Conservative MP Mel Stride has claimed he can be the person to "unite" the Tories, as he throws his hat in the ring to become the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Speaking to GB News, Stride said: "We've got to go deeper into the centre ground. We've got to become that party that has a broad appeal for competency in government that channels aspiration, opportunity, all of the things that conservatism has traditionally been about and for which there will always be a strong appetite amongst people, if we can get the right platform together.

"And I believe that I am the leader that can bring us together as a party to fashion a unified programme that can appeal broadly, that will take time and a huge amount of work. But I believe I've shown in my track record that that's just the sort of thing that I can do."