Liz has what it takes, say 21 top Tories

LIZ Truss called last night for the Conservative Party to ‘unite’ to take on Keir Starmer’s Labour as 21 current and former Cabinet ministers issued a declaration of support for her.

The Foreign Secretary, firm favourite to succeed Boris Johnson, appeared to put pressure on her rival Rishi Sunak to stand down as she shared the open letter from some of her prominent backers, including Lord Frost, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

The signatories, which include ten sitting and 11 past Cabinet ministers, argued that only Miss Truss ‘has what it takes’ and would break from the ‘tired economic managerialism of the past’ in a thinly veiled swipe at the former chancellor.

Last night senior Tory Nusrat Ghani endorsed Miss Truss after weeks of remaining neutral in the leadership contest. Introducing Miss Truss to the hustings in Eastbourne, the 1922 Committee vice-chairman cited the candidate’s record as Foreign Secretary and ability to unite the party.

The letter was released as Mr Sunak’s campaign appears to be stalling, with his last high-profile supporters – Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps – emerging three weeks ago. In the past week, former Tory leaders Lord Hague and Lord Howard have endorsed Mr Sunak.

But in their open letter, the 21 senior Tories say Miss Truss’s record as Foreign Secretary and low tax promises should see her become prime minister.

They wrote: ‘For us, there is only one candidate who has what it takes: Liz Truss. She has shown she will do what is necessary and right, even in the face of great adversity.

‘In challenging times, Britain needs a prime minister who can be trusted to deliver. Liz has a clear plan to grow our economy, founded on true Conservative principles of aspiration, enterprise and freedom, which will help fund our public services and NHS.

‘She will unleash the huge opportunities of Brexit, break from the tired economic managerialism of the past and challenge failed groupthink.’

The backers include Tories from all regions of the country and wings of the party, such as Northern Research Group chairman Jake Berry, current Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and former leadership rival Penny Mordaunt.

Miss Truss responded by saying ‘it’s time to unite’ and said she ‘will unite our party, beat Keir Starmer, and ... deliver for Britain’.

For his part, Mr Sunak has repeatedly insisted he will not quit the contest, even if he falls further behind his rival.