Tories introduce yellow cards to keep leadership race ‘clean’

In a press conference, Mr Blackman said “if candidates indulge” in personal attacks “I will get involved obviously to warn them and if necessary, issue a public statement”.

“If a yellow card is issued and a statement made to the public and to the members, that a candidate has infringed on the rules, that will be extremely detrimental to their chances of getting elected,” he said.

He added he hoped he would not “have to do it” and the threat of a card “would be enough”.

A new sanction regime will also extend to MPs and Tory party members, Mr Blackman said.

The party’s chief whip will reprimand MPs engaging in personal attacks during the race and the party chairman will step in where ex-MPs are involved.

The six candidates taking part in the race are Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat.

Ex-home secretary Suella Braverman, who was initially seen by many as a front runner in the race, did not enter the race after many of her key allies joined Mr Jenrick’s campaign.

Writing in the Telegraph, external, she said there was “no point” in her running for leader, despite securing the neccessary nominations, “when most of the [party’s] MPs disagree” with her.