Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell repeatedly sidestepped questions about whether Robert Jenrick would make a superior party leader compared to Kemi Badenoch during an appearance on GB News.
When presenter Camilla Tominey pressed him on whether the shadow justice secretary would perform better than the current Conservative leader, Mr Rosindell deflected multiple times.
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The Romford MP initially responded to queries about Mr Jenrick's effectiveness by stating that Ms Badenoch had not been absent from public view and had been addressing various gatherings nationwide.
However, when Camilla persisted with her questioning about comparative leadership abilities, Mr Rosindell avoided providing a direct response.
Andrew Rosindell refused to say whether he thinks Robert Jenrick would be doing a better job than Kemi Badenoch
|GB NEWS / PA
Instead of offering a straightforward comparison between the two prominent Conservative figures, he shifted focus to broader party performance issues.
Mr Rosindell lavished praise on Mr Jenrick's work ethic, describing his "incredible energy" and noting that the shadow justice secretary had been working "around the clock" on various issues.
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"It's amazing what he's doing. He's raising so many topics," Mr Rosindell told GB News, whilst still refusing to make direct comparisons with Ms Badenoch's performance.
When Camilla challenged him by asking whether Mr Jenrick was more active than the party leader, Mr Rosindell continued to evade the question.
The MP's reluctance to address the leadership comparison became increasingly apparent as the interview progressed.
Rather than answering whether Mr Jenrick would excel in the top position, Mr Rosindell pivoted to discussing the Conservative Party's need for comprehensive improvement.
His evasive responses came as speculation continues about potential challenges to Mr Badenoch's leadership of the opposition party.
The discussion took place whilst addressing recent visits to Calais by Mr Jenrick and shadow home secretary Chris Philp to examine the migrant situation firsthand.
Mr Rosindell spoke to Camilla on the Camilla Tominey Show
|GB NEWS
Me Rosindell defended these Channel crossings as legitimate efforts to understand the crisis, stating that "at least Robert Jenrick is speaking up for what most British people are thinking."
Camilla questioned whether Mr Jenrick's actions, including making live telephone calls to French authorities requesting arrests of migrants boarding dinghies, constituted political stunts.
The trips have generated significant media attention, with both shadow ministers reporting confrontations during their visits to migrant camps.
Mr Philp claimed migrants threatened him with a machete, whilst Mr Jenrick reported being attacked earlier in the week during his own visit to the camps.
Chris Philp and Robert Jenrick have spent time at migrant camps in France as part of their own investigations | XMr Jenrick has recently attracted controversy following his written statement that he wouldn't want his daughters living near "men from backward countries who broke into Britain illegally and about whom we know next to nothing."
The shadow justice secretary characterised BBC criticism of these remarks as an attempt to smear those concerned about illegal migration as racist.
"I think those people are just good parents," Mr Jenrick stated on GB News, defending individuals worried about community safety.
The BBC subsequently issued an apology after a Radio 4 Thought for the Day segment addressing Mr Jenrick's comments exceeded acceptable boundaries in its language.
Mr Jenrick pledged to continue highlighting migration concerns despite criticism, stating: "I'm not going to be squeamish about raising these issues."
Mr Rosindell eventually acknowledged the Conservative Party's shortcomings during their tenure in government, particularly regarding border control.
"We have to be honest with the British people. We were in power for 14 years and we didn't succeed in a whole range of areas," the MP admitted during the interview.
He identified immigration as "undoubtedly the biggest failure" of the Conservative administration.
The admission came after Mr Rosindell criticised Labour's current approach, claiming the Government was "making things worse" and resorting to "gimmicks which won't succeed."
Despite acknowledging past Conservative failures, Mr Rosindell maintained that the entire party needed to enhance its performance rather than singling out individual leadership capabilities.
His comments reflect ongoing tensions within the Conservative Party as it navigates its role in opposition following electoral defeat.