IDS: May has 'refused' to ban Le Pen from visiting UK

Iain Duncan Smith has claimed that Home Secretary Theresa May has "refused" to ban the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from visiting the UK to campaign for the EU referendum Leave campaign.

The former Work and Pensions Secretary voiced concerns that the Front National figurehead would "toxify" the debate if her UK visit went ahead and that she would only be joining the debate in the hope of stirring demands for an in/out referendum in France.

Speaking on ITV's The Agenda tonight he will accuse May of blocking requests to impose a ban.

He will say: "We've asked for her to be banned but the Home Secretary has refused to do it.

"She won't do it. I want her banned, I don't want her over because I think she will toxify the debate. She (Mrs May) can't ban her because of the European Union rules. She said she can't do it."

• Watch The Agenda with Tom Bradby on ITV at 10.35pm tonight.