Ms Mordaud announced her support for the foreign secretary as she presented her at the latest Conservative leadership meetings in Exeter, declaring Ms Truss “the hopeful candidate” who “knows what she believes in”. He added that Ms Truss would “steal our opponents”. Politics Hub: Live updates as Truss and Sunak face off again Ms Mordaunt was the final candidate to be eliminated from the contest last month in the fifth round of voting, leaving Ms Truss and Mr Sunak to battle it out for Conservative Party members’ votes. The trade secretary and former defense secretary came second in all previous rounds of voting, but a late surge by Ms Truss – who won 27 votes in 24 hours – cost her a place on the ballot, with just eight votes separating them. Addressing the audience, Ms Mordaunt said: “This is not just about one person. “This concerns all of us and I know it’s not easy, you feel a huge responsibility. And I. “This is the price, I’m afraid, of democracy. If we get this decision wrong, we will change the country. “We might lose an election and everything we’ve worked for will be gone. That’s why it matters so much — why you feel that responsibility.” She added: “I could have gone undeclared, I could be drinking pina coladas right now, but I’m not, I’m here with you because this is very important. “And I’m not going to leave this to chance, and I’m not going to leave it to chance. I came third in this competition and I owe it to all of you to be a sign, not a weather vane. “And so I made my choice – I know it’s difficult because I like both candidates. “I want to say good things about both of them, that’s probably why I came third. “I have seen enough to know who is the man to trust. And this is Liz Truss.” Making her entrance on stage, Ms Truss thanked Ms Mordaunt for her support. “It’s fantastic to have the support of Penny Mordaunt,” she said. “She’s a great person, a great politician and a great patriot – and I’m proud to call her my friend.”

Mordant’s endorsement of Truss was a crushing blow to Sunak

          John Craig

Chief Political Correspondent @joncraig It is the support both candidates in the battle for the Tory crown desperately wanted. Possibly the biggest vote winner so far, declaring for Liz Truss. Penny Mordaunt was runner-up to Rishi Sunak in all but the final round of voting by MPs, before being narrowly beaten by Liz Truss in the shock 11th hour showdown. In the first round he won 67 votes to Mrs Truss’ 50, in the second round it was 83-64, in the third round it was 82-71 and in the fourth round 92-86, before finally getting just 105 to Mrs Truss’ 113. Now, in a shock move following bad blood between their two camps during the MP vote, the former wizard’s assistant has sprinkled her stardust on Liz Truss’s campaign. In a stunning theatrics in the Tory salon at the University of Exeter, he dramatically moved up the Truss bandwagon and is almost certain to win a Cabinet seat if the Foreign Secretary beats Mr Sunak. Cynics will argue that Mrs Mordant’s support for Mrs Truss would have carried more weight had it come earlier. But the timing – on the day ballots were sent to party members – is ideal for Ms Truss and a crushing blow for Mr Sunak. Former leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat also backed Ms Truss last week. Writing in the Times, Mr Tugendhat said the foreign secretary’s promises of tax cuts were based on “real Tory principles” and could unite the party. He said: “Liz has always championed British values ​​at home and abroad. With her at the helm, I have no doubt we will move decisively to make this country safer.” Mr Sunak was initially the frontrunner in the race, winning the most support from MPs in the first rounds of voting. But the poll showed Ms Truss is more popular among party members, who will ultimately decide who will be leader and the next prime minister. Members’ voting will close on September 2 and whoever emerges victorious on September 5 is expected to replace Mr Johnson as prime minister the following day.