Robert Jenrick launched a blistering attack on Kemi Badenoch for spouting “garbage attacks” as the Tory leadership descended into acrimony.

He accused his rival of “misinformation” and making “petty personal attacks” which he warned could potentially “destroy” the Conservative Party.

Mr Jenrick’s outburst comes just days before votes close in the contest to replace Rishi Sunak as leader.

The former Cabinet Secretary lashed out as he hit back at comments by Mrs Badenoch after she questioned his track record, including his dismissal by Boris Johnson.

Mrs Badenoch made thinly-veiled swipes at Jenrick in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, emphasising the importance of “integrity” in leadership and pointedly stating, “I’ve never been sacked”.

She also accused Mr Jenrick of having a “whiff of impropriety”.

She stated: “I was never sacked for anything, I didn’t have to resign in disgrace or, you know, because there was a whiff of impropriety. Everything has always been above board.

“I think that that’s something that we really need to think about for who is going to be leader.”

But speaking to GB News, Mr Jenrick hit back, saying it was a “great shame” that she had chosen to “sully” the leadership contest in the final days.

“With respect, these comments are just pure garbage. This is misinformation. These are petty personal attacks,” he said.

He added: “You cannot claim to be a unity candidate and go making ad hominem attacks on Conservative colleagues.

“If Kemi does this to conservative colleagues, this will be the death of the party. I want to end the drama and petty disputes.”

Mr Jenrick emphasised the need to end “drama” and “petty disputes”, saying: “The public are sick to death of this kind of garbage. It needs to end now.”

The Tory MP was sacked by Mr Johnson in September 2021 after he was forced to admit that his decision to grant planning permission to a controversial development had been unlawful.

The development has subsequently been approved by Labour-controlled Tower Hamlets council.

Also speaking on GB News Mrs Badenoch accused Mr Jenrick of “pedalling conspiracy theories” about her.

The fierce exchanges marked a significant escalation in tensions between the two candidates vying for the party leadership.

Mrs Badenoch is the bookies’ favourite to win the contest with polls showing she has a 24 point lead over Mr Jenrick.

Both were confirmed as the final two candidates in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak earlier this month, after a surprise result in a ballot of Tory MPs saw former home secretary James Cleverly knocked out of the race.

The ballot is due to close on October 31 and the winner will be confirmed on November 2.