Former youth worker to run for Tory leadership

Stephen Crabb, who is currently Work and Pensions Secretary, said he would choose the path of "optimism and pragmatism" if he is successful at the forthcoming leadership election.

Writing in The Telegraph, he said a government under his control would deliver on promises made in the Conservative Party's manifesto for the May 2015 general election.

"At its heart is building a strong economy that delivers opportunities, regardless of the circumstances of someone's birth," he said.

Crabb, who was appointed Work and Pensions Secretary in March, was appointed  parliamentary affairs officer at the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services in 1996.

Between 1995 and 1997, he was a volunteer youth worker at a community project in Bermondsey, South East London.

In 2009, he spoke in parliament about "the importance of youth activity" and "youth leaders" in tackling gangs and serious youth violence.

"Some 10 years ago I was a volunteer youth worker in Peckham and Bermondsey in south London and I remember having to ask the young people to leave their knives at the entrance when they came in to play basketball.

"The fact that young people participate in a youth activity does not mean that they stop their offending behaviour. That needs challenging by strong youth leaders."

Crabb has been criticised in the past for his links to a religious organisation Christian Action Research and Education, which has previously sponsored events which refer to gay and bisexual people as "sexually broken" and advocating that they can become "ex-gay".

He also voted against marriage equality legislation in 2013 which extended marriage to same-sex couples.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is also considering standing in the leadership election.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "I am actively considering [running] and talking to lots of colleagues and I do firmly feel that of course we've had discussions about the EU and our exit, but we also need to debate how we reach out to the centre ground of British politics."

"We see a country that is very divided between north and south, young and old, different educational backgrounds. Young and old thing is very important - we have to reach out to younger people who feel let down by last week's vote."

Morgan told The Telegraph that her work as Education Secretary is central to addressing the concerns of disaffected working-class voters, suggesting one reason they feel anger at politicians is their worry that "their children won't do better than them in life."

She said that state schools are starting to deliver better results, but added that the education system must do more to prepare children for the modern world, teaching "character and grit" as well as traditional knowledge.