry on as we are.”