Andrea Leadsom defers call to publish tax details

Andrea Leadsom has told Conservative MPs she is happy to show them a summary of her tax returns if they ask, but she will not immediately follow in the footsteps of her opponents and publish the details publicly.

The energy minister, who is now second favourite to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister after Theresa May, told colleagues at a hustings in parliament that her financial affairs were "very boring".

But she continued to resist pressure to reveal the details more widely, despite the decisions by both Mrs May and justice secretary Michael Gove to publish theirs.

A source close to Mrs Leadsom said her “electorate” are the 330 Tory MPs in parliament, who were welcome to see the information. But he said she was resisting pressure to provide the details to journalists because she feared the impact it would have on colleagues.

“She does not want to put MPs who are not running for the office of prime minister in a position where they feel pressured into disclosing their tax returns as well.”

Final two

However, he said Mrs Leadsom had nothing to hide and would publish the details after today’s vote if she made the final two, who are then put forward for a vote by Tory grassroots members.

It comes after Mrs May issued a statement saying the party and country deserved an “open, honest, robust debate” and for the next leader to have won a proper mandate through the contest.

Resisting the calls of some MPs for her to automatically be granted the job, given her massive lead among Conservative politicians, the home secretary also urged her supporters not to try to exclude Mrs Leadsom today.

“There should be no deals, no tactical voting, and no coronation,” she said. “I was very grateful to my colleagues for their support on Tuesday, and I welcome the opportunity to set out my vision for this country.”

– (Guardian service)