Politics latest: Taxes could rise beyond PM’s manifesto target – as speculation mounts ahead of Budget Day

We will know the next leader of the opposition in a week.

But until then, Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are still working hard to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Of the two, Mr Jenrick has been more forthcoming with public events and speaking to the media – but he does not appear to have changed the major dial.

In a recent poll of Conservative Party members by the website ConservativeHome, Ms Badenoch had a 55% to 31% lead – the rest undecided.

But Mr Jenrick maintained his belief he was still in the running when asked today.

Noting that the contest was over, he said: “Absolutely not – this is neck and neck, this is a poll, not a poll.”

He added: “There’s everything to fight for and I’ll definitely be going around the country like I’ve been doing all summer.

“And I think my message is resonating with members and the public that we need to learn our lessons, we need to have strong and clear policies now, not the vague promise of one tomorrow, to unite the party and take the fight to Labor as quickly as possible .”

Mr. Jenrick was speaking at the Henry Jackson Society, a foreign affairs think-tank.

His speech made clear his hawkish views on China, Iran and Russia and his desire to increase UK defense spending using the foreign aid budget.