Tory leadership candidate Andrea Leadsom engulfed in extremism row over alleged tweet

THE Tory leadership campaign descended into insults and allegations of dirty tricks as shock frontrunner Andrea Leadsom was engulfed in an extremism row.

Supporters of rival Stephen Crabb claimed the Brexit boss had backed incendiary claims Britain was “overrun with foreigners” in a day of mud-slinging.

Andrea Leadsom wants to be the next leader of the Conservative Party

The unofficial ‘Crabb for Britain’ campaign took to social media to highlight a screen grab which they said proved she had ‘retweeted’ the sentence posted by a Twitter user just three days before the Referendum.

The claim drew a furious denial from Ms Leadsom’s team who argued the original tweet was “fabricated” in the first place.

But it came as the Minister suffered a torrid 24 hours under the spotlight as she officially launched her campaign.

Ms Leadsom had made a passionate call for support by claiming the Brexit vote was the most historic moment since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

And she insisted she would help Britain become the “greatest nation on earth”.

A grassroots organisation backing Stephen Crabb has highlighted a social media post which appears to have been retweeted by Leadsom

But she was forced to rule out offering Nigel Farage a role in her Brexit negotiation team after signalling it could happen on Sunday.

She also had to dismiss claims of any “allegiance” to UKIP after huge support from the party’s key donor Arron Banks.

Tory MPs also claimed they were being spammed by hundreds of emails from local UKIP members urging them to back Ms Leadsom.

Separately, Stephen Crabb piled on the pressure over his rival’s financial affairs by following Michael Gove in publishing his tax returns.

Ms Leadsom – who has been dogged by accusations of links to offshore trusts – is refusing to publish her returns unless she makes the final two in the Tory leadership race next week.

One senior Tory told the Sun: “It’s terrifying.

“She’s another Sarah Palin.

“A pre-packaged contender promising the earth to the masses but not explaining ‘how’ it will be delivered.”

Ex-Cabinet Minister Iain Duncan Smith rushed to Ms Leadsom’s defence yesterday – insisting she was head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

He insisted there was “absolutely no link, none whatsoever” to UKIP.

And he stormed: “You heard Andrea today if you don’t think Andrea Leadsom will make PM then you need to have a serious talk with yourself.”

Her supporters hit back by claiming Theresa May’s camp was  preparing to “lend” MPs backing her bid for No.10 to other rivals in the early rounds of voting this week to prevent Ms Leadsom making the final two.

And they added that an unnamed rival was trying to “buy off” MPs backing Ms Leadsom by saying they would ditch the Tory’s manifesto commitment to redrawing constituency boundaries – which could cost a number their seats.

Leadsom4Leader co-chair Ben Berry said: “It is disappointing to hear that MPs would be willing to sell their vote in the leadership election and at the same time break a promise.”