The leader of Warwick District Council has said he is focusing on the "boring but important" local issues rather than who is going to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.

Cllr Andrew Day's words come as the Tory leadership contest hots up, with the party looking to whittle it down to two candidates to replace Boris Johnson.

The Conservative councillor for Bishop's Tachbrook has said this week the next prime minister needs to focus on the big issues to restore public confidence in government.

But Cllr Day said his priority was getting services and support right for people in Warwick district - including the new three-weekly bin service which launches on August 1 - not what is going on in parliament.

"I think we [local councils] are the most important part of government because we are the local end of government that people touch and see and live with every day," he told Nub News.

"We have always been, through the pandemic and otherwise, focused on what you might call 'boring but important' local matters.

"It is really important right now that we get the waste management contract to work for the first of August, that residents are confident with the new recycling system and that they are content with the set of decisions that we have made for the environment and for them.

"And of course we have the Commonwealth Games going on which is a massive thing. 

"We have got to get that right, the world is watching us and we won't get a second chance. So if you ask me where my focus is now? It is not on Westminster."

Cllr Day also said that the big issues facing local and central government would continue past the announcement of the next Conservative leader.

In particular he pointed to the cost of living crisis and supporting lower income households in the area.

He added: "Beyond that we have a wonderful community that has responded so well to take in refugees from Ukraine and sending charitable support out to Ukraine.

"But I am mindful that in six months from now these Ukrainians will need homes and we are the housing authority, so how are we going to do that? 

"These are the big issues I am focusing on."