Security minister Tom Tugendhat has been banned from driving for six months after being caught with his mobile phone in his hand while at the wheel of his Skoda 4×4.

The Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, who enjoys a near 27,000 majority, was stopped by police in his car in Wandsworth on April 14.

Mr Tugendhat, of Clapham, south-west London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Geraldine Dickinson, prosecuting, said the politician was pulled over when an officer saw the phone in his left hand.

She told the court: “He noticed that the driver was using a hand-held phone. The device was being held in the driver’s left hand. He saw this in broad daylight for around 20 seconds.”

She said the officer confirmed that Mr Tugendhat was not using the phone to call the emergency services.

Paul Morris, defending, said that his client accepted that he would receive a driving ban.

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Mr Tugendhat retained his seat at the cabinet table when Rishi Sunak assumed the role of Prime Minister after the ousting of Liz Truss.

He is seen as something of a rising star of Conservative politics and has never made any scret of his ambition to be PM himself.

Some political observers says that should the Conservatives lose the next general election, Mr Tugendhat could be a natural leader in opposition.

He has few enemies in the House, is well thought of and has impressed with his security role and as chairman of the foreign affairs select committee.