Tory spokesman's laptop stolen

Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin and his family were away when the laptop disappeared during the burglary.

The North Essex MP, who is currently visiting Gibraltar, used the laptop for his political work but he says there was no sensitive information stored on the computer.

Mr Jenkin said: "This is another crime statistic in a country suffering from rising crime.

"There was nothing sensitive on the computer and police were informed."

Speeches and letters

Although there was no defence-related information stored, the laptop contained draft speeches and correspondence.

An Essex police spokesman said: "The burglary was reported to us on the evening of July 14.

"As well as garden tools stolen form an outhouse it appears a laptop computer is missing.

"An alarm was activated and the burglar made off."

A Tory party spokesman said Mr Jenkin and his family, who are from Hatfield Peverel near Chelmsford, were at a church fundraising event at the time of the break-in.