Tory leadership contender claims flying Union Jack could prevent independence

A Tory MP bidding to replace Theresa May as prime minister has claimed that flying British flags could help protect the Union.

Health minister Matt Hancock also sparked controversy with a disputed claim that he had mandated the flying of the union flag at Edinburgh Festival events.

Setting out his pitch as a pro-union candidate, he told the BBC: "I want to see the UK government doing more to explain the value of the Union - symbols are important, as is the hard policy of improving people's lives."