Matt Hancock has turned the air even bluer in the Tory leadership race by unleashing a bizarre rant.
The Health Secretary took aim at Boris Johnson for saying "f*** business" over Brexit last year.
In an interview with the Financial Times, he declared: "To the people who say 'f*** business', I say 'f***, f*** business!"'
The leadership hopeful was mocked online where he was compared to Alan Partridge or a scene from TV comedy The Thick of It.
Others pointed out his comments were published just moments after he signed a "clean campaign" pledge, vowing not to "speak ill of fellow Conservatives".
Mr Hancock later insisted: "I mean that we need to back business and not bash business.
"This is incredibly important for the future of the country, for the future of the Conservative Party, that in this leadership debate we understand that we need to be a pro-business party.
"We need to support businesses because they're the ones who create the jobs."
The eyebrow-raising remark is one of many ways in which Tories are attempting to hog the limelight in a crowded field of 11 candidates.
Remainer Rory Stewart has travelled across the country, from Barking and Kew Gardens to Wigan, posting videos on social media urging people to talk to him.
But the International Development Secretary was mocked for pretending to hold his phone in the selfie position - and holding a meet-and-greet in an £18 attraction.
Meanwhile the "clean campaign" pledge itself descended into infighting amid claims not all candidates were invited to sign up.
Mr Hancock, ex-Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed the commitment, urging others to follow suit.
Tory MP Steve Baker said: "Did you ask the other declared candidates to sign before you published this DominicRaab, sajidjavid, MattHancock?
"I hope so. That cheap trick was played on andrealeadsom last time. Hopefully the three of you are better than that."
Tory hardline Brexiteer Nadine Dorries added: "Boris was not consulted before this was published.
"This is not a declaration of fairness, it’s a dirty trick campaign."
Challenged on his comments by Sky News, Mr Hancock said he would be "very robust" on policy but "I’m not going to make any personal attacks on people’s personalities."
He added: "I am a very strong supporter of supporting our businesses."
