“Now I no longer have to be neutral and many of you have asked which candidate I will support. “Only our party, the Conservative Party, could have put forward two stellar candidates, with such a wealth of experience, vision and, yes, diversity. And the choice we have to make in this election I know is an important one for our country and the future of our party. “And I’m here to tell you that I chose and chose to support Liz Truss.” He hailed her “bold and conservative” plan, insisting it would “defend the unity of our nation and protect peace in Northern Ireland”.