Conservative Party is 'more extreme than ever', Labour warns

A senior Labour MP has claimed the Conservative Party is "more extreme than ever" as the remaining two leadership candidates set themselves for a potentially bruising battle to be prime minister.

Shadow work and pensions (DWP) secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have "lost interest" in ordinary people during the contest amid a deepening cost-of-living crisis.

Read more: Tory leadership debate: Not one candidate would have Boris Johnson in their cabinet

The leadership contest has turned nasty at points – with Truss allies accusing Sunak of being a "socialist chancellor" and Sunak accusing Truss of socialist economics as the pair battle over taxation.

Ashworth said the candidates are "not remotely prioritising the needs of hard-working families and pensioners".

He added that this – combined with a severe cost-of-living crisis, ailing public services, an "anaemic" economy, and the collapse of Boris Johnson's government – means the party is "more irresponsible" and "more extreme" than ever before.

"This is a Tory party which has lost any interest [in working families and pensioners and] cannot possibly say that it stands up for [their] needs."

He added: "[They] will push them further into hardship as a consequence of the policies they're announcing."

Ashworth also invited Sunak and Truss to visit his constituency to see the scale of the cost of living crisis.

Read more: UK living standards fall at record rate as inflation soars

"I'd take them to the pensioners foregoing hot showers because they cannot afford the bills associated with heating, heating their house, or heating the water," he said.

Both Truss and Sunak insist that they are taking the current crisis seriously.

Truss has pledged to reverse the national insurance contribution increase and cut the green levy on fuel to - but she has been unclear about how that would be paid for and has not ruled out public spending cuts.

Sunak has not announced any new cost of living plans, instead pointing to a £15bn package of support he announced while he was chancellor.

At the same time, experts have warned of a "financial cataclysm" and urged leadership candidates to pledge more support.

"I would politely urge the Conservative party to a very quick succession process," said Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis.

Read more: Martin Lewis issues warning over 'frightening' energy bills

"We need a working administration at speed. This winter will be catastrophic, pushing millions into poverty with typical energy bills rising to £3,000 a year. We need leaders in office taking action ASAP."

On Thursday, energy fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) urged whoever wins to focus on the winter crisis where 8.2 million UK households could be in fuel poverty.

"The energy crisis is the urgent priority for a new prime minister," said NEA chief executive, Adam Scorer.

"Higher prices and cold weather are inevitable. Dither and delay are not.”

Watch: Tory leadership candidates clash over cost of living during second TV debate