Conservative leadership hopeful Penny Mordaunt has called for an end to toxic politics, saying the focus needs to be on picking a new prime minister.
She told the BBC there were a "number of smears going on in the papers" and hit back at claims that she had ever backed gender self-identification.
Ms Mordaunt is one of five candidates left in the leadership race, ahead of the next round of voting on Monday.
Tom Tugendhat meanwhile said the Tories needed a "clean start".
Ms Mordaunt - second in the contest according to the latest round of MPs' votes - told the Sunday Morning programme the cost-of-living crisis was her priority.
She was also questioned about her stance on how people should be allowed to legally change their gender, after questions were raised during the contest about her record when she was equalities minister.
Asked by Sophie Raworth whether she thought trans people should have to get a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria before they could legally change their gender, she said: "Yes."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62196547