Tory leadership: Rudd asks Johnson to quash talk of Gove revenge

Rudd says claims 'discredit' voting process as MPs prepare to select final two candidates

Amber Rudd has called on Boris Johnson to respond to concerns that his campaign is encouraging supporters to lend votes to Jeremy Hunt in an attempt to eliminate Michael Gove from the Conservative leadership race.

The work and pensions secretary, who is backing Hunt to be the next prime minister, said rumours that Johnson's campaign would use tactical voting to seek revenge on Gove for derailing his leadership campaign in 2016 were "discrediting" the system to select a party leader.